Summary and Outlook

The fact that pharmaceuticals are present in the environment where they impact on wildlife is widely accepted nowadays. Although there is general agreement that the presence of pharmaceuticals in drinking water does not constitute an acute risk to human health, there is uncertainty about possible long-term health and environmental risks caused by pharmaceuticals in the environment and a need for action has been identified. The public perception is often driven by concerns about the quality of drinking water and possible adverse or at least undesirable effects on humans and organisms in the environment. The presence of pharmaceuticals in the environment has therefore stimulated public discussion on drinking water safety and research into fate and effects of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and adjutants in water and soil, and the related risks is under way. However, learning about this problem can only be the starting point. For pharmacy in general a broader view is needed and it is about time to learn how pharmacy can be more sustainable in general. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.