Environmental Risk Assessment of antimicrobials applied in veterinary medicine—A field study and laboratory approach

The fate and environmental risk of antimicrobial compounds of different groups of veterinary medicine pharmaceuticals (VMP's) have been compared.The aim was to demonstrate a correlation between the physical and chemical properties of active compounds and their metabolism in target animals, as well as their fate in the environment. In addition, the importance of techniques for manure management and agricultural practice and their influence on the fate of active compounds is discussed. The selected active compounds are shown to be susceptible to at least one environmental factor (sun, water, bacterial or fungal degradation) to which they are exposed during their life cycle, which contributes to its degradation. Degradation under a number of environmental factors has also to be considered as authentic information additional to that observed in the limited conditions in laboratory studies and in Environmental Risk Assessment calculations.

► VMP's environmental impacts, fate and effects are not well understood.
► Physical–chemical properties of VMP's are crucial for target animal metabolism.
► An Environmental Risk Assessment for proposed substances is required.