Monitoring release of pharmaceutical compounds: Occurrence and environmental risk assessment of two WWTP effluents and their receiving bodies in the Po Valley, Italy

► 27 pharmaceuticals of different classes were monitored. ► Two WWTP effluents and the corresponding receiving water bodies were investigated. ► Hydrodynamic characteristics and pharmaceutical impact on water bodies were studied. ► Based on the risk quotient, antibiotics are the most critical compounds. ► The flow rate of the surface water body contributes to mitigate the risk.