Antibiotics in groundwater

Antibiotics used in human and veterinary medicine can damage aquatic organisms when entering the water cycle and can lead to the formation of resistance to pathogenic microorganisms. Within the framework of the Water Status Monitoring Ordinance, a special measuring programme was carried out by the Federal Environment Agency at 50 Austrian sites. The aim of the study was to assess the presence and toxicological relevance of 18 selected antibiotics in groundwater. The results show that in Austria too, in rare cases, antibiotics can be detected in groundwater. However, they occur in concentrations which must be classified as safe both human and ecotoxicologically. Potential environmental impacts of degradation products of these pharmaceuticals or of various mixtures of substances are currently unexplained.