Chemicals of Emerging Concern in the Great Lakes Region

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Pharmaceutical compounds, personal care products and endocrine disrupting compounds have been detected in municipal wastewaters, surface and ground waters, drinking waters as well as sediments and aquatic biota all around the world. Pharmaceutically active compounds are subdivided into several groups like anti inflammatories, antibiotics, anti epileptics, beta blockers, etc. A number of chemical substances are included in personal care products such as musk fragrances and cosmetics. A broad range of compounds have been identified as endocrine disruptors, such as hormones, pesticides and alkylphenols. These compounds were lumped into a group under the term Chemicals of Emerging Concern and are receiving attention due to their potential adverse effects on animals and humans at low levels of exposure. The toxic effects on aquatic organisms, alterations on the reproductive system of aquatic organisms and the promotion of the development of resistant bacterial strains representing a health risk to humans, are among the adverse effects of these compounds.