Summary

The aim of this report is to improve our understanding of the potential risks that the environmental presence of pharmaceuticals contaminants in wastewater may pose to human health in Aotearoa New Zealand. To do so, we reviewed the available literature to determine the presence of pharmaceuticals in New Zealand municipal wastewater, and the efficacy of the wastewater treatment processes commonly used in New Zealand wastewater treatment plants in removing those compounds. Subsequently, the data was entered into an exposure assessment model, to estimate the potential human health risks associated with exposure to pharmaceuticals during recreational use of aquatic environments impacted by wastewater discharge.