The European environment state and outlook report (SOER)  2015  delivers a comprehensive assessment of the European environment’s state, trends and prospects, in a global context. It highlights a number of factors of concerns in relation to the pharmaceutical industry in it’s 20 year plus outlook citing:

Emerging pollutants, such as from pharmaceuticals and personal care products, may be a future concern, as may be algal blooms and pathogenic microorganisms.

Chemicals from pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and other consumer products can have adverse effects on the environment and on human health. Endocrine disruption, which impacts the body’s hormonal system, is of particular concern. Unfortunately, the environmental pathways and potential human health impacts of these chemicals are poorly understood, especially when people are exposed to mixtures of chemicals, or when exposure occurs in vulnerable population groups such as pregnant women, small children and people suffering from certain diseases (EEA, 2011d; Larsson et al., 2007; EEA, 2012f; EEA/JRC, 2013). Reducing chemical pollution at source has become an important resource efficiency measure, as advanced wastewater treatment and treatment of drinking water is energy and chemicals intensive.