Risks of Antibiotics in the Environment to Human Health

Measured concentrations of pharmaceuticals in water and crops in the studies described above, typically result in exposures that are well below human therapeutic dose levels or acceptable daily intakes (ADIs). However, there is concern among the scientific and regulatory communities and the general public that exposure to pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics, in the environment may affect human health. These concerns arise from the following facts  

In summary, the occurrence of antibiotics as mixtures in the environment can result in possibly complex interactions. In addition, humans have multiple routes of exposure to antibiotics. Finally, the potential impact of antibiotics includes effects from degradation products as well as indirect effects such as selection for antimicrobial resistance. There is therefore still much work to do to establish the degree of risk arising from indirect consumer exposure to antibiotics. 

Animals are routinely treated with antibiotics to prevent, treat, or control disease. There have been historic 

World Health Organization, The Medical Impact of Antimicrobial Use in Food Animals, Report of a WHO meeting, Berlin, Oct. 13-17, 1997, WHO/EMC/ZOO/97.4, 1997 (available at 

Codex AUmentarius Commission, report of 1st session of Codex ad hoc intergovernmental task force on antimicrobial resistance, Seoul, Oct. 23-26, 2007, in Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Program. Codex AUmentarius Commission, 31st Session, Geneva, June 30-July 5, 2008, ALINORM 08/31/42 (available at ftp //ftp.fao.org/ codex/Alinorm08/al31 42e.pdf accessed 11/17/10). 

---