Atorvastatin
Summary
Persistence. Atorvastatin is degraded in the environment.
Bioaccumulation. Atorvastatin has low potential for bioaccumulation.
Toxicity. Atorvastatin has moderate chronic toxicity.
Risk. More fat-soluble statins (simvastatin, atorvastatin) may be quite potent and (together with ezetimibe) represent a slightly higher risk than the others, but the levels in the environment are probably well below the concentrations that give rise to effects.
This summary information about environmental hazard comes from Fass.se. The risk is from the report by Goodpoint.
Detailed information
Fass environmental information
Fass environmental information for atorvastatin Atoxet (atorvastatin, ezetimibe) from Organon Sweden (downloaded 2024-03-18).
Hazard
Persistence: "DT50 in total system = 26.4 to 32.4 days."
Bioaccumulation: OECD 107: pH 7 = 1.62. Since log D < 4 at 7, the substance has low potential for bioaccumulation.
Chronic toxicity: There are data for 3 trophic levels, most sensitive crustacean (Daphania magna) NOEC 200 microg/L.
Risk
PEC/PNEC is based on sales data in Sweden in year 2022. PEC/PNEC = 0.055 which gives the risk insignificant.
Report Goodpoint 2016
Sales in Region Stockholm have increased in recent years, but measurements during the same period have shown that there is a good margin between environmental levels and the concentration that gives environmental impact.
Report Goodpoint 2019
Comparative assessment of environmental risk when using simvastatin, atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, pravastatin and ezetimibe from a Swedish perspective.
Although there are knowledge gaps in particular regarding relevant toxicity studies, there is no obvious environmental risk with any of the investigated substances in Swedish water given the current state of knowledge. No exchanges are therefore recommended from an environmental point of view. The risk seems entirely insignificant for the highly water-soluble substance rosuvastatin. More fat-soluble statins (simvastatin, atorvastatin) may be quite potent and (together with ezetimibe) represent a slightly higher risk than the others, but the levels in the environment are probably well below the concentrations that give rise to effects. However, more impact studies are needed. For ezetimibe and pravastatin, efficacy data are even more deficient. For pravastatin, however, the risk was assessed based on its relatively low fat solubility (and thus the ability to accumulate in biota) in relation to its potency in humans. Ezetimibe is more fat-soluble, but at least partially separated in the wastewater treatment plants, how much is unclear due to high detection limits. Based on measured bioconcentration potential, there is some, but low risk for this substance.
References
- Fass.se för vårdpersonal
- IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute Ltd Fick J, Lindberg RH, Fång J, Magnér J, Kaj L, Brorström-Lundén E. Screening 2014. Analysis of pharmaceuticals and hormones in samples from WWTPs and receiving waters. Rapport C 135.
- IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute Ltd. Fick J, Lindberg RH, Kaj L, Brorström-Lundén E. Results from the Swedish National Screening Programme 2010. Subreport 3, B 2014 Pharmaceuticals.
- Provtagningar av läkemedelsrester i vatten, sediment och fisk för Region Stockholm.
- Goodpoint. Prioritering av läkemedel med miljörisk inom SLL. Stockholm: Goodpoint; 2016. Rapport LS 2016–0634.
- Brain RA, Reitsma TS, Lissemore LI, Bestari K, Sibley PK, Solomon KR. Herbicidal effects of statin pharmaceuticals in Lemna gibba. Environ Sci Technol. 2006;40:5116-23.
- Goopoint. Jämförande bedömning av miljörisk vid användning av simvastatin, atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, pravastatin samt ezetimib. Goodpoint; 2019-07-01.
Author: Health and Medical Care Administration, Region Stockholm