Erythromycin

Detailed information

Fass environmental information 2021-08-16

Fass environmental information for Abboticin (erythromycin) from Amdipharm (downloaded 2021-08-16).

Hazard

Persistence: No data.

Bioaccumulation: No data.

Toxicity: No data.

Risk

PEC = 0.055558 microg/L. The environmental risk could not be calculated since ecotoxicity data are missing.

The manufacturer, Amdipharm, has on fass.se (2021-08-16) stated that data about the environmental impact is missing for the substance so that the environmental risk cannot be calculated. It is voluntary for manufacturers to provide information on the environmental impact on fass.se.

Fass environmental information 2015-09-07

Fass environmental information for Ery-Max (erythromycin) from Meda (downloaded 2015-09-07).

Hazard

Persistence: "Erythromycin did not pass the criteria for readily biodegradability. Closed Bottle Test (OECD 301D) resulted in <60% degradation in 28 days. Erythromycin did not pass the criteria for ready biodegradability, which justifies the phrase “Erythromycin is potentially persistent”."

Bioaccumulation: "Log K_ow of 3.06 (unknown method)."

Toxicity: There are data for 3 trophic levels, most sensitive green algae (Selenastrum capricornutum) "NOEC 72h (growth inhibition): 0.0103 mg/L (OECD 201)". However, studies on blue-green algae (Cyanophyta) according to CHMP guidelines are lacking.

Risk

PEC/PNEC is based on sales data in Sweden during 2018 (Fass environmental information above from Amdipharm. PEC = 0.055558 microg/L). "PNEC is calculated as lowest NOEC (Algae)/AF = 0.0103 (mg/L)/100" which gives the value 0,103 microg/L. "Chronic NOEC data for the most sensitive species justifies an assessment factor (AF) of 100 according to ECHA guideline." According to ECHA guidelines, AF 100 can be used if there are long-term EC₁₀ or NOEC values ​​for either fish or crustaceans. Such data have not been found. Based on AF 100, PEC/PNEC = 0.539, which gives the risk low.

If AF 1000 is used (at least one value for L(E)C₅₀ from the three trophic levels: algae, crustaceans and fish), PEC/PNEC = 5.39, which gives the risk moderate.

In selection of algae for toxicity testing of antimicrobials the European Medicines Agency, EMA, recommends test on blue-green algae (cyanobacteria). No information on toxicity on blue-green algae has been found, which means that a calculation of environmental risk becomes uncertain.

EU water legislation

Erythromycin has previously been monitored within the framework of EU water legislation. There is now enough data to assess whether erythromycin is to be proposed as a priority substance when the European parliament and the Council next time proposes a revised directive regarding priority substances in the field of water policy.

EU list of groundwater monitoring and candidates

Erythromycin is on the EU's watchlist of substances whose concentrations in groundwater should be monitored in the Member States for environmental reasons.

Low concentrations of antibiotics

Studies have shown that even low concentrations of antibiotics in the environment may trigger antibiotic resistance and therefore, as little as possible should end up in our environment.

Report Goodpoint

There is a risk of selection for antibiotic resistance with the concentrations measured in Swedish wastewater treatment plants.

Erythromycin is included in Region Stockholm's table of pharmaceuticals with risk for negative environmental impact according to the environmental programme 2017–2021. Erythromycin has been detected in treated wastewater in Region Stockholm.

The Wise list

Erythromycin is recommended in the Wise list. Environmental classification of pharmaceuticals is taken into consideration, sometimes with other environmental aspects, when selecting pharmaceuticals for the Wise list. When comparable pharmaceuticals are equivalent to medical effects, safety and pharmaceutical efficacy, environmental impact and price are considered.

Suggestions on how to reduce the emissions of erythromycin

Concrete proposals on how to work to reduce emissions of environmentally harmful pharmaceuticals on the list have been developed in close cooperation with the Stockholm Drug and Therapeutics Committee's expert groups. The action proposals were developed from an environmental perspective. The patient's best always goes first and several pharmaceuticals on the list are also included in the Wise list. However, for such pharmaceuticals, there may be measures that could reduce the environmental impact.