Fexofenadine
Summary
Persistence. It cannot be excluded that fexofenadine is persistent, as data are lacking.
Bioaccumulation. It cannot be excluded that fexofenadine bioaccumulates, as data are lacking.
Toxicity. It cannot be excluded that fexofenadine is toxic, as data are lacking.
Risk. The risk of impact is significantly lower, but not negligible, for fexofenadine.
Environmental information is missing on fass.se for fexofenadine (2025-07-01). The risk is based on the Goodpoint report from 2019.
Detailed information
Pharmaceutical analyses of water in Region Stockholm
Fexofenadine has been found in purified wastewater and surface water within Region Stockholm, Sweden, during 2021. Fexofenadine is not among the substances that have been analyzed in recent years.
Pharmaceutical concentrations in caddisfly larvae
Fexofenadine has been detected in caddisfly larvae.
Report Goodpoint 2019
Comparative assessment of environmental risk when using the antihistamines desloratadine, cetirizine, loratadine, ebastine, clemastine and fexofenadine from a Swedish perspective (Report Goodpoint 2019).
Summary assessment based on (expected) water exposure in relation to toxicity and interaction with targets. Use of clemastine (Tavegyl) is considered to pose a risk of impact on aquatic organisms. It is supported by the fact that measured concentrations in the environment are in good agreement with predicted levels, these levels, although very low, are considered to be able to accumulate in fish to therapeutic concentrations given its high fat solubility (for which there is a reasonable consensus assessment), and finally have levels above Cmax been detected in wild fish. Studies on effects on aquatic organisms are lacking for clemastine, so the assessment is based entirely on the above. Thus, what kind of pharmacological effect can be expected from clemastine through its effect on the histamine receptors, and how severe these are, has not been investigated. The risk of impact is significantly lower, but not negligible, for fexofenadine. The other studied antihistamines pose a low risk based on expected exposure and the likelihood of accumulation in biota to near therapeutic concentrations, at the same time the assessment is uncertain due to insufficient efficacy data. An exchange of clemastine with one of the other studied antihistamines is recommended from an environmental point of view.
References
- Provtagningar av läkemedelsrester i vatten, sediment och fisk för Region Stockholm.
- Richmond EK, Rosi EJ, et al. A diverse suite of pharmaceuticals contaminates stream and riparian food webs. Nat Commun. 2018 Nov 6;9(1):4491. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-06822-w.
- Goodpoint. Jämförande bedömning av miljörisk vid användning av antihistaminerna desloratadin, cetirizin, loratadin, ebastin, klemastin och fexofenadin. Stockholm; Goodpoint; 2019-07-01.
Author: Health and Medical Care Administration, Region Stockholm