Abstract
The pharmaceutical industry in India is a high-growth economical sector. The city of Hyderabad is considered as the pharma capital of India as approximately 500 pharmaceutical companies are present there. However, this industry, supposedly responsible for ensuring good health among the citizenry, is actually harming collective well-being as wastewaters generated from pharmaceutical manufacturing are being released into the environment—more specifically into the aquatic environment leading to India’s second largest river, the Godavari . The economic and health-related impacts—local, regional and global—of this phenomenon are discussed in this article. Some technological and institutional/management-related options potentially capable of mitigating pollution are also included.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Altenburger R, Scholze M, Busch W, Escher BI, Jakobs G, Krauss M, Krüger J, Neale PA, Ait-Aissa S, Almeida AC, Seiler TB, Brion F, Hilscherová K, Hollert H, Novák J, Schlichting R, Serra H, Shao Y, Tindall A, Tollefsen KE, Umbuzeiro G, Williams TD, Kortenkamp A (2018) Mixture effects in samples of multiple contaminants—an inter-laboratory study with manifold bioassays. Environ Int 114:95–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2018.02.013
Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board. Available at http://appcb.ap.nic.in/
Ankley GT, Brooks BW, Huggett DB, Sumpter JP (2007) Repeating history: pharmaceuticals in the environment. Environ Sci Technol 41(24):8211–8217. https://doi.org/10.1021/es072658j
Balakrishna K, Rath A, Praveenkumarreddy Y, Guruge KS, Subedi B (2017) A review of the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in Indian water bodies. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 137:113–120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2016.11.014
Baumann M, Baxendale IR (2015) The synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) using continuous flow chemistry. Beilstein J Org Chem 11:1194–1219
Brief Industrial Profile of Hyderabad District. Government of India, Ministry of MSME. Available at: http://dcmsme.gov.in/dips/hyd%20profile.pdf
Brief Industrial Profile of Medak District. Government of India, Ministry of MSME. Available at: http://dcmsme.gov.in/dips/medak.pdf
Brief Industrial Profile of Ranga Reddy District. Government of India, Ministry of MSME. Available at: http://dcmsme.gov.in/dips/RR%20%20dist%20profile_ap.pdf
Bruni P (2016) Impacts of pharmaceutical pollution on communities and environment in India. Researched and prepared for Nordea Asset Management by Changing Markets and Ecostorm. Available at: https://www.nordea.com/Images/35-107206/impacts%201-20.pdf
Bureau O (2016) Godavari reeking of pollution. The Hans India. Oct 31, 2016. Available at: http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Khammam-Tab/2016-10-31/Godavari-reeking-of-pollution/261805
Caldwell D, Mastrocco F, Hutchinson T, Lohne R, Heijerick D, Janssen C, Anderson P, Sumter J (2008) Derivation of an aquatic predicted no-effect concentration for the synthetic hormone, 17. Ethinyl Estradiol Environ Sci Technol 42(19):7046–7054
Caldwell DJ (2016) Sources of pharmaceutical residues in the environment and their control. In: Hester RE, Harrison RM (eds) Pharmaceuticals in the environment, Vol 41—Issues in environmental science and technology. Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, UK
Caldwell DJ, Mertens B, Kappler K, Senac T, Journel R, Wilson P, Meyerhoff RD, Parke NJ, Mastrocco F, Mattson B, Murray-Smith R, Dolan DG, Straub JO, Wiedemann M, Hartmann A, Finan DS (2016) A risk-based approach to managing active pharmaceutical ingredients in manufacturing effluent. Environ Toxicol Chem 35(4):813–822. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.3163
Cao C (2017) Flow chemistry: pathway for continuous API manufacturing. Speciality Chemicals Magazine. Available at https://www.pharmasalmanac.com/articles/flow-chemistry-pathway-for-continuous-api-manufacturing
Carlsson G, Orn S, Larsson DGJ (2009) Effluent from bulk drug production is toxic to aquatic vertebrates. Environ Toxicol Chem 28(12):2656–2662
Challener C (2016) Going green with biocatalysis—enzymatic catalysis offers pharma manufacturers a way to implement the principles of green chemistry. Pharm Technol 40(8):24–25
Changing Markets Foundation (2018) Hyderabad’s pharmaceutical pollution crisis: heavy metal and solvent contamination at factories in a major Indian drug manufacturing hub. Nordea and the Changing Markets Foundation. Available at: https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/CM-HYDERABAD-s-PHARMACEUTICAL-POLLUTION-CRISIS-FINAL-WEB-SPREAD.pdf
Chelliapan S, Thomas W, Sallis PJ (2006) Performance of an up-flow anaerobic stage reactor (UASR) in the treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater containing macrolide antibiotics. Water Res 40(3):507–516
Chunduri M (2003) Manjira faces pollution threat. Times of India. 29th Nov 2003. Available at: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Manjira-faces-pollution-threat/articleshow/329239.cms
Das AP, Mishra S (2008) Hexavalent chromium (VI): environment pollutant and health hazard. J Environ Res Develop 2(3):386–392
Daughton CG, Ternes TA (1999) Pharmaceuticals and Personal care products in the environment: agents of subtle change. Special Report. Environ Health Perspect 107(Suppl. 6):907–938
Deccan Chronicle (2017) Toxic materials pollute Hyderabad nalas. May 28, 2017. Available at: https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/280517/toxic-materials-pollute-hyderabad-nalas.html
Deegan AM, Shaik B, Nolan K, Urell K, Oelgemöller M, Tobin J, Morrissey A (2011) Treatment options for wastewater effluent from pharmaceutical companies. Int J Environ Sci Tech 8(3):649–666
Drug resistance through the back door: How the pharmaceutical industry is fuelling the rise of superbugs through pollution in its supply chains, Nordea Asset Management, March 2016, Impacts of Pharmaceutical Pollution on Communities and Environment in India (report researched and prepared by Changing Markets and Ecostorm) http://www.nordea.com/en/responsibility/responsibleinvestments/responsibleinvestments-news/2016/New%20report%20on%20pharma%20industry%20in%20India.html
Du Z, Shao Z (2013) Combining transition metal catalysis and organocatalysis—an update. Chem Soc Rev 42:1337–1378. https://doi.org/10.1039/C2CS35258C
Ebele AJ, Abdallah MA, Harrad S (2017) Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the freshwater aquatic environment. Emerg Contam 3(1):1–16
Enick OV, Moore MM (2007) Assessing the assessments: pharmaceuticals in the environment. Environ Impact Assess Rev 27(8):707–729. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2007.01.001
Express News Service (2017) Hyd’s polluting industries to be moved to 19 villages. The New Indian Express, 17th January 2017. Available at: http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2017/jan/17/hyds-polluting-industries-to-be-moved-to-19-villages-1560441.html
Fick J, Soderstrom H, Londberg RH, Phan C, Tysklind M, Larsson DG (2009) Contamination of surface, ground and drinking water from pharmaceutical production. Environ Toxicol Chem 28(12):2522–2527
Gadipelly C, Pérez-González A, Yadav GD, Ortiz I, Ibanez R, Rathod VK, Marathe KV (2014) Pharmaceutical industry wastewater: review of the technologies for water treatment and reuse. Ind Eng Chem Res 53(29):11571–11592. https://doi.org/10.1021/ie501210j
Gothwal R, Shashidhar (2016) Occurrence of high levels of fluoroquinolones in aquatic environment due to effluent discharges from bulk drug manufacturers. J Hazard Toxic Radioact Waste 21(3). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HZ.2153-5515.0000346
Government of Telangana (2013–2014) Draft export strategy framework of Telangana. Commissionerate of Industries. Commerce & Export Promotion. Available at: http://www.industries.telangana.gov.in/Library/EXPORTSTRATEGY.pdf
Government of Telangana (2017) Reinventing Telangana: looking back looking ahead. Socio-Economic Outlook 2017. Planning Department. Available at: https://www.telangana.gov.in/PDFDocuments/Socio-Economic-Outlook-2017.pdf
Hernando MD, Mezcuaa M, Fernandez-Alba AR, Barcelo D (2006) Environmental risk assessment of pharmaceutical residues in wastewater effluents, surface waters and sediments. Talanta 69(2):334–342. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2005.09.037
Houtman CJ (2010) Emerging contaminants in surface waters and their relevance for the production of drinking water in Europe. J Integr Environ Sci 7(4):271–295. https://doi.org/10.1080/1943815X.2010.511648
Jimenez-Gonzalez C, Ponder CS, Broxterman QB, Manley JB (2011) Using the right green yardstick: why process mass intensity is used in the pharmaceutical industry to drive more sustainable processes. Org Process Res Dev 15(4):912–917. https://doi.org/10.1021/op200097d
Kamble SJ, Chakravarthy Y, Singh A, Chubilleau C, Starkl M, Bawa I (2017) A soil biotechnology system for wastewater treatment: technical, hygiene, environmental LCA and economic aspects. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24(8):13315–13334. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8819-6
Koshy J (2017) Sensor network to map and predict pollution, effluents in Godavari, The Hindu. 11th July, 2017. Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/the-project-started-eight-months-ago-and-has-so-far-identified-two-hotspots-of-pollution/article19259008.ece
Kummerer K, Al-Ahmad A (2010) Estimation of the cancer risk to humans resulting from the presence of cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide in surface water. Environ Sci Technol 17:486–496
Larsson DGJ (2008) Drug production facilities: an overlooked discharge source for pharmaceuticals to the environment. In: Kummerer K (ed) Pharmaceuticals in the environment. Sources, fate, effects and risks. Springer, New York, NY, USA
Larsson DGJ (2014) Pollution from drug manufacturing: review and perspectives. Philos Trans R Soc B Biol Sci 369(1656):1–7. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2013.0571
Larsson DGJ, Adolfsson Erici M, Parkkonen J, Pettersson M, Berg AH, Olsson PE, Forlin L (1999) Ethinylestradiol—an undesired fish contraceptive? Aquat Toxicol 45(2–3): 91-97. ISSN 0166-445X, E-ISSN 1879-1514
Larsson DGJ, de Pedro C, Paxeus N (2007) Effluent from drug manufactures contains extremely high levels of pharmaceuticals. J Hazard Mater 148(3):751–755. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.07.008
Larsson DGJ, Fick J (2009) Transparency throughout the production chain-a way to reduce pollution from the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals? Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 53(3):161–163
Marchang S, Hurley N (2016) Drug resistance through the back door: how the pharmaceutical industry is fuelling the rise of superbugs through pollution in its supply chains. European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), 20 pp. Available at: http://epha.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/DRUG-RESISTANCE-THROUGH-THE-BACK-DOOR_WEB.pdf
Nikolaou A, Lofrano G (2012) Detection of transformation products of emerging contaminants. In: Lofrano G (ed) Green technologies for waste water treatment. Springer, Netherlands, pp 19–29
Nilesh V (2018) Has Telangana State Pollution Control Board unearthed only the tip of Jeedimetla pollution iceberg? The New Indian Express, 06th April 2018. Available at: http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2018/apr/06/has-telangana-state-pollution-control-board-unearthed-only-the-tip-of-jeedimetla-pollution-iceberg-1797731.html
O’Neill J (2014) Antimicrobial resistance: tackling a crisis for the health and wealth of nations. The Review on Antimicrobial Resistance. https://amr-review.org/sites/default/files/AMR%20Review%20Paper%20-%20Tackling%20a%20crisis%20for%20the%20health%20and%20wealth%20of%20nations_1.pdf
Oliveira Júnior HM; Sales P; Oliveira DB, Schimidt F, Santiago MF, Campos LC (2013) Characterization and genotoxicity evaluation of effluent from a pharmacy industry. Rev Ambiente Água Interdiscip J Appl Sci 8(2):34–45. http://dx.doi.org/10.4136/ambi-agua.1107
Onesios KM, Yu JT, Bouwer EJ (2009) Biodegradation and removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in treatment systems: a review. Biodegradation 20(4):441–66
Orton F, Ermler S, Kugathas S, Rosivatz E, Scholze M, Kortenkamp (2014) Mixture effects at very low doses with combinations of anti-androgenic pesticides, antioxidants, industrial pollutant and chemicals used in personal care products. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 278:201–208
Palmer CD, Puls RW (1994) Natural attenuation of hexavalent chromium in groundwater and soils: United States Environmental Protection Agency. EPA Ground Water Issue. Available at: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-06/documents/natatt_hexavalent_chromium.pdf
Patneedi CB, Prasadu KD (2015) Impact of pharmaceutical wastes on human life and environment. Rasayan J Chem 8(1):67–70
Pfluger P, Dietrich DR (2001) Effects of pharmaceuticals in the environment—an overview and principal considerations. In: Pharmaceuticals in the environment. Springer, Berlin, pp 11–17
Pomati F, Castiglioni S, Zuccato E, Fanelli R, Vigetti D, Rossetti C, Calamari D (2006) Effects of a complex mixture of therapeutic drugs at environmental levels on human embryonic cells. Environ Sci Technol 40:2442–2447
Popuri AK, Guttikonda P (2016) Zero liquid discharge (ZLD) industrial wastewater treatment system. Int J ChemTech Res 9(11):80–86. ISSN(Online):2455-9555
Pruden A, Larsson DGJ, Amézquita A, Collignon P, Brandt KK, Graham DW, Lazorchak JM, Suzuki S, Silley P, Snape JR, Topp E, Zhang T, Zhu T-G (2013) management options for reducing the release of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes to the environment. Rev Environ Health Perspect 121(8):878–885. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1206446
Pulla P (2017) The superbugs of Hyderabad. The Hindu. 18th Nov 2017. Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-superbugs-of-hyderabad/article20536685.ece
Purushotham D, Linga D, Sagar N, Mishra S, Vinod GN, Venkatesham K, Saikrishna K (2017) Groundwater contamination in parts of Nalgonda District, Telangana, India as revealed by trace elemental studies. Geol Soc India 90:447–458
Rajamani S (2016) Novel industrial wastewater treatment integrated with recovery of water and salt under a zero liquid discharge concept. Rev Environ Health 31(1):63–66. https://doi.org/10.1515/reveh-2016-0006
Rajbongshi S, Shah YD, Sajib AU (2016) Pharmaceutical waste management: a review. Eur J Biomed Pharm Sci 3(12):192–206
Reddy AS (2017) The statistical year book 2017. Directorate of Economics and Statistics Government of Telangana Hyderabad. Available at: https://www.telangana.gov.in/PDFDocuments/Statistical-Year-Book-2017.pdf
Rowney NC, Johnson AC, Williams EJ (2009) Cytotoxic drugs in drinking water: a prediction and risk assessment exercise for the thames catchment in the United Kingdom. Environ Toxicol Chem 28(12):2733–2743
Sayadi MH, Trivedy RK, Pathak RK (2010) Pollution of pharmaceuticals in environment. J Ind Pollut Control 26(1):89–94
Subedi B, Balakrishna K, Sinha R, Yamashita N, Balasubramanian V, Kannan K, (2015) Mass loading and removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products, including psychoactive and illicit drugs and artificial sweeteners, in five sewage treatment plants in India. J Environ Chem Eng 3:2882–2891
Schaaf N, Karlsson J, Borgendahl J, de Pedro C, Fiedler E, Flygar H, Göthberg P, Lonaeus K, Magnér J, Mattson B, Olsen T, Olsson B, Schultz S, Svedberg A, Svinhufvud K (2016) Water and pharmaceuticals—a shared responsibility. Working paper Nr. 26. SIWI, Stockholm
Shadreck M, Mugadza T (2013) Chromium, an essential nutrient and pollutant: a review. Afr J Pure Appl Chem 7(9):310–317
Shalini K, Anwer Z, Sharma PK, Garg VK, Kumar N (2010) A review on pharma pollution international. J PharmTech Res 2(4):2265–2270. ISSN: 0974-4304
Sharif A, Ashraf M, Anjum AA, Javeed A, Altaf I, Akhtar MF, Abbas M, Akhtar B, Saleem A (2015) Pharmaceutical wastewater being composite mixture of environmental pollutants may be associated with mutagenicity and genotoxicity. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23(3):2813–2820. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5478-3
Sharma V (2015) Applicability of Green chemistry in Pharmaceutical processes. Pharma Bio World. pp 34–36. Available at: http://piramalpharmasolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/Applicability-of-Green-Chemistry-in-Pharmaceutical-Processes.pdf
Sheldon RA (2010) Introduction to green chemistry, organic synthesis and pharmaceuticals. In: Dunn PJ, Wells AS, Williams MT (eds) Green chemistry in the pharmaceutical industry. ISBN: 978-3-527-32418-7. https://doi.org/10.1002/9783527629688.ch1
Smith Jr JS (2014) Health impact of pharmaceuticals in the environment and in drinking water: potential for human and environmental risk. In: Goldstein WE (ed) Pharmaceutical accumulation in the environment: prevention, control, health effects, and economic impact. Taylor & Francis Group. ISBN: 978-1-4665-1745-5
Snyder S, Lue-Hing C, Cotruvo J, Drewes JE, Eaton A, Pleus RC, Schlenk WD (2009) Pharmaceuticals in the water environment. NACWA. Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies. Available at: https://www.acs.org/content/dam/acsorg/policy/acsonthehill/briefings/pharmaceuticalsinwater/nacwa-paper.pdf
Snyder SA, Trenholm RA, Bruce GM, Snyder EM, Pleus RC (2010) Toxicological relevance of EDCs and pharmaceuticals in drinking water. Environ Sci Technol 44(14):5619–5626. https://doi.org/10.1021/es1004895
Snyder SA, Trenholm RA, Bruce GM, Snyder EM, Pleus RC (2008) Toxicological Relevance of EDCs and Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water, Awwa Research Foundation, Denver, CO
Thayer AN (2014) End to end chemistry. Chemical and Engineering News. 92(21):13–21. Available at: https://cen.acs.org/articles/92/i21/EndEnd-Chemistry.html
Thrupp TJ, Runnalls TJ, Scholze M, Kugathas S, Kortenkamp A, Sumpter JP (2018) The consequences of exposure to mixtures of chemical: something from ‘nothing’ and ‘a lot from little’ when fish are exposed to steroid hormones. Sci Total Environ 619–620:1482–1492. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.081
Tischler L, Buzby M, Finan DS, Cunningham VL (2013) Landfill disposal of unused medicines reduces surface water releases. Integr Environ Assess Manag. 9:142–154
TNN (2012) IIT alumnus shows natural way to process waste water. Times of India. Jan 24, 2012. Available at: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/IIT-alumnus-shows-natural-way-to-process-waste-water/articleshow/11611412.cms
US EPA (2015) Basics of green chemistry, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA. Available at: https://www.epa.gov/greenchemistry/basics-green-chemistry#definition
Vichi L, Sahu G (2016) Patancheru industrial area, meta information. Available at: https://ejatlas.org/conflict/patancheru-industrial-area-ap-india
Zhou Q (2016) Transition-metal catalysis and organocatalysis: where can progress be expected? Angew Chem Int Ed 55(18):5352–5353. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201509164
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
D’Sa, S., Patnaik, D. (2020). The Impact of the Pharmaceutical Industry of Hyderabad in the Pollution of the Godavari River. In: Bandyopadhyay, S., Magsi, H., Sen, S., Ponce Dentinho, T. (eds) Water Management in South Asia. Contemporary South Asian Studies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35237-0_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35237-0_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-35236-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-35237-0
eBook Packages: Political Science and International StudiesPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)