Pharmaceuticals in the Environment: Sources, Fate, Effects and Risks

When the first green wave appeared in the mid and late 1960s, it was considered a fea­ sible task to solve pollution problems. The visible problems were mostly limited to point sources, and a comprehensive "end of the pipe technology" (= environmental technology) was available. It was even seriously discussed in the US that what was called "zero dis­ charge" could be attained by 1985. It became clear in the early 1970S that zero discharge would be too expensive, and that we should also rely...