WATER SECURITY RESEARCH GROUP

IDENTIFICATION OF TRACE-LEVEL ACTIVE PHARMACEUTICAL INGREDIENTS (APIS)

The occurrences of Active Pharmaceuticals Ingredients (APIs) (i.e Carbamazepine, Diclofenac, Naproxen, Triclosan) released from rapid industrial and urban development to the environment have raised concerns among various stakeholders such as drinking-water regulators, governments and the public, over potential human health risks from exposure to very low levels of pharmaceuticals in drinking-water.


However, the occurrence of APIs especially in water-cycle at trace levels to as low as nanograms per liter are difficult to be determined and monitored. Therefore, precise quantification and reports on the occurrences of APIs are crucial for Malaysian environment. The application of holistic and dynamic environmental forensics approach will be carried out to trace the level and distribution (spatially and temporally) of these contaminants in the drinking water system.


This proposed study could provide a profound understanding on the availability, mobility, pollution status of APIs in the treated water of Greater Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley (GKL&KV). Besides, this study is also aims


(i) to develop and validate a rapid, robust and an efficient detection method of APIs level and distribution in Malaysian drinking water,

(ii) to examine and elucidate the seasonal variation (wet and dry seasons) effect of the pharmaceuticals and the stability of the compounds along the drinking water distribution system and finally,

(iii) to develop quality control and quality assurance (QA/QC) chart and procedures of the analysis and creating a benchmark and guidelines for analysis and environmental monitoring validation exercise.


Outputs from this study will provide a breakthrough on new method development of pharmaceutical detection and monitoring and thus identify the most carcinogens threat in the drinking water and minimize unwanted human health hazards in the study area. Results from the study will be utilized to develop indicators of water pollution and characterize water security from the human health perspective.