Awareness of residual pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) in aquatic ecosystems is growing as research into these pollutants increases and analytical detection techniques improve. For most pharmaceuticals analyzed, the effects on aquatic organisms have usually been investigated by toxic assays in the laboratory. However, little is known about integral analysis of pharmacokinetics in aquatic organisms and specific relations between pharmacokinetic parameters and influence factors. Moreover, the influence of the organisms involved and numerous other external factors complicates development of standard tests for environmental evaluation. Current knowledge about residual pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment, including status, toxic effects, and pharmacokinetics in aquatic organisms, are reviewed. Based on the above, we identify major gaps in the current knowledge and some directions for future research, such as improvement of techniques to remove residual pharmaceuticals from wastewater, and the establishment of standard pharmaceutical modes of action.

AbstrAct:In this study, the toxic effects of PCZ, a triazole fungicide present in aquatic environment, were studied in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, by an acute toxicity test. Compared to the control group, fish exposed to PCZ (96-h-LC50 , 5.04 mg/l) showed significantly higher (P < 0.05) plasma NH 3 and GLU concentration and the activities of plasma enzymes including CK, ALT, AST, LDH, but the TP content was not significantly different (P > 0.05). The oxidative stress indices (levels of LPO and CP) of brain and muscle in the experimental group were higher compared to the control group, especially for a significant change (P < 0.05) in the brain. SOD, CAT, GPx and GR activity in the brain of experimental groups was significantly lower (P < 0.05), however, an opposite tendency was found out in muscle. In addition, there are significant correlations between TBARS and CAT, TBARS and GPx, CP, and CAT, GR, and GPx in the fish brain. Thus, PCZ exposure changed the oxidative stress indices and plasma characteristics, and these changes may be used as potential bioindicators of the exposure and effect of PCZ in the controlled experiment. The use in monitoring of PCZ exposure under natural field conditions is possible, but it needs further investigations.Keywords: triazole fungicide; fish; oxidative damage; blood parameters List of abbreviations PCZ = propiconazole; rOs = reactive oxygen species; LPO = lipid peroxidation; cP = carbonyl protein; sOD = superoxide dismutase; cAt = catalase; GPx = glutathione peroxidase; Gr = glutathione reductase; tbArs = thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances; DMsO = dimethyl sulphoxide; GssG = oxidized glutathione; tcA = trichloroacetic acid; bHt = butylated hydroxytoluene; DNPH = 2,4-di-nitrophenylhydrazine; EDtA = ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid; NADPH = nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate; HUFA = highly unsaturated fatty acids; NH 3 = ammonia; GLU = glucose; tP = total proteins; cK = creatine kinase; LDH = lactate dehydrogenase; ALt = alanine aminotransferase; Ast = aspartate aminotransferase