The think tank Tænketanken Hav says Denmark could keep 58 tonnes of pharmaceutical substances out of the sea by upgrading wastewater plants far earlier than the EU deadline of 2045.
DR reported on August 26 that Tænketanken Hav is urging Danish politicians to speed up the so-called fourth treatment stage at large wastewater plants. The EU urban wastewater directive requires the advanced technology to be in place by 2045, removing 80 percent of environmentally harmful substances.
According to the think tank, about five tonnes of active pharmaceutical substances reach the marine environment each year because wastewater treatment plants cannot remove them. That figure covers only 13 substances out of roughly 1,451 medicines on the Danish market.
The analysis from Tænketanken Hav puts the annual discharge of the selected substances at about 4.9 tonnes. Full implementation by 2030 would spare the sea 58 tonnes of these substances by 2045. A 2035 timeline would cut 39 tonnes, while 2040 would cut 19 tonnes.
Henriette Selck, senior consultant at Tænketanken Hav and professor of ecotoxicology at Roskilde University, told DR she strongly recommends implementation well before 2045. As she noted, marine organisms do not choose painkillers or antidepressants, but are exposed to them anyway.
Water utilities point to the price tag
The water sector association DANVA also wants a faster rollout. Carl-Emil Larsen, DANVA’s chief executive, said the technology exists and works, and that political and financial frameworks are now needed where the effect on the marine environment is greatest.
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DANVA estimates the bill at between 630 and 703 million kroner a year for 30 years. Under the plan, 80 percent would be paid by companies earning money from pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. DANVA expects the cost for water customers to be 35 to 41 kroner extra per year.
The pharmaceutical industry says it is ready to pay a share under extended producer responsibility, but wants more contributors. Marianne Jeppesen, political head of climate, environment and sustainability at Lægemiddelindustriforeningen, said that if the polluter pays principle is used, all polluters should be included.
She pointed to laundry, surface water, car tires, PFAS and microplastics as other significant sources. The association wants a better analysis of where the substances come from, and argues for keeping the Commission’s 2045 deadline. Jeppesen also said a rushed bill risks pushing medicine prices up more than is fair.
Environment Minister Maria Reumert Gjerding of SF called the situation deeply serious and extremely frustrating. She said Denmark should not wait, and that all options for starting as soon as possible must be examined.
Gjerding did not give an implementation date, but pointed to an action plan and further analysis underway. The work aims to identify exactly where the substances originate and whether more parties should help pay. She also noted that medicine from the pig industry ends up in the marine environment.
