The overall objective of the project is to develop approaches for assessing the environmental impact of veterinary medicines released through the spreading 
of manure, slurry and sludge. The specific aims of the study are: 1) to identify those factors and processes controlling the degradability of veterinary medicines 
in the environment; 2) identify those factors and processes controlling the sorption of veterinary medicines in manure, sludge, soil and water; 3) assess 
the effects of veterinary medicines on microbial functioning in soils; 4) assess the effects of veterinary medicines on soil organisms 5) assess the environmental 
distribution of a range of veterinary medicines at the semi-field and field scales; and 6) use information from 1-5 to develop exposure assessment models, 
scenarios and risk assessment approaches for use by regulators and industry across Europe. These objectives will be achieved using a combination of laboratory, 
semi-field, field and modelling studies. 
            

Animal husbandry, slurry handling and environmental conditions throughout Europe were considered in order to define realistic worst case scenarios, in 
 conjunction  with  environmental distribution models. Given the variability in manure management a straightforward approach for the manure model was selected. 
Realistic worst   
case conditions  were  proposed  in a  simple scenario assuming single treatment per place,   
standard European nitrogen production values, application of the a manure application rate of170 kg N/ha/year in one time, with a manure production volume 
of one month containing the full residue, no dissipation during storage, and incorporation into 5 cm soil.  Risk  reduction measures related to manure management 
and manure treatment could not be assessed using the proposed  methodology.   
Furthermore guidance is given on recommended methods for the   
risk assessment of veterinary medicinal products applied in slurry, for regulatory purposes. The document gives considerations to fate and effect testing 
strategies in particular with respect to the hallmarks of veterinary medicinal antibiotics. It puts forward what modelling approaches are available and 
what considerations to scenario definitions should be given. Risk characterisation is addressed as the focal point for exposure and effect assessment. Attention 
is paid to risk mitigation measures and conditions under which these would be   
applicable. 
            

The overall objective of the project was to develop approaches for assessing the environmental impact of veterinary medicines (VMs) released to the environment 
through the spreading of manure, slurry and sludge.   
   
A guideline was published on the recommended  methods for the risk assessment of veterinary medicinal products applied in slurry, for regulatory purposes. 
   
A second guideline was published on the Environmental Risk Assessment for veterinary medicinal products applying exposure assessment scenarios.   
   
A number of papers have been published. The references are:   
   
 BOXALL, A.B.A., BLACKWELL, P.A., CAVALLO, R., KAY, P., TOLLS, J. (2002) The sorption and transport of a sulphonamide antibiotic in soil systems. Toxicology 
Letters 131: 19-28. (reprint: h.glover@cranfield.ac.uk)    
   
 BOXALL, A.B.A., FOGG, L.A., BLACKWELL, P.A., KAY, P., PEMBERTON, E.J., CROXFORD, A. (2003) Prioritisation of veterinary medicines in the UK environment. 
Toxicology Letters 142: 207 - 213(reprint: h.glover@cranfield.ac.uk)   
   
 BOXALL, A.B.A., FOGG, L.A., KAY, P., BLACKWELL, P.A., PEMBERTON, E.J., CROXFORD, A. (2003) Veterinary medicines in the environment. Critical Reviews 
in Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 180: 1 - 92.    
   
 BOXALL, A.B.A., KAY, P., BLACKWELL, P.A. FOGG, L.A. (in press) Fate of veterinary medicines applied to soils. In: Kummerer K. (Ed) Pharmaceuticals in the 
environment: 2nd Edt. Springer, Heidelburg, Germany    
   
 BOXALL, A.B.A., KOLPIN, D.J., TOLLS, J., HALLING-SORENSEN, B. (2003) What are the environmental risks of veterinary medicines? Environmental Science 
and Technology.37(15): 286A - 294A Abstract   
   
 BRETON, R., BOXALL, A.B.A. (2003) Pharmaceuticals in the environment: regulatory drivers and research needs. QSAR Comb. Sci 22: 399 - 409. (reprint:h.glover@cranfield.ac.uk) 
   
   
 HALLING-SØRENSEN, B., LYKKEBERG A, INGERSLEV F., BLACKWELL P., TJØRNELUND J.(2003) Characterisation of the abiotic degradation pathway of oxytetracycline 
in soil interstitial water using LC-MS-MS. Chemosphere 50:1331-1342. (reprint: bhs@dfh.dk)    
   
 HALLING-SORENSEN, B., SENGELOV, G., INGERSLEV, F., JENSEN, L.B. (2003) Reduced antimicrobial potencies of oxytetracycline, tylosin, sulfadiazin, 
streptomycin,ciprofloxacin and olaquindox due to environmental processes. Archives of   
Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 44: 7-16. (reprint: bhs@dfh.dk)    
   
HALLING-SØRENSEN, B., SENGELØV G., TJØRNELUND J. (2002) Toxicity of   
Tetracyclines and Tetracycline degradation products to environmental relevant bacteria including selected Tetracycline resistant bacteria. Arch. 
Environ. Contam.Toxicol 42:263-271. (reprint: bhs@dfh.dk)   
   
JENSEN LB. (2003) Bacterial antibiotic resistance levels in farmland as a result of treatment with pig slurry accepted FEMS microbiology. Environ. Int. 
28: 587-95.(reprint: bhs@dfh.dk)   
   
KAY, P., BLACKWELL, P.A., BOXALL, A.B.A., (in press) Fate and transport of veterinary antibiotics in drained clay soils. Environmental Toxicology and 
Chemistry    
   
 MONTFORTS MHMM, DE KNECHT JA (2002) European medicines and feed additives regulation are not in compliance with environmental legislation and policy. 
Toxicology Letters 131 (1-2): 125-136 (reprint: mark.montforts@rivm.nl)    
   
 PRO J, ORTIZ JA, BOLEAS S, FERNANDEZ C, CARBONELL G, TARAZONA JV (2003) Effect assessment of antimicrobial pharmaceuticals on the aquatic plant Lemna minor. 
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 70 (2): 290-295 (reprint: tarazona@inia.es)    
   
 TOLLS J (2001) Sorption of veterinary pharmaceuticals in soils: A review.Environmental Science and Technology 35 (17): 3397-3406 (reprint:   
 johannes.tolls@henkel.com)    
   
 SCHMITT H, VAN BEELEN P, TOLLS J, VAN LEEUWEN C (2004) Pollution-induced   
 community tolerance of soil microorganisms caused by the antibiotic   
 sulfachloropyridazine. Environmental Science & Technology 38 (4): 1148-1153 (reprint: heike.schmitt@rivm.nl)