Chapter 8: Risk perception of pharmaceutical residues in the aquatic environment and precautionary measures
Résumé
This chapter focuses on consumers' and health experts' perception of risks posed by pharmaceutical residues in the aquatic environment. For this purpose a number of national and international studies on the topic were analyzed. Additionally, our own investigations are presented as well. The chapter also comprises a review on how the media handle the subject since they have a strong influence on public risk perception, depending on whether they take up a topic and how they report on it. The chapter also presents the results of projects that investigated measures to reduce pharmaceutical residues in the aquatic environment. The aim of these projects was to raise the awareness of physicians and pharmacists concerning this problem and to qualify them for steps to be taken in their everyday working life.