Effluent from drug manufactures contains extremely high levels of pharmaceuticals.

It is generally accepted that the main route for human pharmaceuticals to the aquatic environment is via sewage treatment plants receiving wastewater from households and hospitals. We have analysed pharmaceuticals in the effluent from a wastewater treatment plant serving about 90 bulk drug manufacturers in Patancheru, near Hyderabad, India--a major production site of generic drugs for the world market. The samples contained by far the highest levels of pharmaceuticals reported in any effluent.