Emission estimation and health risk evaluation of aquaculture drugs commonly used in China.

China is one of the largest aquaculture country. Throughout the breeding process, various diseases may emerge due to weather conditions and environmental factors. The use of antibiotics or antimicrobials and other aquaculture drugs is the most effective countermeasure at present. However, these substances can increase the emission of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) into the environment, leading to potential ecological impacts. Improper drug usage may also result in the presence of drug residues in aquatic products, posing health risks to humans through long-lasting consumption. In this study, a method with more flexible data sources was developed to estimate the discharge of typical aquaculture drugs into environmental water for the first time in China. By analyzing the spatiotemporal distribution trends of aquaculture drugs (Sulfamethoxazole (SMZ), Oxytetracycline (OTC), Enrofloxacin (ENR), and Flofenicol (FFC)), we seek to understand the potential ecological consequences. Furthermore, we calculate the health risks associated with aquaculture drug ingestion in representative Chinese cities. The human health risk caused by the consumption of aquatic products with drug residues in some key cities was noteworthy, and the highest risk was found in Hainan Province, the health risk was higher for FFC, and moderate for SMX and off-site. To mitigate the adverse effects of aquaculture drug usage, we recommend stricter management of aquaculture drug acquisition and usage, strengthening the supervision of aquatic product market access thresholds.