Strengthening risk management strategies for pharmaceutical contaminants in Canada’s freshwater ecosystems

In Canada, the discharge of pharmaceutical substances from wastewater treatment plants into freshwater ecosystems is an escalating environmental challenge. This study evaluates Canada’s Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) assessment of pharmaceutical substances (PhAC) by considering expert stakeholder insights, exposing key gaps and exploring transformative strategies for pharmaceutical risk governance. Findings reveal that current CMP practices fail to address cumulative effects, enforceable indust