The key purpose of my role is to manage AstraZeneca’s environmental impact across all activities and products. I strive to ensure that we maximise our resource efficiency, transition to using more renewable natural resources, embrace circular approaches to natural resource and waste management wherever possible, and ensure the environmental safety of our life changing medicines. I have accountability for the delivery of our environmental protection ambitions, whether our Ambition Zero Carbon strategy, our water and waste reduction targets, our product environmental stewardship initiatives, and our scientific leadership in managing pharmaceuticals in the environment.
Sitting on the Global Sustainability Leadership Team and representing sustainability on the UK Leadership Team, I have felt enormous pride seeing how sustainability considerations have really come to the forefront of AstraZeneca’s decision making and strategy for the future. It is an exciting place to be.
I joined AstraZeneca in 1995 as an experimental scientist to study the environmental fate, behaviour and degradation of pharmaceuticals as they enter the environment after patient use. I have always been passionate about science-based advocacy and my PhD in environmental microbiology and biochemistry from Cardiff University, which investigated the bacterial metabolism of nitrate esters that are used as active ingredients in cardiovascular drugs and explosives, set me up for my current role. Being at the science-policy interface to ensure regulations are based on sound science and that all stakeholders work together to ensure that patients can access medicines without compromising the health of our natural environment is an aspect of my role that I really enjoy.
I am passionate about ensuring environmental protection throughout the whole of the product lifecycle of a pharmaceutical from discovery, development, production and patient use, right through to end of life disposal. Our patients and society are increasing aware of the impacts that we are having on our planet and how that impacts our health. I want them to be reassured that AstraZeneca is committed to effectively managing the environmental risks of its activities and products to proactively minimise its environmental impact.
The scientific leadership I provide through my science-based advocacy has been recognised through my appointments as an Honorary Clinical Professor at the University of Warwick and a Professor of Practice in environmental engineering at the University of Newcastle. I also chair the European pharmaceutical industries working group on the environmental risk assessment of human medicines and represent AstraZeneca at the AMR Industry Alliance Manufacturing and Environment working group.
Another aspect of my role that I really enjoy is working with academic centres of excellence through open innovation and strategic collaborations with groups such as the Innovative Medicines Initiate, the European Commission, the Natural Environment Research Council and Biotechnology and the Biological Sciences Research Council to help manage environmental concerns related to pharmaceutical production and the presence of pharmaceuticals in the environment. Emerging areas of study include the application of the latest artificial intelligence technologies to integrate predictive environmental impact assessments earlier in drug development and the environmental risks posed by increasing patient access to medicines in low- and middle-income countries that lack basic sanitation infrastructure.
I am passionate about ensuring environmental protection throughout the whole of the product lifecycle of a pharmaceutical from discovery, development, production and patient use, right through to end of life disposal. Our patients and society are increasing aware of the impacts that we are having on our planet and how that impacts our health. I want them to be reassured that AstraZeneca is committed to effectively managing the environmental risks of its activities and products to proactively minimise its environmental impact.
CURRENT ROLE
Global Head of Environmental Protection
2020
Characterised environmental levels of pharmaceuticals within the River Nairobi Catchment
2019
Published safe discharge concentrations for over 100 antibiotics advocating equal protection for environmental and human health
2019
Published consumption-based environmental risk assessments for 130 active pharmaceutical ingredients across Europe showing risks were restricted to seven drugs even with worse case environmental exposure assessments
Global 3Rs Award for replacing regulatory fish testing whilst addressing climate and antimicrobial resistance related risks
2019
Global SHE Excellence Commendation for our industry leading PIE research
2017
Global Compliance Excellence Award for our work on Ecopharmacovigilance
2014
Global SHE Excellence Award for our work on the proactive management of the environmental dimension of antimicrobial resistance
2015
Global Compliance Excellence Award for our work on Ecopharmacovigilance
2014
Featured publications
Pharmacology beyond the patient: environmental risks of pharmaceutical use in Europe
Lina Gunnarsson, Jason R. Snape, Bas Verbruggen, Stewart F. Owen, Erik Kristiansson, Luigi Margiotta-Casaluci, Tobias Österlund, Kathryn Hutchinson, Dean Leverett, Becky Marks, Charles R. Tyler, Environment International, Volume 129, 2019, Pages 320-332, ISSN 0160-4120.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.04.075
Science‐based Targets for Antibiotics in Receiving Waters from Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Operations
Tell, J., Caldwell, D.J., Häner, A., Hellstern, J., Hoeger, B., Journel, R., Mastrocco, F., Ryan, J.J., Snape, J., Straub, J.O. and Vestel, J. (2019). Integr Environ Assess Manag, 15: 312-319.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ieam.4141
Characterising the occurrence of pharmaceuticals in the River Nairobi catchment
Simone Bagnis, Alistair Boxall, Antony Gachanja, Mark Fitzsimons, Martin Murigi, Jason Snape, Alan Tappin, John Wilkinson, Sean Comber, Science of The Total Environment, Volume 703, 2020, 134925, ISSN 0048-9697.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134925
Spatially Explicit Large-Scale Environmental Risk Assessment of Pharmaceuticals in Surface Water in China
Ying Zhu, Jason Snape, Kevin Jones, and Andrew Sweetman, Environmental Science & Technology 2019 53 (5), 2559-2569
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b07054
Machine Learning for Environmental Toxicology: A Call for Integration and Innovation
Thomas H. Miller, Matteo D. Gallidabino, James I. MacRae, Christer Hogstrand, Nicolas R. Bury, Leon P. Barron, Jason R. Snape, and Stewart F. Owen, Environmental Science & Technology 2018 52 (22), 12953-12955
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b05382
Critical knowledge gaps and research needs related to the environmental dimensions of antibiotic resistance
D.G. Joakim Larsson, Antoine Andremont, Johan Bengtsson-Palme, Kristian Koefoed Brandt, Ana Maria de Roda Husman, Patriq Fagerstedt, Jerker Fick, Carl-Fredrik Flach, William H. Gaze, Makoto Kuroda, Kristian Kvint, Ramanan Laxminarayan, Celia M. Manaia, Kaare Magne Nielsen, Laura Plant, Marie-Cécile Ploy, Carlos Segovia, Pascal Simonet, Kornelia Smalla, Jason Snape, Edward Topp, Arjon J. van Hengel, David W. Verner-Jeffreys, Marko P.J. Virta, Elizabeth M. Wellington, Ann-Sofie Wernersson, Environment International, 2018
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2018.04.041.
Application of prioritization approaches to optimize environmental monitoring and testing of pharmaceuticals
Emily E. Burns, Laura J. Carter, Jason Snape, Jane Thomas-Oates & Alistair B.A. Boxall (2018), Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B, 21:3, 115-141, DOI: 10.1080/10937404.2018.1465873
Integrating human and environmental health in antibiotic risk assessment: A critical analysis of protection goals, species sensitivity and antimicrobial resistance
Gareth Le Page, Lina Gunnarsson, Jason Snape, Charles R. Tyler, Environment International, Volume 109, 2017, Pages 155-169, ISSN 0160-4120,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2017.09.013.
ECOdrug: a database connecting drugs and conservation of their targets across species
Bas Verbruggen, Lina Gunnarsson, Erik Kristiansson, Tobias Österlund, Stewart F Owen, Jason R Snape, Charles R Tyler, Nucleic Acids Research, Volume 46, Issue D1, 4 January 2018, Pages D930–D936,
https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkx1024
Pharmaceuticals in soils of lower income countries: Physico-chemical fate and risks from wastewater irrigation
Katherine Lees, Mark Fitzsimons, Jason Snape, Alan Tappin, Sean Comber, Environment International, Volume 94, 2016, Pages 712-723, ISSN 0160-4120,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2016.06.018.
Ecotoxicological assessment of antibiotics: A call for improved consideration of microorganisms
Kristian K. Brandt, Alejandro Amézquita, Thomas Backhaus, Alistair Boxall, Anja Coors, Thomas Heberer, John R. Lawrence, James Lazorchak, Jens Schönfeld, Jason R. Snape, Yong-Guan Zhu, Edward Topp, Environment International, Volume 85, 2015, Pages 189-205, ISSN 0160-4120,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2015.09.013.
Management Options for Reducing the Release of Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance Genes to the Environment
Amy Pruden, D.G. Joakim Larsson, Alejandro Amézquita, Peter Collignon, Kristian K. Brandt, David W. Graham, James M. Lazorchak, Satoru Suzuki, Peter Silley, Jason R. Snape, Edward Topp, Tong Zhang, and Yong-Guan Zhu, Environmental Health Perspectives, Published:1 August 2013
https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1206446
Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) for Environmental Development and Transfer of Antibiotic Resistance
Nicholas J. Ashbolt, Alejandro Amézquita, Thomas Backhaus, Peter Borriello, Kristian K. Brandt, Peter Collignon, Anja Coors, Rita Finley, William H. Gaze, Thomas Heberer, John R. Lawrence, D.G. Joakim Larsson, Scott A. McEwen, James J. Ryan, Jens Schönfeld, Peter Silley, Jason R. Snape, Christel Van den Eede, and Edward Topp, Environmental Health Perspectives, Published:1 September 2013
https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1206316
Implementing Ecopharmacovigilance in Practice: Challenges and Potential Opportunities
Holm, G., Snape, J.R., Murray-Smith, R. et al. Drug Saf (2013) 36: 533. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40264-013-0049-3
Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in the Environment: What Are the Big Questions?
Alistair B.A. Boxall, Murray A. Rudd, Bryan W. Brooks, Daniel J. Caldwell, Kyungho Choi, Silke Hickmann, Elizabeth Innes, Kim Ostapyk, Jane P. Staveley, Tim Verslycke, Gerald T. Ankley, Karen F. Beazley, Scott E. Belanger, Jason P. Berninger, Pedro Carriquiriborde, Anja Coors, Paul C. DeLeo, Scott D. Dyer, Jon F. Ericson, François Gagné, John P. Giesy, Todd Gouin, Lars Hallstrom, Maja V. Karlsson, D. G. Joakim Larsson, James M. Lazorchak, Frank Mastrocco, Alison McLaughlin, Mark E. McMaster, Roger D. Meyerhoff, Roberta Moore, Joanne L. Parrott, Jason R. Snape, Richard Murray-Smith, Mark R. Servos, Paul K. Sibley, Jürg Oliver Straub, Nora D. Szabo, Edward Topp, Gerald R. Tetreault, Vance L. Trudeau, and Glen Van Der Kraak, Environmental Health Perspectives, Published: 1 September 2012
https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1104477
Environmental risk assessment of human pharmaceuticals in the European Union: A case study with the β‐blocker atenolol
Küster, A. , Alder, A. C., Escher, B. I., Duis, K. , Fenner, K. , Garric, J. , Hutchinson, T. H., Lapen, D. R., Péry, A. , Römbke, J. , Snape, J. , Ternes, T. , Topp, E. , Wehrhan, A. and Knacker, T. (2010), Environmental risk assessment of human pharmaceuticals in the European Union: A case study with the β‐blocker atenolol. Integr Environ Assess Manag, 6: 514-523.
https://doi.org/10.1897/IEAM_2009-050.1
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