Sites studied in the research where antibiotics exceeded ‘safe’ levels by the greatest degree were in five countries, including Bangladesh. The others are Kenya, Ghana, Pakistan and Nigeria, according to the study by York Environmental Sustainability Institute at the University of York, England. Metronidazole, which is used to treat bacterial infections including skin and mouth infections, exceeded safe levels by the biggest margin, with concentrations at one site in Bangladesh 300 times greater than the ‘safe’ level, the report, published on the institute’s website on May 27, said. Led by YESI's Professor Alistair Boxall, the study is first of its kind in global level, according to the report. Researchers looked for 14 commonly used antibiotics in rivers in 72 countries across six continents and found antibiotics at 65 percent of the sites monitored.

Source: bd News24 June 06, 2019 21:45 UTC