Drugs have dangerously polluted the world’s rivers, scientists warnPharmaceutical pollution poses ‘global threat to human and environmental health,’ major study findsBy Damian Carrington / The GuardianHumanity’s drugs have polluted rivers across the entire world and pose “a global threat to environmental and human health,” according to the most comprehensive study to date. The scientists measured the concentration of 61 active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) at more than 1,000 sites along 258 rivers and in 104 countries, covering all continents. New research shows that Iceland is one of only two places covered in the study that is not polluted with pharmaceutical ingredients. Drug pollution was already known to be harming wildlife, from antidepressants causing starlings to feed less and contraceptive drugs reducing fish populations. They are also increasing the number of drugs measured and hope to assess levels in rivers across the year in order to examine seasonal trends.

Source: Taipei Times February 15, 2022 22:13 UTC