- By studying nine different pharmaceutical active compounds in Yamuna river, researchers have now pointed out that it can “possibly cause chronic toxicity” to aquatic life and to humans who use this water for drinking purposes.
- As our body does not use the entire quantity of the drug we take, most of it is excreted and end up in aquatic systems via domestic sewage.
- The team looked at six over-the-counter drugs (aspirin, paracetamol, ibuprofen, ranitidine, caffeine, diclofenac) and three prescription drugs (carbamazepine, codeine, diazepam).
- At this site, ibuprofen and paracetamol were found at a high concentration of 1.49 and 1.08 microgram per litre respectively.
- Previous studies have shown that even small concentration of ibuprofen could cause an antagonistic effect on aquatic organisms.
- Studies have also shown that ibuprofen exposure could increase cyanobacterial growth in the water.
- Caffeine was found in high concentration in most of the sites.
- Caffeine is used as a stimulant in medicine; residue from beverages and other food products may be a contributor.
- Even prescription drugs such as carbamazepine were found in the samples with the highest level at 1.35 microgram per litre.
- Uncontrolled discharge of drug-containing effluents in our rivers and other water bodies can potentially make many microbes drug-resistant
