THE TOXIC COST

Environmental pollution by pharmaceuticals is increasingly recognised as a major threat to aquatic ecosystems worldwide. A variety of pharmaceuticals enter waterways by way of treated wastewater effluents and remain biochemically active in aquatic systems. Several ecotoxicological studies have been done, but generally, little is known about the ecological effects of pharmaceuticals. - Science journal, 2013

 

 

Studies have found that up to 80% of rivers in the U.S. contain trace amounts of benzodiazepines and other pharmaceuticals, leading to significant ecological disruption, including altered behaviour in aquatic species like fish and amphibians.

•  Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

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Impact on Fish Behavior: Benzodiazepines present in water sources have been shown to reduce fish anxiety and make them more prone to predation, potentially disrupting entire ecosystems.

• Source: Science journal, 2013

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Benzodiazepines can remain in the environment for years or even decades due to their slow degradation, leading to long-term environmental contamination.

• Source: Environmental Science & Technology journal

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Standard wastewater treatment plants fail to remove over 50% of benzodiazepines, allowing these drugs to pass into natural water bodies, contributing to widespread contamination.

• Source: Water Research journal, 2018

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Benzodiazepines have been found to bioaccumulate in the tissues of wildlife, including birds and mammals, leading to potential toxic effects and long-term health issues.

• Source: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry journal

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