Objective: To estimate the consumption and quantity of unaltered antiretrivirals (ARV) eliminated into the environment and to carry out a literature research on aquatic ecotoxicological studies of ARV used in Brazil. Methodology: We requested from one of the ARV dispensing units in the city of Belo-Horizonte (BH) the amount of ARV dispensed in the years 2018-2019-2020. Considering the amount dispensed in 2020, the daily dose, and the elimination rate, the amount of drug in unchanged form in the environment was estimated. For entire municipality of BH and Brazil, we used epidemiological data were used regarding individuals using antiretroviral therapy (ART) in 2020, the proportion of people living with HIV using the main ART regimen, following the same estimation methodology used previously. Structured and individual searches were carried out for each ARV used in Brazil, relating it to ecotoxicology, through Google Scholar, National Center for Biotechnology Information and Scifinder, in addition to the use of the fass.se platform. Results: Four articles presented results of acute or chronic toxicity in ecotoxicological models involving ARV. Dolutegravir and efavirenz were found to be highly toxic in ecotoxicological models. In 2020, approximately 2,167kg of ARVs in unchanged form were released into the environment in BH. In Brazil it was 112,274kg. Conclusion: It is urgent to quantify the main ARV in water bodies. With these data together with ecotoxicological data it will be possible to establish risk criteria for possible measures to control or mitigate these contaminants in the environment, especially actions to improve wastewater/water treatment.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2025 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.