A diverse suite of pharmaceuticals contaminates stream and riparian food webs

Abstract

A multitude of biologically active pharmaceuticals contaminate surface waters globally, yet their presence in aquatic food webs remain largely unknown. Here, we show that over 60 pharmaceutical compounds can be detected in aquatic invertebrates and riparian spiders in six streams near Melbourne, Australia. Similar concentrations in aquatic invertebrate larvae and riparian predators suggest direct trophic transfer via emerging adult insects to riparian predators that consume them. As representative vertebrate predators feeding on aquatic invertebrates, platypus and brown trout could consume some drug classes such as antidepressants at as much as one-half of a recommended therapeutic dose for humans based on their estimated prey consumption rates, yet the consequences for fish and wildlife of this chronic exposure are unknown. Overall, this work highlights the potential exposure of aquatic and riparian biota to a diverse array of pharmaceuticals, resulting in exposures to some drugs that are comparable to human dosages.

Co-Design of Engineered Hyporheic Zones to Improve In-Stream Stormwater Treatment and Facilitate Regulatory Approval

“…For example, all nonpoint source violations in Los Angeles, California would not be eliminated even if all available public land were retrofitted with typical green infrastructure BMPs [10]. To mitigate widespread impairments of urban streams and downstream habitats [1,11,12], many studies have called for a comprehensive management approach in which in-stream strategies (e.g., stream restoration) are used to complement land-based stormwater BMPs [8,[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21].…”

Mapping Micro-Pollutants and Their Impacts on the Size Structure of Streambed Communities

“…Several of the measured EOCs in our survey study, such as diclofenac, ibuprofen, carbamazepine, metoprolol, gemfibrozil, oxazepam, tramadol, and venlafaxine are already known to bioaccumulate in biofilms, invertebrates, and fish in the food webs of stream ecosystems [45,47,48]. In addition, some of these EOCs in larval tissues can be conserved through metamorphosis and adults play the role of a biological vector transporting pharmaceuticals to terrestrial predators [46]. Under our theoretical framework, bioaccumulation is expected to be more acute under a scenario of EOC pollution and the concomitant population increase of tolerant macroinvertebrates.…”

“…Consequently, the existence of more abundant tolerant invertebrates in our study might imply a better transference of biomass and energy between trophic levels and potentially longer food chains. Considering these predictions, we are particularly concerned that several EOCs bioaccumulate untransformed in the cells and tissues of aquatic organisms and even biomagnify through different trophic levels [44][45][46]. Several of the measured EOCs in our survey study, such as diclofenac, ibuprofen, carbamazepine, metoprolol, gemfibrozil, oxazepam, tramadol, and venlafaxine are already known to bioaccumulate in biofilms, invertebrates, and fish in the food webs of stream ecosystems [45,47,48].…”

Fluorescence Excitation-Emission Spectroscopy: An Analytical Technique to Monitor Drugs of Addiction in Wastewater

“…Yadav, et al [4] reported that the production, synthesis and usage of DOA are increasing at an unprecedented pace globally and at a rate above that of normal global population growth. Wastewater effluents are recognised as the primary source for the transfer of DOA into the environment or used in recycling schemes [5,6], and frequent monitoring of these compounds is the only means of assessing their removal efficiency during treatment and residue levels in discharged water (effluent).…”