Antidepressants in stream ecosystems: influence of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on algal production and insect emergence

Richmond, Erinn K.; Rosi‐Marshall, Emma J.; Lee, Sylvia; Thompson, Ross; Grace, Mike

doi:10.1086/687841

Cited by 55 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…Although we do not yet understand the direct and indirect effects of these compounds, either singly or in complex mixtures, on fish and wildlife, a growing body of research demonstrates that many pharmaceuticals disrupt ecological interactions, functions and communities 11 . For example, amphetamines and antidepressants in stream water can disrupt the timing of emergence of aquatic insects 41 , 42 ; psycholeptics such as Valium™ and the illicit drugs amphetamine and LSD can compromise the web-building ability of spiders 43 ; and fish behaviour is altered when consuming prey contaminated with an antidepressant 44 . While pharmaceuticals have been detected in trace amounts (part per trillion concentrations) in surface waters around the world for over two decades, it was widely assumed that these concentrations pose little risk to the aquatic biota because environmental concentrations are usually well below lethal concentrations, and many of these compounds degrade rapidly in the environment, suggesting low risk of persistence and biomagnification potential (reviewed by 11 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A diverse suite of pharmaceuticals contaminates stream and riparian food webs

et al. 2018

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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.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A diverse suite of pharmaceuticals contaminates stream and riparian food webs

et al. 2018

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“…More recent studies reveal effects of other emerging contaminants (e.g. anti‐inflammatories, antidepressants) on algal communities (Bácsi et al ., ; Richmond et al ., ). In addition to affecting species abundance and composition, antimicrobial compounds could also affect aquatic ecosystem function (Nietch et al ., ), but downstream biodiversity implications are speculative.…”

Section: Emerging Threatsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Emerging threats and persistent conservation challenges for freshwater biodiversity

et al. 2018

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In the 12 years since Dudgeon et al. (2006) reviewed major pressures on freshwater ecosystems, the biodiversity crisis in the world's lakes, reservoirs, rivers, streams and wetlands has deepened. While lakes, reservoirs and rivers cover only 2.3% of the Earth's surface, these ecosystems host at least 9.5% of the Earth's described animal species. Furthermore, using the World Wide Fund for Nature's Living Planet Index, freshwater population declines (83% between 1970 and 2014) continue to outpace contemporaneous declines in marine or terrestrial systems. The Anthropocene has brought multiple new and varied threats that disproportionately impact freshwater systems. We document 12 emerging threats to freshwater biodiversity that are either entirely new since 2006 or have since intensified: (i) changing climates; (ii) e-commerce and invasions; (iii) infectious diseases; (iv) harmful algal blooms; (v) expanding hydropower; (vi) emerging contaminants; (vii) engineered nanomaterials; (viii) microplastic pollution; (ix) light and noise; (x) freshwater salinisation; (xi) declining calcium; and (xii) cumulative stressors. Effects are evidenced for amphibians, fishes, invertebrates, microbes, plants, turtles and waterbirds, with potential for ecosystem-level changes through bottom-up and top-down processes. In our highly uncertain future, the net effects of these threats raise serious concerns for freshwater ecosystems. However, we also highlight opportunities for conservation gains as a result of novel management tools (e.g. environmental flows, environmental DNA) and specific conservation-oriented actions (e.g. dam removal, habitat protection policies, managed relocation of species) that have been met with varying levels of success. Moving forward, we advocate hybrid approaches that manage fresh waters as crucial ecosystems for human life support as well as essential hotspots of biodiversity and ecological function. Efforts to reverse global trends in freshwater degradation now depend on bridging an immense gap between the aspirations of conservation biologists and the accelerating rate of species endangerment.

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“…, Richmond et al. ). In addition, continuous exposure to drugs can alter the diversity and taxonomic composition of microbial communities in freshwater ecosystems by selecting for organisms that can tolerate or in some cases digest the contaminant (Drury et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urban stream microbial communities show resistance to pharmaceutical exposure

et al. 2018

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Abstract. Residues of pharmaceuticals are increasingly detected in surface waters throughout the world.In four streams in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, we detected analgesics, stimulants, antihistamines, and antibiotics using passive organic samplers. We exposed biofilm communities in these streams to the common drugs caffeine, cimetidine, ciprofloxacin, and diphenhydramine. Respiration rates in the least urban stream were suppressed when exposed to these drugs, but biofilm functioning in the most urban stream was resistant to drug exposure. Exposure to the antibiotic ciprofloxacin altered bacterial community composition at all sites, with the greatest change occurring in the most urban stream. These results indicated that continuous exposure to drugs in urban streams may select for sub-populations of highly resistant bacteria that maintain community function in response to urban contaminants.

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Antidepressants in stream ecosystems: influence of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on algal production and insect emergence

Cited by 55 publications

References 66 publications

A diverse suite of pharmaceuticals contaminates stream and riparian food webs

A diverse suite of pharmaceuticals contaminates stream and riparian food webs

Emerging threats and persistent conservation challenges for freshwater biodiversity

Urban stream microbial communities show resistance to pharmaceutical exposure

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