Origin, transport and ecological risk assessment of illicit drugs in the environment – A review

Krishnan, Radhakrishnan Yedhu; Manikandan, S.; Subbaiya, R.; Biruntha, M.; Balachandar, R.; Karmegam, Natchimuthu

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137091

Cited by 11 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 110 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…It also extends its impact to apex predators, including humans who consume fish. This accumulation chain underscores the urgency for further research into the ecological risks and consequences arising from ID residues in water systems, as noted by [ 13 , 23 ] and others. The interconnectedness between the bioaccumulation in fish tissues and the broader ecological implications necessitates a comprehensive investigation to mitigate potential risks to aquatic life and, by extension, human health.…”

Section: Bioaccumulation Of Illicit Drugs and Their Toxicitymentioning

confidence: 67%

“…The excretion of IDs either in their unaltered form or as metabolites can lead to their entry into sewage systems and subsequent survival during WWTP processes. As a result, IDs can be found in various water bodies, including rivers, streams, surface water, and marine environments [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ].…”

Section: Occurrence Of Illicit Drugs In the Aquatic Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Illicit Drugs in Surface Waters: How to Get Fish off the Addictive Hook

Falfushynska,

Rychter,

Boshtova

et al. 2024

Pharmaceuticals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The United Nations World Drug Report published in 2022 alarmed that the global market of illicit drugs is steadily expanding in space and scale. Substances of abuse are usually perceived in the light of threats to human health and public security, while the environmental aspects of their use and subsequent emissions usually remain less explored. However, as with other human activities, drug production, trade, and consumption of drugs may leave their environmental mark. Therefore, this paper aims to review the occurrence of illicit drugs in surface waters and their bioaccumulation and toxicity in fish. Illicit drugs of different groups, i.e., psychostimulants (methamphetamines/amphetamines, cocaine, and its metabolite benzoylecgonine) and depressants (opioids: morphine, heroin, methadone, fentanyl), can reach the aquatic environment through wastewater discharge as they are often not entirely removed during wastewater treatment processes, resulting in their subsequent circulation in nanomolar concentrations, potentially affecting aquatic biota, including fish. Exposure to such xenobiotics can induce oxidative stress and dysfunction to mitochondrial and lysosomal function, distort locomotion activity by regulating the dopaminergic and glutamatergic systems, increase the predation risk, instigate neurological disorders, disbalance neurotransmission, and produce histopathological alterations in the brain and liver tissues, similar to those described in mammals. Hence, this drugs-related multidimensional harm to fish should be thoroughly investigated in line with environmental protection policies before it is too late. At the same time, selected fish species (e.g., Danio rerio, zebrafish) can be employed as models to study toxic and binge-like effects of psychoactive, illicit compounds.

show abstract

Section: Bioaccumulation Of Illicit Drugs and Their Toxicitymentioning

confidence: 67%

Section: Occurrence Of Illicit Drugs In the Aquatic Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Illicit Drugs in Surface Waters: How to Get Fish off the Addictive Hook

Falfushynska,

Rychter,

Boshtova

et al. 2024

Pharmaceuticals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Illicit drugs are typically restricted classes of chemical compounds 4 which are not widely administered as part of existing therapeutic practice due to their perceived risks to human health, including from addiction (Rosi-Marhsall et al, 2015). However, 'illicit' drug use also includes the (mis)use of licit prescription pharmaceuticals for their euphoric qualities (Krishnan et al, 2023). Licit pharmaceutical compounds may also be used as components in the production of illicit drugs, thereby complicating the identification and classification of residual chemical compounds in soil and water and defining the precise extent of environmental damage from illicit drug production, particularly where the scale of damage is significantly less 4…”

Section: Definitions and Pathwaysmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Environmental Impacts of Illicit Drug Production

Cheeseman

2024

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This rapid evidence review compiles findings on the environmental impacts of illicit drug production, focusing on water and soil pollution, ecosystem health, land use change, and waste management. It highlights the complexity of the issue, with significant gaps in understanding the long-term effects on ecosystems. The review also examines how prohibitionary drug policies may exacerbate environmental harm. Key findings include distinct regional patterns of drug use, complex relationships between land use change and drug production, and the persistence of biologically active compounds in water systems. Limited data and lack of cross-agency collaboration present challenges in addressing these issues effectively.

show abstract

“…Hence, drugs of abuse have become an emergent class of pollutants that endangers freshwaters and marine habitats. [ 2 ] Among them, special attention must be devoted to methamphetamine (MA). The growing consumption of this highly addictive element, as well as its use as a medical treatment for some mental health diseases, [ 3 ] has led to the appearance of an increasing number of clandestine manufacturers as well.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methamphetamine Removal from Aquatic Environments by Magnetic Microrobots with Cyclodextrin Chiral Recognition Elements

Mayorga–Burrezo,

Mayorga–Martinez,

Kuchař

et al. 2024

Small

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The growing consumption of drugs of abuse together with the inefficiency of the current wastewater treatment plants toward their presence has resulted in an emergent class of pollutants. Thus, the development of alternative approaches to remediate this environmental threat is urgently needed. Microrobots, combining autonomous motion with great tunability for the development of specific tasks, have turned into promising candidates to take on the challenge. Here, hybrid urchin‐like hematite (α‐Fe2O3) microparticles carrying magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles and surface functionalization with organic β‐cyclodextrin (CD) molecules are prepared with the aim of on‐the‐fly encapsulation of illicit drugs into the linked CD cavities of moving microrobots. The resulting mag‐CD microrobots are tested against methamphetamine (MA), proving their ability for the removal of this psychoactive substance. A dramatically enhanced capture of MA from water with active magnetically powered microrobots when compared with static passive CD‐modified particles is demonstrated. This work shows the advantages of enhanced mass transfer provided by the externally controlled magnetic navigation in microrobots that together with the versatility of their design is an efficient strategy to clean polluted waters.

show abstract

Origin, transport and ecological risk assessment of illicit drugs in the environment – A review

Cited by 11 publications

References 110 publications

Illicit Drugs in Surface Waters: How to Get Fish off the Addictive Hook

Illicit Drugs in Surface Waters: How to Get Fish off the Addictive Hook

The Environmental Impacts of Illicit Drug Production

Methamphetamine Removal from Aquatic Environments by Magnetic Microrobots with Cyclodextrin Chiral Recognition Elements

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About