New study reveals pharmaceuticals are polluting England's National Parks - University of York
England's National Parks, renowned for their natural beauty and diverse wildlife, are facing a hidden threat: pharmaceutical pollution.
New research from the University of York and the Rivers Trust has revealed widespread contamination of rivers in the parks, with antidepressants, anticonvulsants, antimicrobials, anti-inflammatory substances, lipid regulators and diabetes treatments being detected.
The study found pharmaceuticals in river water at 52 out of 54 locations monitored across all ten national parks in England. Some pharmaceuticals were found at levels of concern for the health of freshwater organisms and for humans who come into contact with the water, highlighting the need for tighter regulation and greater monitoring of some of England’s most cherished landscapes.
Alarming results
Although researchers found that levels of pharmaceutical pollution were generally lower in national parks than in rivers in UK cities, it did identify alarming exceptions. Some rivers in the Peak District and on Exmoor were found to have concentrations of pharmaceuticals higher than seen in major cities such as London. For the latter location, sampling occurred during a period of very low river flow, thereby markedly reducing dilution of the pharmaceuticals and highlighting the challenge that the predicted future increase in the frequency of droughts will bring.
The study found that in the Peak District, Exmoor, Lake District, South Downs and the New Forest some pharmaceuticals were at levels that were potentially harmful to fish, invertebrates, and algae.
Posted On: 14/08/2024
More on: