Why in news?
A recent study reveals the effects of the discharge of drug-containing effluents into the Yamuna.
What is the study on?
- Human body does not use the entire quantity of the drug when it is taken.
- Resultantly, most of it is excreted and thus end up in aquatic systems via domestic sewage.
- The study thus looks at the occurrence, fate and ecological risks of these compounds.
- It observed nine different pharmaceutical active compounds in the Yamuna river.
- These are six over-the-counter drugs (aspirin, paracetamol, ibuprofen, ranitidine, caffeine, diclofenac) and three prescription drugs (carbamazepine, codeine, diazepam).
What were the findings?
- The highest concentration of pharmaceutical compounds was located downstream Wazirabad at the point where Najafgarh drain joins the Yamuna.
- This is one of the largest drains of Delhi and has an average discharge of about 25 cubic metres per second.
- This drain is the largest polluter of the river contributing more than 50% of the total discharge into the Yamuna.
- At this site, ibuprofen and paracetamol were found at a high concentration of 1.49 and 1.08 microgram per litre respectively.
- Previous studies have shown that even small concentration of ibuprofen could cause an antagonistic effect on aquatic organisms.
- Studies have also shown that ibuprofen exposure could increase cyanobacterial growth in the water.
- Caffeine was found in high concentration in most of the sites.
- Caffeine is used as a stimulant in medicine. Residue from beverages and other food products may also be a contributor.
What could the impact be?
- The individual levels of the drugs were small and cannot cause acute toxicity to the marine life.
- But the mixture of compounds can “possibly cause chronic toxicity” to aquatic life and to humans who use this water for drinking purposes.
- This not only affects the biodiversity of the river but can also lead to the rise of superbugs.
- The discharge of drug-containing effluents in rivers and other water bodies can potentially make many microbes drug-resistant.
- The sewage treatment plants are not designed to take care of these pharmaceutical compounds.
- The study thus highlights the need for the government to bring in the guidelines or specific rules to arrest and address this.
Source: The Hindu
