ANXIOLYTICS AS ACTIVE CONTAMINANTS IN AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTS

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216224%3A14160%2F25%3A00143974" target="_blank" >RIV/00216224:14160/25:00143974 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

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DOI - Digital Object Identifier

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Result language

angličtina

Original language name

ANXIOLYTICS AS ACTIVE CONTAMINANTS IN AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTS

Original language description

Pharmaceuticals, particularly anxiolytics from the benzodiazepine class, represent a specific group of so-called micropollutants with a high potential for sublethal and behavioural effects on aquatic organisms, even at the very low concentrations commonly detected in wastewater and surface waters. These compounds exhibit persistence during conventional municipal wastewater treatment and, due to their biological activity, may affect the neurophysiology and behaviour of non-target aquatic animals, especially fish. For example, oxazepam has been detected in European rivers at concentrations up to 61 ng/L. Long-term exposure to mixtures of benzodiazepines (temazepam, clobazam, oxazepam, temazepam) has also been shown to result in bioaccumulation in fish tissue and synergistic behavioural effects that cannot be predicted from single-compound exposure. A recent field study investigated the migration behaviour of 279 Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the Dalälven River (Sweden), where fish were exposed to an environmentally relevant dose of the anxiolytic clobazam. The results showed that treated individuals migrated faster, exhibited reduced shoaling behaviour, and a greater proportion reached the sea. However, these behavioural changes increased predation risk and disrupted the normal migratory strategy. In this context, we conducted our own study investigating the prevalence of four benzodiazepines—diazepam and its active metabolites oxazepam, temazepam, and nordazepam—in the waters of two rivers flowing through the second largest city (Brno) in the Czech Republic. Our findings highlight the need for a revised approach to environmental risk assessment of pharmaceuticals, one that includes behavioural endpoints. The results also support the development of “green pharmacy” principles and technological innovation aimed at improving the removal of these compounds from wastewater.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

O - Miscellaneous

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

30104 - Pharmacology and pharmacy

Project

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Continuities

N - Vyzkumna aktivita podporovana z neverejnych zdroju

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů