USGS Study Indicates Pharmaceuticals are Widespread in Small Streams in the Southeast US

According to a new study published on May 24, 2016 from the US Geological Survey (USGS), pharmaceuticals are widespread in small streams across the Southeast United States. The study details how in 2014, the USGS sampled 59 small streams in portions of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia for 108 different pharmaceutical compounds and detected one or more pharmaceuticals in all 59 streams. Results determined the average number of pharmaceuticals detected in the streams was six.

Previous research indicated that wastewater treatment facility discharges were the most likely source for pharmaceutical chemicals in surface water. However, the findings in this study, reported in the journal Environmental Science and Technology Letters, indicate the pharmaceuticals may originate from other sources as well-only 17 of the 59 streams have any reported wastewater discharges.

In a press announcement, USGS indicated the most common pharmaceutical chemicals detected are:

• Metformin: Used to treat Type II diabetes, this chemical was detected in 89% of samples

• Lidocaine: Used as a pain reliever, this chemical was detected in 38% of samples

• Acetaminophen: Used as a pain reliever, this chemical was detected in 36% of samples

• Carbamazepine: Used to treat seizures, this chemical was detected in 28% of samples

• Fexofenadine: Used as an anti-histamine, this chemical was detected in 23% of samples

• Tramadol: An opioid pain reliever, this chemical was detected in 22% of samples.

Although much uncertainty remains as to how pharmaceuticals affect aquatic organisms, some adverse effects have been documented. Antibiotic/antibacterial contaminants-detected in at least 20% of streams-can affect aquatic microbial communities, altering the base of the food web. Antihistamines, frequently detected in this study, affect neurotransmitters for many aquatic insects. And metformin, nearly ubiquitous in the streams studied, can affect the reproductive health of fish.

While the research indicated there were chemicals present in the water, none of them exceeded human health benchmarks. In addition to the individual chemicals listed, the two groups of compounds most frequently detected were nicotine-related compounds (71% of samples) and caffeine-related compounds (detected in 49% of samples).

Source: USGS