Riccardo Liguori Drug pollution is a growing problem and new Italian research demonstrates the negative effects of ibuprofen on seagrasses (Cymodocea nodosa). The study highlights the need for new technologies for water purification and greater attention to the environmental impact of drugs
@Pillon, Roberto
Who could have ever thought that the cure for a common headache could pose a threat to the health of our oceans? Nevertheless, studies conducted by the University of Pisa brought to the surface a shocking truth-that ibuprofen, this anti-inflammatory medication which is found in nearly every cabinet, is actually capable of turning into a highly toxic poison in marine ecosystems.
It demonstrated that high concentrations of ibuprofen damage marine plants, specifically stunting the growth and thus increasing the susceptibility to environmental stress of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa. The finding uncovers the larger problem of pharmaceutical pollution and immediate innovative solutions needed in order to protect marine environments.
The role of marine plants
Marine plants, like Cymodocea nodosa studied by these researchers from Pisa, are some of the actual unsung heroes for the well-being of our seas. They play a crucial role in the protection of coastlines, buffering carbon, producing oxygen, and housing biodiversity. – says Professor Elena Balestri who led the study.
Yet these invaluable allies are increasingly threatened by pollution, including pharmaceutical contaminants. For instance, ibuprofen, common in wastewater, can cause damage to the cellular membranes and photosynthetic systems of seagrasses, which renders them vulnerable to other stressors.
The effects of ibuprofen
In order to gain more insight into how ibuprofen influences Cymodocea nodosa, researchers exposed specimens of the plant to the different concentrations of this medication during 12 days, under conditions similar to those in the Mediterranean Sea.
Results showed that ibuprofen concentrations at 0.25 and 2.5 μg/l induce oxidative stress into plants without causing permanent damage. However, at 25 μg/l, plants suffered severe damage at the level of cellular membranes and photosynthetic apparatus. This in turn incapacitated the plant’s ability to deal with environmental stresses, such as increasing water temperatures or other pollutants.
“This is the first study to investigate the impact of anti-inflammatory drugs on marine plants,” Professor Balestri said. “The understanding of the impact produced by these emerging contaminants is crucial to preserve the health of our seas.”
A global problem
“The global consumption of ibuprofen is more than 22 million pounds per year, and it will increase,” Professor Balestri warns.
Current wastewater treatment systems cannot remove ibuprofen completely, which means that it enters marine environments. Freshwater ecosystems, such as rivers and lakes, are also in danger, possibly affecting the food chain and, consequently, human health. Ibuprofen accumulates in the tissues of aquatic organisms and, through the food chain, reaches man.
The results have highlighted that research by the University of Pisa has underlined an important issue related to the impact of pharmaceuticals on the environment and called for innovative solutions to protect marine life.
“We need to improve the technologies of wastewater treatment to decrease the quantities of pharmaceuticals released naturally,” Professor Balestri stresses. “Moreover, it is necessary to establish limits of maximum concentration of such contaminants in the water system and to define their tolerance thresholds for animal and plant species alike.”
