Coimbra – A study conducted by the Faculty of Science and Technology at the University of Coimbra (FCTUC) has revealed significant pharmaceutical contamination in urban stream waters across Europe.
This research, part of the OneAquaHealth project, examined 102 streams in cities including Benevento (Italy), Coimbra (Portugal), Ghent (Belgium), Toulouse (France), and Oslo (Norway), as announced by FCTUC in a statement to the Lusa agency.
The findings show that 16 different pharmaceuticals from six therapeutic categories were detected at 91% of the sampling sites.
Mixtures of pharmaceuticals were present in 79% of the examined locations.
“Among the most commonly found substances are irbesartan and bisoprolol (antihypertensives), along with carbamazepine (an anticonvulsant), which were identified in over half of the urban streams,” noted FCTUC PhD student Fernanda Rodrigues.
The lead researcher mentioned, “Paracetamol exhibited the highest concentrations, while irbesartan, bisoprolol, and fluoxetine reached unprecedented levels compared to previous studies.”
In Coimbra, 14 pharmaceuticals were identified in urban streams, particularly carbamazepine, irbesartan, losartan, atenolol, and venlafaxine.
According to Maria João Feio, a researcher from the Center for Marine and Environmental Sciences (MARE) at FCTUC, “one sampling site in the city contained 70% of the analyzed compounds,” with the highest levels corresponding to the antihypertensives irbesartan and atenolol.
“Despite being less common, four of the seven antibiotics tested were also detected in Coimbra’s waters, raising concerns due to the increasing threat of antimicrobial resistance, which is considered a major global public health issue,” she cautioned.
The research uncovered notable statistical differences in contamination levels across cities, with Coimbra and Oslo showing lower concentrations.
FCTUC indicated that in Portugal, the presence of pharmaceuticals was statistically linked to the morphological and ecological conditions of the streams as well as the extent of urban impermeabilization.
The findings underscore that pollution is influenced not only by medication usage but also by the ecological quality and conservation of riparian ecosystems.
The study calls attention to the “urgent need to restore freshwater ecosystems and to adopt new technologies for pharmaceutical removal in wastewater treatment facilities,” as highlighted by the researchers. (03/11/25)
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