Occurrence and Effects of Antimicrobials Drugs in Aquatic Ecosystems

Ronield Fernandez, Nieves R. Colás-Ruiz, Hernando José Bolívar-Anillo, Giorgio Anfuso and Miriam Hampel
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Ronield Fernandez: Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Biomédicas, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Carrera 59 No. 59-65, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
Nieves R. Colás-Ruiz: Facultad de Ciencias Marinas y Ambientales (CASEM), Universidad de Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Spain
Hernando José Bolívar-Anillo: Facultad de Ciencias Básicas y Biomédicas, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Carrera 59 No. 59-65, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia
Giorgio Anfuso: Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Spain
Miriam Hampel: Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Departamento de Química Física, Universidad de Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Spain

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 23, 1-22

Abstract: Currently, thanks to the development of sensitive analytical techniques, the presence of different emerging pollutants in aquatic ecosystems has been evidenced; however, most of them have not been submitted to any regulation so far. Among emerging contaminants, antimicrobials have received particular attention in recent decades, mainly due to the concerning development of antibiotic resistance observed in bacteria, but little is known about the toxicological and ecological impact that antimicrobials can have on aquatic ecosystems. Their high consumption in human and veterinary medicine, food-producing animals and aquaculture, as well as persistence and poor absorption have caused antimicrobials to be discharged into receiving waters, with or without prior treatment, where they have been detected at ng-mg L −1 levels with the potential to cause effects on the various organisms living within aquatic systems. This review presents the current knowledge on the occurrence of antimicrobials in aquatic ecosystems, emphasizing their occurrence in different environmental matrixes and the effects on aquatic organisms (cyanobacteria, microalgae, invertebrates and vertebrates).

Keywords: aquatic ecosystems; effects of exposure; sediments; surface water; marine ecosystem (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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