Pharmaceuticals and Drug pollution in Northern Ireland’s Lakes and Rivers: Landmark Study Reveals Scope and Risks
Date published:
A major new study has revealed the widespread presence of pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and illicit drugs in Northern Ireland’s lakes and rivers. The research, titled “An environmental risk assessment of contamination of lakes and rivers in Northern Ireland with pharmaceuticals, personal care products and drugs of abuse”, was conducted Dr Billy Hunter and colleagues in the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute’s (AFBI) Fisheries and Aquatic Ecosystems Branch, in collaboration with Prof. Leon Barron and his team in the School of Public Health at Imperial College London, via Imperial Projects.
Compared with other regions in the UK and Ireland, Northern Ireland’s waters were found to be less heavily contaminated overall. However, the presence of these substances still raises concerns for ecosystem health and human exposure, especially given the multiple uses of freshwater for drinking, agriculture, aquaculture, and recreation
This is the most spatially comprehensive assessment of chemical contaminants in surface waters ever undertaken for Northern Ireland. Researchers sampled 50 sites across five major freshwater bodies, analysing 137 water samples for 114 different substances. Twenty-one compounds were detected, with the opioid pain-killer tramadol (91%), cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine (91%), caffeine (80%) and the anti-depressant venlafaxine (76%) among the most frequently found.
While most substances posed low environmental risk, diclofenac and caffeine were identified as presenting moderate to high risks. The study also found that the antibiotic trimethoprim may be contributing to an increased risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) developing in the environment, especially in the River Lagan area of Greater Belfast. Catchment analysis suggests that both treated and untreated wastewater are contributing to the contamination.
“This research provides the first baseline for understanding the extent of chemical pollution in Northern Ireland’s lakes and rivers,” said lead author Dr Billy Hunter, from AFBI. “It not only fills a critical knowledge gap but also offers a foundation for future national monitoring programmes.”
Prof. Leon Barron said, "It was encouraging to see that water contamination with these particular chemicals in Northern Ireland was less by comparison to similar surveys we have done in other parts of the UK. However, this is no reason to become complacent. There are so many more chemical types used every day and we should consider expanding our scope to include them. Importantly, we have demonstrated that we can use these powerful tests quickly and at large scale to catch pollution early".
Notes to editors:
AFBI is an arms-length body of DAERA delivering research and development, diagnostic and analytical testing, emergency response capability and expert scientific advice for DAERA and other government departments, public bodies and commercial companies in Northern Ireland, and further afield.
AFBI’s Vision is “Scientific excellence delivering impactful and sustainable outcomes for society, economy and the natural environment”.
AFBI’s Purpose is to deliver trusted, independent research, statutory & surveillance science, and expert advice that addresses local and global challenges, informs government policy and industry decision making, and underpins a sustainable agri-food industry and the natural and marine environments.
AFBI’s strategic priorities:
- Leading improvements in the agri-food industry to enhance its sustainability;
- Protecting animal, plant and human health;
- Enhancing the natural and marine environment;
- Delivering quality outcomes and impact;
- Enabling world class science through excellence in people, places & technology.