RIVER systems around the world are under threat from antibiotic pollution, a global study reveals.
Researchers from the University of York in the UK, found concentrations of antibiotics were up to 300 times "safe" levels, prompting concerns that it will impact antimicrobial resistance.
Theme Leader of the York Environmental Sustainability Institute, Professor Alistair Boxall (pictured), said the findings were concerning.
"The results are quite eye opening and worrying, demonstrating the widespread contamination of river systems around the world with antibiotic compounds," he said.
"Many scientists and policy makers now recognise the role of the natural environment in the antimicrobial resistance problem.
"Our data show that antibiotic contamination of rivers could be an important contributor."
Boxall said solving the problem was going to be a "mammoth challenge" and would require investment in infrastructure for waste and wastewater treatment, tighter regulation and the cleaning up of already contaminated sites.
Researchers looked for 14 commonly used antibiotics in rivers in 72 countries across six continents, finding two-thirds of rivers were contaminated.
Trimethoprim was the most prevalent antibiotic identified by researchers, with the molecule found in 307 of the 711 sites tests.
Ciproflaxacin, was the compound most frequently found at levels above those deemed to be safe, surpassing the safety threshold at 51 locations.
While researchers reported that rivers in Africa and Asia had the highest rate of antibiotic contamination, they said sites in Europe, North and South America also recorded potentially dangerous levels of the drugs.
The researchers noted areas of political turmoil, including the Israel/Palestine border, were high-risk.
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