New research by Prof Alistair Boxall and colleagues at the University of York has determined the extent of pharmaceutical contamination in English national parks by monitoring 54 active pharmaceutical ingredients in 37 rivers across all national parks over two seasons. Fourteen locations had concentrations of either amitriptyline, carbamazepine, clarithromycin, diltiazem, metformin, paracetamol, or propranolol above levels of concern for fish, invertebrates, and algae or for selection for antimicrobial resistance. The research shows that API pollution of the English national parks appears to pose risks to ecological health and potentially human health through recreational water use. Considering the importance of national parks towards biodiversity and conservation, the paper calls for improved monitoring and management of pollution (pharmaceutical pollution and generally).
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