Researchers from the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), working with the One Health Breakthrough Partnership and colleagues from The James Hutton Institute, NHS Highland, University of Nottingham, Heriot-Watt University, University of St Andrews have secured a new £1.19m research grant from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to tackle pharmaceutical pollution in the water environment.
The project will co-develop a novel, systems-based approach to reducing the environmental impacts of medicines, using Scotland as a national pilot. It brings together an interdisciplinary team spanning environmental, biomedical, materials, biological, and social sciences, alongside key partners including Scottish Water, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), and Uppsala University in Sweden.
Pharmaceutical pollution in rivers, lochs and coastal waters is an internationally recognised public health and environmental challenge. Pollution can arise across the entire pharmaceutical lifecycle – from production, prescribing, and patient use to disposal and wastewater treatment. Following administration, up to 90% of some medicines may be excreted unchanged, entering wastewater systems that were not designed to remove these compounds. Additional pollution occurs when unused or expired medicines are incorrectly flushed down toilets or sinks rather than returned to pharmacies for safe disposal.
As a result, medicines such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and antidepressants have been detected in Scottish waters. These substances are designed to have biological effects in humans and may similarly affect aquatic life, while also contributing to the environmental spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Against a backdrop of evolving regulation, the healthcare and water sectors face increasing pressure to improve environmental performance, control costs, and meet sustainability targets – including addressing the environmental impact of pharmaceuticals.
The new project, PhRESHWater (Pharmaceuticals Reduction in the Environment through Sustainable Healthcare), will apply a systems-based ‘One Health’ approach that recognises the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. By working collaboratively across the healthcare, water, and environmental sectors, the project will co-develop practical solutions at multiple points in the pharmaceutical lifecycle.
These include:
- Pollution risk modelling to identify priority medicines and hotspots
- Behaviour-change interventions to support sustainable prescribing and disposal
- Innovative pollution-reduction technologies
- Shared decision-making tools to enable coordinated cross-sector action
PhRESHWater builds on a strong foundation of collaboration established through the Scottish One Health Breakthrough Partnership, which brings together researchers, public agencies, and policymakers to address pharmaceutical pollution.
Through this investment, the project will generate new evidence, tools, and resources to support coordinated action on pharmaceutical pollution, helping to safeguard environmental and human health while enabling the healthcare and water sectors to meet sustainability goals. The work will position Scotland as an international leader in developing integrated, systems-based solutions to reduce the environmental impact of medicines.
For more information, please visit the project webpage: https://ohbp.org/outputs/projects/pharmaceutical-reduction-in-the-water-environment-through-sustainable-healthcare/
UKRI grant reference: UKRI3744
