Adverse Effects Induced by Nonsteroidal
Anti-inflammatory Drugs on Freshwater
Invertebrates
Marco Parolini
Contents
1 NSAIDs in Freshwater Ecosystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
2 Adverse Effects of NSAIDs of Freshwater Organisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
2.1 Effects Induced by Paracetamol Exposure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
2.2 Effects Induced by Diclofenac Exposure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
2.3 Effects Induced by Ibuprofen Exposure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
3 Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Abstract Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a group of molecules
representing one of the most relevant therapeutic class found in the aquatic ecosystems worldwide. NSAIDs are commonly and extensively used for their analgesic,
antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties to cure pain and inflammation in both
human and veterinary therapy. Because of the huge, continuative and increasing use,
as well as their specific pharmacokinetic properties, after medical use they are
excreted in their native form or as metabolites and enter the aquatic ecosystems. A
number of monitoring surveys has reported levels of NSAIDs exceeding 1 μg/L in
influent and effluents of Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs), while lower
concentrations have been found in surface waters, ranging in the ng/L – μg/L
range. Among NSAIDs, paracetamol, diclofenac, and ibuprofen are the most
detected therapeutics found in aquatic ecosystems. Although the concentrations of
these molecules in surface waters are quite low, their high biological activity might
confer them a potential toxicity towards non-target aquatic organisms. The present
chapter aims at reviewing the adverse effects induced by paracetamol, diclofenac,
and ibuprofen towards different freshwater invertebrates belonging to different taxa.
Although acute toxicity of paracetamol, diclofenac, and ibuprofen occur only at
M. Parolini (*)
Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
e-mail: marco.parolini@unimi.it
Leobardo Manuel Gómez-Oliván (ed.), Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
in Water: Emerging Contaminants and Ecological Impact,
Hdb Env Chem (2020) 96: 147–160, DOI 10.1007/698_2020_547,
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020, Published online: 15 May 2020
147
Anti-inflammatory Drugs on Freshwater
Invertebrates
Marco Parolini
Contents
1 NSAIDs in Freshwater Ecosystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
2 Adverse Effects of NSAIDs of Freshwater Organisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
2.1 Effects Induced by Paracetamol Exposure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
2.2 Effects Induced by Diclofenac Exposure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
2.3 Effects Induced by Ibuprofen Exposure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
3 Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Abstract Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a group of molecules
representing one of the most relevant therapeutic class found in the aquatic ecosystems worldwide. NSAIDs are commonly and extensively used for their analgesic,
antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties to cure pain and inflammation in both
human and veterinary therapy. Because of the huge, continuative and increasing use,
as well as their specific pharmacokinetic properties, after medical use they are
excreted in their native form or as metabolites and enter the aquatic ecosystems. A
number of monitoring surveys has reported levels of NSAIDs exceeding 1 μg/L in
influent and effluents of Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs), while lower
concentrations have been found in surface waters, ranging in the ng/L – μg/L
range. Among NSAIDs, paracetamol, diclofenac, and ibuprofen are the most
detected therapeutics found in aquatic ecosystems. Although the concentrations of
these molecules in surface waters are quite low, their high biological activity might
confer them a potential toxicity towards non-target aquatic organisms. The present
chapter aims at reviewing the adverse effects induced by paracetamol, diclofenac,
and ibuprofen towards different freshwater invertebrates belonging to different taxa.
Although acute toxicity of paracetamol, diclofenac, and ibuprofen occur only at
M. Parolini (*)
Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
e-mail: marco.parolini@unimi.it
Leobardo Manuel Gómez-Oliván (ed.), Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
in Water: Emerging Contaminants and Ecological Impact,
Hdb Env Chem (2020) 96: 147–160, DOI 10.1007/698_2020_547,
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020, Published online: 15 May 2020
147