4 Discussion
Increased production and elevated use of pharmaceuticals in human and veterinary
medications lead to the discharge of more pharmaceutical compounds into the
environment [63]. Despite their presence at very low concentrations, pharmaceuticals are nevertheless preferred for their potency to hinder specific biologic pathways
at low levels [64]. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antibiotics
are widely prescribed, and their utilization in developed countries is higher than
hundred tons per year [65].
Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug with analgesic, anti-pyretic and anti-thrombotic properties [20]. Acetylsalicylic acid constitutes about 81% of STPs effluents, whereas salicylic acid constitutes about 99%
a
a
a
b
b
b
c
c
c
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
7
1 4
2 1
)
l
m
/
g
µ
(
n
i
e
t
o
r
p
a
m
s
a
l
P
Exposure period in days
Control
Treatment I
Treatment II
Fig. 9 Plasma protein content of control and ASA (Treatments I (100 mg L
À1
) and II
(200 mg L
À1
))-exposed fish C. carpio for a period of 21 days. Means in the bars followed by
common letters for the experiment are not significantly different (P < 0.05) according to DMRT
a
a
b
b
c
c
c
b
a
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1
2
4
1
7
(IU/L)
e
s
a
r
e
f
s
n
a
r
t
o
n
i
m
a
e
n
i
n
a
l
A
Control
Treatment I
Treatment II
Exposure period in days
Fig. 10 Plasma ALT activity of control and ASA (Treatments I (100 mg L
À1
) and II
(200 mg L
À1
))-exposed fish C. carpio for a period of 21 days. Means in the bars followed by
common letters for the experiment are not significantly different (P < 0.05) according to DMRT
204
S. Siddeswaran et al.
Increased production and elevated use of pharmaceuticals in human and veterinary
medications lead to the discharge of more pharmaceutical compounds into the
environment [63]. Despite their presence at very low concentrations, pharmaceuticals are nevertheless preferred for their potency to hinder specific biologic pathways
at low levels [64]. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antibiotics
are widely prescribed, and their utilization in developed countries is higher than
hundred tons per year [65].
Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug with analgesic, anti-pyretic and anti-thrombotic properties [20]. Acetylsalicylic acid constitutes about 81% of STPs effluents, whereas salicylic acid constitutes about 99%
a
a
a
b
b
b
c
c
c
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
7
1 4
2 1
)
l
m
/
g
µ
(
n
i
e
t
o
r
p
a
m
s
a
l
P
Exposure period in days
Control
Treatment I
Treatment II
Fig. 9 Plasma protein content of control and ASA (Treatments I (100 mg L
À1
) and II
(200 mg L
À1
))-exposed fish C. carpio for a period of 21 days. Means in the bars followed by
common letters for the experiment are not significantly different (P < 0.05) according to DMRT
a
a
b
b
c
c
c
b
a
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1
2
4
1
7
(IU/L)
e
s
a
r
e
f
s
n
a
r
t
o
n
i
m
a
e
n
i
n
a
l
A
Control
Treatment I
Treatment II
Exposure period in days
Fig. 10 Plasma ALT activity of control and ASA (Treatments I (100 mg L
À1
) and II
(200 mg L
À1
))-exposed fish C. carpio for a period of 21 days. Means in the bars followed by
common letters for the experiment are not significantly different (P < 0.05) according to DMRT
204
S. Siddeswaran et al.