4 Conclusions
In this review, we provide data regarding the importance of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), focusing in data concerning its occurrence studies
on several water bodies and its toxicological effects on different aquatic organisms.
As shown above, there exist vast information about the presence of different
NSAIDs in the environment, such as diclofenac, naproxen, ketorolac, ibuprofen,
ketoprofen, and salicylic acid among others, which have been found in concentrations in the range of ng /L to mg/L and in particular cases in concentrations even
higher than the limits allowed by regulatory agencies, suggesting severe problems
not only for the health of aquatic organisms that live in different bodies of water
where they are detected but also pose a risk to human health.
Also, in this review we present the main results obtained by different working
groups around the world in which the toxic effects produced by NSAIDs have been
evaluated, focusing mainly on aquatic organisms highlighting the use of
bioindicators as Cyprinus carpio and Danio rerio, among others. Among the main
effects of the exposure to NSAIDs, the DNA damage, alterations on the oxidative
stress enzymes, effects on cyto- and genotoxicity, hematological alteration, effects
on behavior, and changes on expression of several genes involved in defense and
metabolism, among others, were described.
Finally, with the information presented here, we can conclude that it is necessary
to carry out further investigation of both the occurrence of NSAIDs in the environment and their toxic effects, since the information in the literature is still limited, and
these efforts could lead to the execution of ecopharmacovigilance programs with a
view to the creation of adequate legislation on the production, uses, and wastes of
these compounds in the environment.
References
1. Hong B et al (2018) Urbanization gradient of selected pharmaceuticals in surface water at a
watershed scale. Sci Total Environ 634:448–458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.
392
2. Tran NH, Reinhard M, Gin KY-H (2018) Occurrence and fate of emerging contaminants in
municipal wastewater treatment plants from different geographical regions-a review. Water Res
133:182–207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2017.12.029
3. López-Pacheco IY et al (2019) Anthropogenic contaminants of high concern: existence in water
resources and their adverse effects. Sci Total Environ 690:1068–1088. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
scitotenv.2019.07.052
4. Mezzelani M, Gorbi S, Regoli F (2018) Pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environments: evidence
of emerged threat and future challenges for marine organisms. Mar Environ Res 140:41–60.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2018.05.001
5. Marsik P et al (2017) Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the watercourses of Elbe basin
in Czech Republic. Chemosphere 171:97–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.12.
055
50
A. Mejía-García et al.
In this review, we provide data regarding the importance of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), focusing in data concerning its occurrence studies
on several water bodies and its toxicological effects on different aquatic organisms.
As shown above, there exist vast information about the presence of different
NSAIDs in the environment, such as diclofenac, naproxen, ketorolac, ibuprofen,
ketoprofen, and salicylic acid among others, which have been found in concentrations in the range of ng /L to mg/L and in particular cases in concentrations even
higher than the limits allowed by regulatory agencies, suggesting severe problems
not only for the health of aquatic organisms that live in different bodies of water
where they are detected but also pose a risk to human health.
Also, in this review we present the main results obtained by different working
groups around the world in which the toxic effects produced by NSAIDs have been
evaluated, focusing mainly on aquatic organisms highlighting the use of
bioindicators as Cyprinus carpio and Danio rerio, among others. Among the main
effects of the exposure to NSAIDs, the DNA damage, alterations on the oxidative
stress enzymes, effects on cyto- and genotoxicity, hematological alteration, effects
on behavior, and changes on expression of several genes involved in defense and
metabolism, among others, were described.
Finally, with the information presented here, we can conclude that it is necessary
to carry out further investigation of both the occurrence of NSAIDs in the environment and their toxic effects, since the information in the literature is still limited, and
these efforts could lead to the execution of ecopharmacovigilance programs with a
view to the creation of adequate legislation on the production, uses, and wastes of
these compounds in the environment.
References
1. Hong B et al (2018) Urbanization gradient of selected pharmaceuticals in surface water at a
watershed scale. Sci Total Environ 634:448–458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.
392
2. Tran NH, Reinhard M, Gin KY-H (2018) Occurrence and fate of emerging contaminants in
municipal wastewater treatment plants from different geographical regions-a review. Water Res
133:182–207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2017.12.029
3. López-Pacheco IY et al (2019) Anthropogenic contaminants of high concern: existence in water
resources and their adverse effects. Sci Total Environ 690:1068–1088. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
scitotenv.2019.07.052
4. Mezzelani M, Gorbi S, Regoli F (2018) Pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environments: evidence
of emerged threat and future challenges for marine organisms. Mar Environ Res 140:41–60.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2018.05.001
5. Marsik P et al (2017) Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the watercourses of Elbe basin
in Czech Republic. Chemosphere 171:97–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.12.
055
50
A. Mejía-García et al.