Rivers in national parks are polluted with pharmaceuticals

University says swift action is needed to protect these “irreplaceable environments and ensure the health of wildlife and visitors alike.”

New research from the University of York and the Rivers Trust has revealed widespread contamination of rivers in the parks. Antidepressants, anticonvulsants, antimicrobials, anti-inflammatory substances, lipid regulators and diabetes treatments were detected. 

The study found pharmaceuticals in river water at 52 out of 54 locations monitored across all ten national parks in England. Some pharmaceuticals were found at levels of concern for the health of freshwater organisms and for humans who come into contact with the water, highlighting the need for tighter regulation and greater monitoring.

Although researchers found that levels of pharmaceutical pollution were generally lower in national parks than in rivers in UK cities, it did identify concerning exceptions. Some rivers in the Peak District and on Exmoor were found to have concentrations of pharmaceuticals higher than seen in major cities such as London.

Professor Alistair Boxall, from the University of York’s Department of Environment and Geography explained that most work on pharmaceutical pollution in the UK has focused on urban rivers. This study is unique as it explores areas where low levels of pollution might be expected, and it has shown that this is not the case.

He said: “Given the unique ecological value of these protected areas, our research highlights that the presence of these pharmaceuticals is concerning. Our national parks are true hotspots for biodiversity and essential for our physical health and mental well-being — so we need to act swiftly to protect these irreplaceable environments and ensure the health of wildlife and visitors alike.” 

The study calls for a multi-pronged approach to address the problem. Professor Boxall is asking the government, local authorities and the water industry to work together to improve monitoring in national parks, for further investment in treatment technologies to protect rivers in the parks, and a further exploration of the potential impact of pharmaceuticals on the health of park ecosystems. 

According to the study, pharmaceutical substances are most often released to the natural environment after a person has used the medicine (through their urine) but could end up there due to improper disposal of unused medicines or the use of medicines in animals. 

The most frequently detected Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) were caffeine, carbamazepine (an anticonvulsant), metformin, fexofenadine and cetirizine, which were detected at more than 60% of the sampling locations. 

Dr Rob Collins, Director of Policy and Science at the Rivers Trust, says that while greater investment into traditional wastewater treatment is needed, more natural treatment technologies such as wetlands can also play an important role, particularly in more rural environments where there is room to implement such nature-based solutions. The maintenance and management of septic tanks also needs improvement. 

“It is only by understanding the danger of pharmaceutical pollution that we can appropriately manage its threats.”

Dr John Wilkinson, Lecturer in Environmental Science in the Department of Environment and Geography at the University of York, added that closer connectivity of people to the environment through recreational activities in national parks, such as wild swimming, increases the risk to human health too. 

He said it is important to gather more monitoring data to allow more accurate measurement of APIs: “It is only by understanding the danger of pharmaceutical pollution that we can appropriately manage its threats.”