Research led by the University of York suggests that many rivers contain levels of ibuprofen that could be adversely affecting fish health.
Using a new modelling approach, the researchers estimated the levels of 12 pharmaceutical compounds in rivers across the UK. They found that while most of the compounds were likely to cause only a low risk to aquatic life, ibuprofen might be having an adverse effect in nearly 50 per cent of the stretches of river studied.
The results of the study, which involved York’s Environment Department, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (Switzerland) and the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA), are reported in the journal Environment International.
In what is believed to be the first s...
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