Abstract
A multitude of biologically active pharmaceuticals contaminate surface waters globally, yet their presence in aquatic food webs remain largely unknown. Here, we show that over 60 pharmaceutical compounds can be detected in aquatic invertebrates and riparian spiders in six streams near Melbourne, Australia. Similar concentrations in aquatic invertebrate larvae and riparian predators suggest direct trophic transfer via emerging adult insects to riparian predators that consume them. As representative vertebrate predators feeding on aquatic invertebrates, platypus and brown trout could consume some drug classes such as antidepressants at as much as one-half of a recommended therapeutic dose for humans based on their estimated prey consumption rates, yet the consequences for fish and wildlife of this chronic exposure are unknown. Overall, this work highlights the potential exposure of aquatic and riparian biota to a diverse array of pharmaceuticals, resulting in exposures to some drugs that are comparable to human dosages.
Highlights
A multitude of biologically active pharmaceuticals contaminate surface waters globally, yet their presence in aquatic food webs remain largely unknown
Whereas some wellstudied persistent organic contaminants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and certain pesticides are known to accumulate in and may biomagnify through aquatic food webs[10,12], we know very little about how individual pharmaceuticals accumulate in and affect organisms, or whether they may be biomagnified as they are transferred through food webs
This study examines the fate of pharmaceutical contaminants within the aquatic biota as well as the inferred transfer of contaminants from emerging adult insects to riparian predators, employing a meta-community approach that is uncommon in the field of ecotoxicology[17]
Summary
A multitude of biologically active pharmaceuticals contaminate surface waters globally, yet their presence in aquatic food webs remain largely unknown. We present an assessment of 98 pharmaceuticals in aquatic invertebrates and riparian spiders collected from streams in Melbourne, Australia.
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