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Ineffective wastewater treatment allows antidepressants and other pharmaceuticals to pollute New Forest’s rivers, according to University of York study




ANTIDEPRESSANTS, antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals are polluting the New Forest’s surface waters, according to a new study.

Researchers from the University of York have found ineffective wastewater treatment, seasonal tourism and a higher proportion of elderly residents are among the factors making the Forest’s waters more “vulnerable” to drug pollution.

They also found concentrations of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) – such as amitriptyline and clarithromycin – in the Forest’s waters are significantly higher in the summer, and are on par with larger national parks like Northumberland and the South Downs.

The study monitored 54 sites in 37 rivers across England’s national parks over two seasons.

In the New Forest National Park Authority area, waters were tested at three sampling sites upstream of wastewater treatment plants and storm overflows.

Researchers tested national park waters for pharmaceutical pollution (Picture: Joe Burn)
Researchers tested national park waters for pharmaceutical pollution (Picture: Joe Burn)

The research found: “Generally, there was no significant difference in the cumulative concentrations observed across the national parks… [with] the exceptions [including] the New Forest, which were significantly different in the summer.

“Fourteen of the locations monitored had concentrations of at least one API of ecological concern. Locations in the Peak District, Lake District, Exmoor, South Downs, and the New Forest had concentrations of either amitriptyline, carbamazepine, diltiazem, or metformin where effects on fish or invertebrate biochemistry have been demonstrated.”

The study found the APIs in waterways included antidepressants, anticonvulsants, antimicrobials, anti-inflammatory substances, lipid regulators, and diabetes treatments.

Dr Alistair Boxall, a professor of environmental chemistry at University of York who conducted the study, told the A&T: “We’ve found concentrations of pharmaceuticals are higher in all national parks in the summer months, when water levels are lower and these drugs are less diluted.

“We can use what are called tertiary treatments such as carbon filters and chemical oxidation to filter out these pharmaceuticals, but they cost a lot of money.

“The best solutions could be nature based, with doctors putting a greater emphasis on the impact of the drugs they’re prescribing, and reducing people’s reliance on strong pharmaceutical chemicals.

“It could also be possible to establish wetlands in some areas, upstream of water treatment plants, so reed beds can help filter waters and dilute concentrations of drugs in the water.”

Dead fish in the Danestream earlier this year (picture: David Horne)
Dead fish in the Danestream earlier this year (picture: David Horne)

Dr Boxall continued: “We have an over reliance on strong chemicals, not just pharmaceuticals.

“I’ve spoken at conferences about pharmaceuticals and I’ve had medical doctors coming up to me afterwards to say they had never considered the impact of what they prescribed before.

“What makes the New Forest different from other parks is it is downstream of a lot of water sources that already carry pharmaceuticals. By contrast, the source of the River Exe in Exmoor, for example, is in the park, so it suffers less pollution.

“Compared to areas like Northumberland the Forest has a high number of visitors for its size.”

Dr Boxall said samples taken from Bartley Water in Totton found higher concentrations of pharmaceuticals than from sample sites in major cities including London, York, Glasgow and Belfast.

Reacting to the study’s findings, River Action charity founder Charles Watson told the A&T: “This new report is absolutely terrible – we barely have enough information on the basics of what’s coming out of these wastewater treatment plants into the two main river catchments of Lymington and Beaulieu.

“We’re aware of raw, untreated sewage coming out, but this study describes other terrifying things we don’t really know about. We’re talking about antibiotics, antidepressants and contraception medications – God knows what that does to the wildlife.”

He continued: “The Forest has a huge influx of visitors in the summer and this has a huge effect on surface water quality.

Polluted waters in the New Forest
Polluted waters in the New Forest

“The European Union is bringing in rules requiring pharmaceutical companies to foot the cost of screening out these drugs, which can be done using certain treatments. In Britain, we can’t even get a grip on basics like filtering out human waste – now we need to filter out much more sinister things like pharmaceuticals.

“There is nothing in our environmental regulations about filtering out pharmaceuticals. The New Forest has a unique set of circumstances that make it particularly vulnerable – unlike most national parks, the population is spread throughout the park rather than on its outskirts, and seasonal tourism can quadruple the population for a few months at campsites.”

A Water UK spokesperson said: “The UK risks falling behind the rest of Europe which is tackling pharmaceutical residues in the environment with new targets and funding from drug companies.

“Water companies have proposed a record £105 billion investment which includes reducing pharmaceutical residues.”

New Forest NPA ecologist Ian Barker said: “While pharmaceutical pollution is a known concern for the water environment nationally, we are concerned to see these levels of pollution in our national park.

“As landscapes with the highest levels of protection, and given the international importance of the water environment in the Forest, the protection and conservation of our ecosystems should be of the utmost importance.

Charles Watson, founder and chair of River Action
Charles Watson, founder and chair of River Action

“This is a complex issue, and we welcome recommendations that the government, local authorities and the water industry work together to improve monitoring; for further investment in treatment technologies and to learn more about the potential impact of pharmaceuticals on the health of our ecosystems.”

Responding to the findings, a Southern Water spokesperson told the A&T: “Southern Water takes its environmental role very seriously.

“In the past 12 months, pollution incidents were slashed by 35% – and we will keep improving. The most recent Environment Agency report on Southern Water noted that our wastewater treatment works are at the very top of the industry for complying with the permits which govern them with 99.4% compliance. Improving river health will require partnership work.”

A spokesperson for Wessex Water said: “We invest heavily in sewerage infrastructure to protect river health, including our £1.8 million upgrade of Ringwood Water Recycling Centre last year, and plan to massively increase this investment from 2025 if approved by our regulators.

“We’ve partnered in pilot social prescribing projects which, along with the correct disposal of unused medicines, are a sustainable option for reducing the amount of pharmaceuticals in the environment.”



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