Unseen Threats: COVID Meds in City Rivers

Imagine a hidden battle playing out in the rivers of Curitiba, Brazil. The culprits? Three drugs—azithromycin, ivermectin, and hydroxychloroquine—used widely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Scientists dove into this issue, finding alarming levels of these medicines in both water and sediment from urban rivers. During the peak of the pandemic, these drugs were present in concentrations ranging from 326 to 3340 ng/L in water and 18 to 673 ng/g in sediment.

The highest levels were recorded in September 2020 and March 2021. Surprisingly, even after the vaccination campaign began, these drugs lingered in some areas. This persistence isn't just a passing issue; it can harm aquatic life and contribute to antimicrobial resistance. The study emphasizes the urgent need for better wastewater treatment and tighter regulations to safeguard our waterways, especially during health crises.

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