Study Finds Global Rivers Overloaded with Human Antibiotics

Study Finds Global Rivers Overloaded with Human Antibiotics
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Researchers from McGill University warn that rivers around the world are accumulating about 8,500 tonnes of antibiotics annually from human consumption alone — nearly one third of global antibiotics use, SciTechDaily reported.

Published in the journal PNAS Nexus, the study used a global modeling system validated by field data from nearly 900 river sites, finding that antibiotic residues from human use flow into river systems even after wastewater processing.

Lead author Heloisa Ehalt Macedo emphasised that while individual antibiotic concentrations may appear very low, the chronic and cumulative exposure poses serious risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health. She noted the problem is particularly severe in regions with limited wastewater treatment, such as Southeast Asia.

The study highlights that the drug amoxicillin, the world’s most-widely used antibiotic, is especially likely to reach risky levels in rivers.

The researchers pointed out that their model did not include antibiotics used in livestock or released by pharmaceutical manufacturing — meaning the actual environmental load may be even greater.

According to the data, approximately 6 million km of river length worldwide is subject to antibiotic concentrations above thresholds protective of ecosystem health and capable of promoting antimicrobial resistance.

The authors call for improved wastewater treatment infrastructure, stringent monitoring of antibiotic contamination, and international policy responses to mitigate this newly uncovered environmental threat.