Study finds high level of pharma contaminants in Cauvery

Study finds high level of pharma contaminants in Cauvery

Subject – Environment

Context – A new study has found that the waters of the Cauvery river in south India are polluted by a range of emerging contaminants.

Concept –

• A new study has found that the waters of the Cauvery river in south India are polluted by a range of emerging contaminants that include pharmaceutically active compounds, personal care products, plastics, flame retardants, heavy metals and pesticides, among many others.
• Of these, pharmaceutical contamination was found to be particularly serious as their presence in water bodies even in minuscule amounts can harm human beings and the ecosystem in the long run.
• This study has been carried out with joint funding from Water Technology Initiatives of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India and the UK Natural Environment Research Council
• The researchers found that water quality and levels of pharmaceutical contaminants in the Cauvery were influenced by the monsoon season.
  • The post-monsoon period showed an increased level of various types of contaminants including pharmaceuticals due to reduced riverine flow and continuous waste discharge from multiple sources.
• Among other things, freshwater intake points were found to be loaded with extraordinarily high concentrations of pharmaceutical contaminants.
  • The contaminants included anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen and diclofenac, anti-hypertensives such as atenolol and isoprenaline, enzyme inhibitors like perindopril, stimulants like caffeine, antidepressants such as carbamazepine and antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin.
• River networks contribute to 0.006 per cent of global freshwater and often serve as a lifeline for various domestic and industrial activities. Worldwide, the water quality of the river systems has been deteriorating due to various anthropogenic activities.

To know about the Cauvery River, please click here.