Pharmaceutical drugs and other substances with pharmacological activity in the environment: a threat to biodiversity?

Authors

  • Bruno Nunes Departamento de Biologia, Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/cs.v2i1.13764

Keywords:

Biodiversity

Abstract

Drugs of human origin are now dispersed in all ecosystems, and non-target exposed biota are likely to be impacted in the future by a large number of substances with unpredictable consequences. One of the potential effects of drugs (and other substances with pharmacological activity) is the exertion of selective pressure, favouring an artificial process of selection, in which sensitive organisms may be favoured. We bring to discussion the consequences expected from chronic environmental exposure of biota to two major classes of chemicals that are nowadays released thoroughly into the environment: stimulants and neuroendocrine drugs.

Conservation Science Vol.2(1) 2014: 12-16

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Published

2015-10-21

How to Cite

Nunes, B. (2015). Pharmaceutical drugs and other substances with pharmacological activity in the environment: a threat to biodiversity?. Conservation Science, 2(1), 12–16. https://doi.org/10.3126/cs.v2i1.13764

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 (2014)

Section

Letters to the Editor