Our research investigated the
occurrence of selected antibiotics and
analgesics (painkillers) in water and
sediments of Usuma dam in Abuja.
By The Conversation
Pharmaceuticals – drugs used to
prevent or treat human and animal
diseases – are essential for health and
well-being. But the increasing use of
these drugs means that remnants of
them are showing up in the aquatic
environment. They are contaminating
our waters.
Pharmaceuticals are part of a group of
substances known as emerging
contaminants . Although they are
potentially harmful to human and
ecological health, they are yet to be
regulated and routinely monitored in the
environment. Most conventional
treatment plants typically do not remove
emerging pollutants because they were
not originally designed for them. These
contaminants can enter oceans , rivers,
streams, dams and groundwater through
waste water and sewage treatment
plants, human excretion , landfill
leaching, healthcare facilities,
pharmaceutical industry effluents and
veterinary drug applications .
The contaminants may be transported in
water to other places or accumulate in
sediments – rocks, sand, soils,
decaying materials and vegetation under
water – and in creatures that live in
water . Some of the effects of these
drugs on aquatic organisms include
DNA damage , disruptions to hormonal
systems and formation of antibiotic
resistant microbial strains .
There have been several studies of
pharmaceuticals in aquatic
environments across the world but only
a few studies in African countries. So in
our study , we investigated the
occurrence of selected pharmaceuticals
in water and sediments of Usuma dam
in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. We also
assessed the risk of the harm they
could do.
We found traces of pharmaceuticals in
water and sediment of the dam and that
is not good for ecological and public
health.
Sink for pollutants
The dam is an important source of
potable water and fish for people living
in Abuja. It is also a major receiving
water body, so acts as a sink for
pollutants from the environs. It is
surrounded by large unplanned
settlements and is the major drain for
household, municipal and agricultural
wastes in the area.
Our research investigated the
occurrence of selected antibiotics and
analgesics (painkillers) in water and
sediments of Usuma dam.
We looked for antibiotics in water
samples and found amoxicillin,
ciprofloxacin and metronidazole.
Trimethoprim was found in the sediment
samples. These antibiotics are used to
treat or prevent bacterial infections.
Ibuprofen, detected only in sediments,
was the only painkiller detected in the
study.
We found that amoxicillin and ibuprofen
presented a high risk to aquatic life in
the dam. Ciprofloxacin constituted
medium risk, while metronidazole
constituted low risk.

Pharmaceuticals are designed to exert
maximum effects at low concentration.
Therefore, any concentration found in
water and soil is not good for public and
ecological health. If these drugs
negatively affect the fishes in the dam
through accumulation, they may also
affect humans who eat them and drink
water from the dam. Any consumption
of drugs other than a prescribed dose
for a particular ailment is a health risk.
We observed that the chief source of
pharmaceuticals in the dam is human
excretion. Sewage from unplanned
settlements that lack basic sanitation
and sewage treatment facilities around
the dam is disposed of directly onto the
ground and eventually drains into the
dam. Other likely sources include
improper disposal of medical and
veterinary waste.
Going forward
The occurrence of pharmaceuticals in
the Usuma dam is not an isolated case
in Nigeria. Similar studies have reported
the presence of pharmaceuticals in
Lagos and Ogun state waters and even
in sachet water that many Nigerians
drink.
The solution to this budding
environmental challenge should
therefore be a national response.
In 2019, the Nigerian government signed
an executive order to tackle open
defecation . This is a step in the right
direction and should be implemented. It
should also be followed up by providing
people with sewage and sanitation
facilities.
Healthcare centres and hospitals should
ensure efficient management of medical
wastes according to existing laws and
regulations . The government must also
strictly monitor sewage from drug
manufacturing plants. Finally,
government can do more to monitor
contamination of water systems and
improve awareness of the issue.
Ifenna Ilechukwu, Lecturer of
Environmental Chemistry, Madonna
University, Nigeria
This article is republished from The
Conversation under a Creative Commons
license. Read the original article .


The drugs found in the dam are
potentially harmful to both ecological
and public health. l_y_n_c_h/shutterstock

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