Funding to reduce effects psychopharmaca on water cycle

Over a million people in the Netherlands use psychopharmaca, like anti-depressants and anti-psychotics. After use residues enter surface waters via the sewage, where they are known to affect aquatic organisms. A research team led by UvA professor Annemarie van Wezel, received funding from NWO to study possibilities to reduce emissions and effects of psychopharmaca. Psychopharmaca make out a very relevant portion of the total pharmaceutical use. Nevertheless, very limited information is available on the environmental risks. As psychopharmaca are designed to affect the nervous system, they are also known to affect aquatic organisms at very low and environmentally relevant concentrations. They are expected to mimic so-called info-chemicals, influence natural communication and cause effects on the behaviour of organisms.