Occurrence and temporal changes of pharmaceuticals in the Warta River in Poland during and after the COVID-19 pandemic
Abstract This research aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pharmaceutical concentrations in surface water. The Warta River (western Poland) was studied at points upstream and downstream of the treated sewage outflow. Ten pharmaceuticals were analyzed in 12 sampling campaigns durin...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14568-x |
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| author | Roksana Kruć-Fijałkowska Dariusz Drożdżyński Magdalena Matusiak Krzysztof Dragon Marek Szczepański |
| author_facet | Roksana Kruć-Fijałkowska Dariusz Drożdżyński Magdalena Matusiak Krzysztof Dragon Marek Szczepański |
| author_sort | Roksana Kruć-Fijałkowska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This research aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pharmaceutical concentrations in surface water. The Warta River (western Poland) was studied at points upstream and downstream of the treated sewage outflow. Ten pharmaceuticals were analyzed in 12 sampling campaigns during the pandemic (February 2020 - April 2021), and 3 during the post-pandemic period (November 2024 - January 2025) to assess their long-term impact. The results revealed a significant increase in pharmaceutical concentrations near the outflow of treated sewage (range 1.53–20.47 µg/L), confirming that it is the main source of these micropollutants in the environment. Moreover, the concentration increase in the river, overlapped with successive waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. This made it possible to identify patterns of society’s behavior. During lockdowns, preventive and psychotropic drug concentrations increased in the river. These indicate that higher consumption of these pharmaceuticals maybe associated with worse mental well-being and a desire to protect against the virus. However, the concentrations of antibiotics and cardiological drugs decreased, which was linked to more difficult access to doctors and protection from the virus by avoiding the health center. During the post-pandemic period psychotropic drug concentrations increased significantly, suggesting a significant deterioration in society’s mental health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6a6b08e65c994fa0ac295fa19b743896 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-6a6b08e65c994fa0ac295fa19b7438962025-08-20T03:45:59ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111610.1038/s41598-025-14568-xOccurrence and temporal changes of pharmaceuticals in the Warta River in Poland during and after the COVID-19 pandemicRoksana Kruć-Fijałkowska0Dariusz Drożdżyński1Magdalena Matusiak2Krzysztof Dragon3Marek Szczepański4Hydrogeology and Water Protection Unit, Institute of Geology, Adam Mickiewicz University in PoznańDepartment of Pesticide Residue Research, Institute of Plant Protection-National Research InstituteHydrogeology and Water Protection Unit, Institute of Geology, Adam Mickiewicz University in PoznańHydrogeology and Water Protection Unit, Institute of Geology, Adam Mickiewicz University in PoznańDepartment of Pesticide Residue Research, Institute of Plant Protection-National Research InstituteAbstract This research aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pharmaceutical concentrations in surface water. The Warta River (western Poland) was studied at points upstream and downstream of the treated sewage outflow. Ten pharmaceuticals were analyzed in 12 sampling campaigns during the pandemic (February 2020 - April 2021), and 3 during the post-pandemic period (November 2024 - January 2025) to assess their long-term impact. The results revealed a significant increase in pharmaceutical concentrations near the outflow of treated sewage (range 1.53–20.47 µg/L), confirming that it is the main source of these micropollutants in the environment. Moreover, the concentration increase in the river, overlapped with successive waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. This made it possible to identify patterns of society’s behavior. During lockdowns, preventive and psychotropic drug concentrations increased in the river. These indicate that higher consumption of these pharmaceuticals maybe associated with worse mental well-being and a desire to protect against the virus. However, the concentrations of antibiotics and cardiological drugs decreased, which was linked to more difficult access to doctors and protection from the virus by avoiding the health center. During the post-pandemic period psychotropic drug concentrations increased significantly, suggesting a significant deterioration in society’s mental health.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14568-xRiver water contaminantsPharmaceuticalsSewage treatment plantsCOVID-19 wavesCOVID-19 reopenings |
| spellingShingle | Roksana Kruć-Fijałkowska Dariusz Drożdżyński Magdalena Matusiak Krzysztof Dragon Marek Szczepański Occurrence and temporal changes of pharmaceuticals in the Warta River in Poland during and after the COVID-19 pandemic Scientific Reports River water contaminants Pharmaceuticals Sewage treatment plants COVID-19 waves COVID-19 reopenings |
| title | Occurrence and temporal changes of pharmaceuticals in the Warta River in Poland during and after the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | Occurrence and temporal changes of pharmaceuticals in the Warta River in Poland during and after the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Occurrence and temporal changes of pharmaceuticals in the Warta River in Poland during and after the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Occurrence and temporal changes of pharmaceuticals in the Warta River in Poland during and after the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | Occurrence and temporal changes of pharmaceuticals in the Warta River in Poland during and after the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | occurrence and temporal changes of pharmaceuticals in the warta river in poland during and after the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | River water contaminants Pharmaceuticals Sewage treatment plants COVID-19 waves COVID-19 reopenings |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14568-x |
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