New study maps ways to reduce the spread of drugs in the Baltic Sea

The Baltic Sea is a sensitive marine environment where the spread of drug residues can have a significant impact. The international network Reducing Pharmaceutical Pollution in the Baltic Sea Region is now taking action to support efforts to reduce emissions. Among its priority initiatives is the identification of effective measures, and in April, initiatives are being mapped through a survey distributed to stakeholders in countries around the Baltic Sea.

“The environmental impact of drugs is an issue that concerns us all. We know that many projects are underway to reverse current trends, but we also know that we can become much better at sharing successful examples. Therefore, in collaboration with the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, we have distributed a digital survey to 200 Swedish stakeholders, working with a focus on drugs and/or the environment. We hope that all will prioritise responding, and that they will also share the survey within their organisations,” says Björn Wettermark, Professor of Pharmacoepidemiology.

The survey takes less than 15 minutes to complete and is open until 1 May. It is distributed to key representatives from government agencies, healthcare organisations, pharmacy chains, veterinary care and the pharmaceutical industry, as well as to stakeholders in waste management, water treatment, nature conservation, and numerous other sectors. The aim is to gather information on relevant initiatives undertaken throughout the entire lifecycle of drugs—from manufacturing and use to environmental monitoring.

“The more people who respond to the survey, the more comprehensive a picture we will get. In June, we will gather pharma representatives in Uppsala to compile and analyse the results. In September, we will arrange an international meeting where, together with colleagues in Finland and the Baltic states, we’ll translate our shared conclusions into recommendations and evidence for future policy decisions,” says Björn Wettermark.

The network was launched in Uppsala in November 2025 with financial support from the Swedish Institute. Today, several universities and government agencies in Sweden, Finland, Latvia, and Lithuania are engaged in its operational work. In the long term, the ambition is to recruit partners from all countries in the Baltic Sea region.

“That Uppsala offers access to expertise across the entire One Health perspective enables us to take a leading role. That the environmental impact of pharmaceuticals is gaining prominence on the agendas of the UN and WHO for a sustainable world - alongside the increasing number of European countries that are developing their own educational programmes and initiatives on this issue - demonstrates that positive change is within reach,” says Marmar Nekoro, PhD student at the Department of Pharmacy and affiliated with the Swedish Medical Products Agency’s Unit for Veterinary Medicines Use.

text: Magnus Alsne, photo: Mikael Wallerstedt a o