Pharmaceuticals in the environment - a One Health issue

The environmental impact of pharmaceuticals is a critical and timely issue that demands coordinated measures and action from all stakeholder, both in human and veterinary medicine . Pharmaceuticals released into the environment can affect organisms including aquatic animals, invertebrates and birds, potentially impacting entire ecosystems. Antimicrobials, including antibiotics, released into nature pose a dual threat as they contribute to ecological harm and accelerate the development of antimicrobial resistance, with serious iplications for both human and animal health.

From a One Health perspective – emphasising the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health, it is essential du deepen our understanding of how pharmaceuticals affect the environment and thus human and animal health.

Our research group is actively engaged in studying how to analyze, prevent and mitigate the negative effects of pharmaceuticals on the environment. This includes analysing sales data to assess and communicate potential environmental risks, exploring how healthcare and veterinary professionals can incorporate environmental considerations into prescribing practices, and evaluating the impact of policy decisions coupled to environmentally harmful drugs.

Currently, our group is conducting a systematic review to assess interventions for reducing environmental impact of veterinary medicines, as well as analysis of prescribing and environmental hazard of pharmaceuticals for companion animals

One of the challenges in this field is the lack of knowledge and awarenes about the life cycle and management of pharmaceuticals. To address this, we have introduced an elective course focusing on the environmental impact of pharmaceuticals, aiming to educate future professionals in both human and veterinary medicine.

Selected publications in the field

• Villén J, Nekoro M, Kalvemark Sporrong S, Hakonsen H, Bertram MG, Björn Wettermark. Estimating environmental exposure to analgesic drugs: A cross-sectional study of drug utilization patterns in the area surrounding Sweden's largest drinking water source. Environmental Advances 2023;12:100384
  
  
  
• Linder E, Villén J, Nekoro M, Wettermark B, Kälvemark Sporrong S. Stakeholders' Perspectives and Use of Web-based Knowledge Support for Environmental Information on Pharmaceuticals. Explor Res Clin Soc Pharm. 2023 Jul 8;11:100303
  
  
  
• Giunchi V, Fusaroli M, Linder E, Villén J, Raschi E, Lunghi C, Wettermark B, Poluzzi E, Nekoro M. Environmental sustainability-an essential component of rational use of medicines. Int J Pharm Pract. 2025 Feb 7;33(1):102-112
  
  
• Jazza A, Villén J, Linder E, Bergström U, Wettermark B. Do Swedish universities educate future doctors and pharmacists about the environmental impact of pharmaceuticals? Curr Pharm Teach Learn 2025;17(9):102386
  
  
• Villén J, Laux J, Wettermark B, Sporrong SK, Nekoro M, Håkonsen H. Towards greener prescribing? Swedish general practitioners' support for policies to reduce pharmaceutical pollution. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2025;91(6):1623-1631
  

In media

• Våra värkläkemedel ett potentiellt hot mot Mälaren - LäkemedelsVärlden (lakemedelsvarlden.se) (19 juni 2023)

Contact

Marmar Nekoro, PhD student. Marmar.nekoro@uu.se