Bivalves, model organisms in the biomonitoring of the ecotoxicological risk of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to aquatic ecosystems

Abstract

The growing production and consumption of pharmaceutical products is a global problem, due to self-medication, poor disposal measures in hospitals, pharmaceutical wastewater, animal, and human excretion, among others. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are considered the most widely used drugs worldwide and over the counter. The lack of legal norms that limit emission ranges in water bodies has been one of the main factors in the increase of these emerging pollutants (EC) in aquatic ecosystems. Studies based on the monitoring of these pharmaceutical compounds allow us to understand all aspects related to fate, concentration, distribution, effects, and physiological alterations that they cause in aquatic biota, for this reason, it is necessary to highlight the importance of bivalves as organisms, model and bioindicators. This review presents an overview of ecotoxicological studies that monitor NSAIDs and evaluates the responses of some species of bivalves in biomonitoring programs and toxicity tests. Negative effects of NSAIDs have been reported in aquatic environments to wild bivalves, in addition to causing biomagnification. With this study, it is expected to promote interest in scientific research in this little-explored area necessary for pharmacovigilance and biomonitoring of aquatic ecosystems.