title: Impact of anti-inflammatories, beta-blockers and antibiotics on leaf litter breakdown in freshwaters.
abstract: Pharmaceuticals are now recognised as important pollutants in freshwater systems, but a shortcoming of effects studies is that they have focused on structural endpoints and impacts on ecosystem functioning are poorly understood. The decomposition of organic matter is an important functional process in aquatic systems, and it is known that this can be impacted by the presence of pollutants. Previous studies on leaf litter breakdown have only considered the effects of antibiotics and not other groups of drugs though. The current study investigated the effects of anti-inflammatories, a beta-blocker and an antibiotic on microbially mediated breakdown of leaf litter in the laboratory; colonisation of leaf packs by benthic macroinvertebrates when placed in a stream; and shredding of leaf litter by these organisms. Furthermore, the effects of single compounds relative to their mixture were assessed. It was found that exposure of leaf litter to the study compounds did not influence its breakdown by microbes in the laboratory or macroinvertebrates in a stream. Exposure of leaf litter to pharmaceuticals also had no effect on its colonisation by macroinvertebrates in this study. Many unknowns remain, however, and further studies of the effects of pharmaceuticals on structural and functional endpoints are needed to aid aquatic conservation.
authors.affiliation: School of Geography/water@leeds, University of Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 9JT, UK.|JBA Consulting Ltd, The Old School House, St Joseph's Street, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, UK.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.affiliation: School of Geography/water@leeds, University of Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 9JT, UK. p.kay@leeds.ac.uk.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kay
authors.affiliation: School of Geography/water@leeds, University of Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 9JT, UK.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D017753:Ecosystem; D005618:Fresh Water; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000187:drug effects; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects*; D012987:Soil; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D012987:Soil; D014873:Water Pollutants
keywords: Emerging contaminants; Macroinvertebrates; Pharmaceuticals; Pollution; River; Water quality