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What We Did
Currently, there is very little information regarding the presence of antidepressant compounds in New Zealand waste streams (i.e. wastewater effluent and sludge) and subsequently entering the environment. Through this research project, we aim to determine what antidepressants are most prevalent in New Zealand waste streams and at what concentrations. We will then investigate abiotic and biological wastewater treatment options that have the potential to degrade and/or remove the antidepressant compounds most commonly found in New Zealand. Finally, the relative toxicity of degradation products and the original antidepressant compounds will be determined to ensure the final products are less toxic and harmful than the original compounds in the environment.
Who Was Involved
This project is co-supervised by Professor Sally Gaw (School of Physical and Chemical Sciences). We are also working in partnership with the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR).
Why It Matters
Antidepressant medications are used to treat major depressive disorder and dysthymia (among other ailments), and give many people the opportunity to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives. They are one of the most prescribed groups of medications globally, with approximately 1 in 9 people in New Zealand using an antidepressant in 2019. Unfortunately, exposure to antidepressant compounds has exhibited many negative impacts on non-target organisms worldwide, including reduced embryo production and escape responses in fish, altered mating behaviours in birds, and reduced camouflage efficiency in invertebrates. However, there is little information on the impacts on New Zealand species. New Zealand has high rates of endemism and a significant portion of native species found nowhere else in the world; therefore, reducing chemical influences that threaten their existence is critical. Regulating and banning antidepressant medications is virtually impossible due to the positive effect they have on lives and livelihoods; therefore, as the primary route to the environment, wastewater treatment facilities must be designed to remove these compounds before entering the environment.
