Pharmaceutical pollution threatens Bangladesh’s rivers

Pharmaceutical waste is causing ‘invisible’ pollution in Bangladesh’s rivers, posing significant threats to aquatic ecosystems and public health. Unlike visible plastic or sludge, pharmaceutical residues such as antibiotics, hormones, and anti-inflammatory drugs can remain biologically active in the environment without being seen, smelled, or tasted.

Major sources of this contamination include manufacturing effluents and the improper disposal of unused or expired medicines by households. In areas where effluent-treatment systems are absent or inadequate, chemical-laden wastewater is discharged directly into waterways like the Buriganga River. Research has already confirmed the presence of pharmaceutical compounds in the Old Brahmaputra and heavy metals in hospital and industrial wastewater in Gazipur.

Environmental scientist Prof. Dr. Shahriar Hossain noted that standard treatment systems often fail to remove biologically active pharmaceutical compounds. This pollution impacts marine life and threatens the livelihoods of fishing communities, highlighting a growing crisis alongside the country’s expanding pharmaceutical industry.