{"id":2169128,"date":"2026-09-28T04:57:43","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T01:57:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2169128"},"modified":"2026-09-28T04:57:43","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T01:57:43","slug":"the-sea-full-of-diclofenac-how-researchers-are-trying-to-cut-pharmaceutical-pollution-in-the-baltic-sea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2169128","title":{"rendered":"The sea full of diclofenac \u2014 how researchers are trying to cut pharmaceutical pollution in the Baltic Sea"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/82\/34\/1200x675_cmsv2_6540b5ec-6165-599d-b5b3-13f12f846694-9928234.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2929518-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1\" data-nid=\"2929518\" data-cid=\"9931993\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2929518-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/19\/93\/189x106_cmsv2_9beefd0e-a12e-52a8-84ac-c0f09c472bce-9931993.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The Milrem Robotics building in Lasnam\u00e4e, 23 September, 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Estonia slams Russian &#8216;sabotage&#8217; after arson attack on defence company\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2929501-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1\" data-nid=\"2929501\" data-cid=\"9931814\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2929501-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/18\/14\/189x106_cmsv2_099582ba-9446-5d20-9474-5ce70c022c03-9931814.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, Denmark&apos;s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Finland&apos;s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Frugal countries pile on pressure to shrink EU budget\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2929515-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1\" data-nid=\"2929515\" data-cid=\"9931927\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2929515-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/19\/27\/189x106_cmsv2_5410591e-5273-5fc2-bced-93127c2e47c0-9931927.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"FILE: A woman works at a gas facility in Homs province, 9 November 2022\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Syria<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Sabotage halts Syria gas pipeline in latest attack on energy sector\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2929241-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1\" data-nid=\"2929241\" data-cid=\"9930524\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2929241-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/05\/24\/189x106_cmsv2_53d84b33-b26e-5ec6-bec9-ae6847ce05fb-9930524.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Mock-up image of  Nscale&apos;s data centre in Loughton, United Kingdom\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Tech News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    UK&#8217;s biggest AI supercomputer may have to wait until 2030s for enough power\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2929518-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2\" data-nid=\"2929518\" data-cid=\"9931993\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2929518-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/19\/93\/189x106_cmsv2_9beefd0e-a12e-52a8-84ac-c0f09c472bce-9931993.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The Milrem Robotics building in Lasnam\u00e4e, 23 September, 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Estonia slams Russian &#8216;sabotage&#8217; after arson attack on defence company\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2929501-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2\" data-nid=\"2929501\" data-cid=\"9931814\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2929501-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/18\/14\/189x106_cmsv2_099582ba-9446-5d20-9474-5ce70c022c03-9931814.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, Denmark&apos;s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Finland&apos;s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Frugal countries pile on pressure to shrink EU budget\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2929515-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2\" data-nid=\"2929515\" data-cid=\"9931927\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2929515-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/19\/27\/189x106_cmsv2_5410591e-5273-5fc2-bced-93127c2e47c0-9931927.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"FILE: A woman works at a gas facility in Homs province, 9 November 2022\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Syria<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Sabotage halts Syria gas pipeline in latest attack on energy sector\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2929241-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2\" data-nid=\"2929241\" data-cid=\"9930524\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2929241-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/05\/24\/189x106_cmsv2_53d84b33-b26e-5ec6-bec9-ae6847ce05fb-9930524.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Mock-up image of  Nscale&apos;s data centre in Loughton, United Kingdom\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Tech News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    UK&#8217;s biggest AI supercomputer may have to wait until 2030s for enough power\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Health<\/p>\n<p>                          Health news<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            The sea full of diclofenac \u2014 how researchers are trying to cut pharmaceutical pollution in the Baltic Sea<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-controller=\"video-player\" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"js-playercontrols u-height-full u-position-absolute u-width-full is-autoplaying\" data-translations=\"{&quot;error&quot;:&quot;This video could not be played.&quot;,&quot;geoblocked&quot;:&quot;Sorry, this content is not available in your country&quot;,&quot;slow&quot;:&quot;This is taking longer than usual&quot;}\">\n<div class=\"js-loadtrigger js-loadtrigger__button c-loadtrigger__button\" role=\"status\"><span class=\"js-loadtrigger__label c-loadtrigger__label u-visually-hidden\">Loading the video<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/82\/34\/1536x864_cmsv2_6540b5ec-6165-599d-b5b3-13f12f846694-9928234.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Some of the pharmaceutical pollution may be preventable much earlier \u2014 when a medicine is prescribed.\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              Some of the pharmaceutical pollution may be preventable much earlier \u2014 when a medicine is prescribed.<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">Canva<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0Canva\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspGiedre Peseckyte\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1790571463\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-09-28 06:57:43 +02:00\">28\/09\/2026 &#8211; 6:57 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay js-c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay u-display-none\">\n<div id=\"js-c-article-share-comment-popup\" class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup js-c-article-share-comment-popup\">\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__header u-display-flex\"><span>Share<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/icon-close.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"Close Button\" class=\"u-cursor-pointer js-c-article-share-comment-close\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content u-display-flex\">\n<div id=\"share-comment-popup-content-container\" class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__container u-display-flex\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-facebook.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"facebook\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Facebook<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-facebook.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"facebook\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-twitter.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"twitter\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Twitter<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-twitter.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"twitter\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-flipboard.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"flipboard\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Flipboard<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-flipboard.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"flipboard\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-send.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"send\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Send<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-send.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"send\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-reddit.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"reddit\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Reddit<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-reddit.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"reddit\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-linkedin.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"linkedin\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Linkedin<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-linkedin.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"linkedin\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-messenger.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"messenger\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Messenger<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-messenger.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"messenger\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-telegram.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"telegram\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Telegram<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-telegram.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"telegram\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-vk.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"vk\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>VK<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-vk.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"vk\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"bluesky\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Bluesky<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"bluesky\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed_container u-display-none\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed__tooltip\"><br \/>\n                            Copy\/paste the article video embed link below:<br \/>\n                        <\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed u-display-flex\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/icon-copy-to-clipboard.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Copy to clipboard\" class=\"u-cursor-pointer js-c-article-share-comment-copy\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed--success-copied u-display-none js-c-article-share-comment-video-embed-success-link-copied\"><br \/>\n                                Copied<br \/>\n                            <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        Paracetamol, ibuprofen, carbamazepine, diclofenac, and other pharmaceuticals are being found in the Baltic Sea. Researchers say changing how some medicines are prescribed, used and disposed of could help reduce the flow.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content c-article-content--health js-article-content\">\n<p>The Baltic Sea \u2014 an inland sea surrounded by nine countries in the northeast of Europe \u2014 is one of the most polluted seas in the world. <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>It carries the legacy of decades of pollution: thousands of tonnes of chemical munitions and other war material were dumped into its waters after the Second World War. <\/p>\n<p>Today, microplastics, industrial chemicals and agricultural runoff are adding to the pressure on an ecosystem that is particularly vulnerable because of its semi-enclosed nature.<\/p>\n<p>The pharmaceutical pollution is what researchers from four different countries \u2014 Sweden, Finland, Lithuania and Latvia \u2014 are after, arguing that the Baltic&#8217;s pharmaceutical problem cannot be solved entirely at the shoreline. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;s not only about wastewater treatment,\u201d Marmar Nekoro, a researcher at the faculty of pharmacy at Uppsala University in Sweden, told Euronews. \u201cWe have to look across the rest of the life cycle.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Some of the pharmaceutical pollution may be preventable much earlier \u2014 when a medicine is prescribed, when a patient decides whether and how to take it, and when an unused packet is returned to a pharmacy rather than discarded.<\/p>\n<p>The approach does not mean asking patients to stop taking medicines they need. Instead, researchers say doctors could consider the environmental impact when choosing between medicines, while patients and health systems could do more to prevent unused drugs from entering the environment.<\/p>\n<p>One of the medicines researchers are watching is diclofenac, a widely used anti-inflammatory painkiller that has been detected in aquatic environments. According to Kristina Garuolien\u0117, a researcher at Vilnius University, there can be circumstances in which alternative medicines could be considered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat is turning to rational prescribing; when doctors are prescribing medicine, they have to also think about which medicine is not dangerous to the environment,\u201d she told Euronews.<\/p>\n<p>The issue is particularly relevant in the Baltic Sea, an inland sea surrounded by nine countries in northeastern Europe. It is one of the most polluted seas in the world and is particularly vulnerable because of its semi-enclosed nature.<\/p>\n<h2>The toll of pollution<\/h2>\n<p>Pharmaceuticals enter the Baltic Sea through multiple pathways, including wastewater from households and hospitals, discharges from pharmaceutical production sites, and runoff from agriculture and other land-based sources. Companion animals can also contribute when their faeces are not properly collected and disposed of.<\/p>\n<p>Wastewater treatment plants alone are estimated to release around 1,800 tonnes of pharmaceuticals into the Baltic each year, according to a decade-old report by UNESCO and the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission. Most wastewater treatment plants are yet to be equipped with a fourth treatment stage specifically designed to remove pharmaceutical pollutants.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhenever you ingest pharmaceuticals, you take it as a patient, your whole body or the whole medicine is not taken up by your body; part of it or quite a large part of it is excreted,\u201d Marmar Nekoro, a researcher at the faculty of pharmacy at Uppsala University in Sweden, told Euronews.<\/p>\n<p>Once pharmaceuticals reach the sea, they can persist in the environment for long periods. Carbamazepine, a prescription medication used to treat epilepsy, nerve pain and bipolar disorder, has been repeatedly detected across the Baltic.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt takes almost three and a half years for it to break down into half,\u201d Nekoro said. \u201cSo the breakdown is very, very slow,\u201d which leads to accumulation of the substance.<\/p>\n<p>The main concern is not that people will be harmed simply by swimming in the water, according to Bj\u00f6rn Wettermark, professor of pharmacoepidemiology at Uppsala University who leads the project, aside from the risk of antibiotic or antimicrobial resistance. <\/p>\n<p>Instead, researchers are concerned about the effects on non-target organisms living in the sea. Pharmaceuticals can affect wildlife and contribute to the broader problem of antimicrobial resistance.<\/p>\n<p>Fish, frogs and other species can experience feminisation due to synthetic oestrogens, potentially affecting entire populations. The Baltic blue mussel, Mytilus edulis \u2014 a key species in the ecosystem because it filters water \u2014 can have less energy available for normal metabolism and growth when exposed to some painkillers.<\/p>\n<p>Changes to mussel populations could create additional pressure on an ecosystem already affected by pharmaceuticals and other pollutants, as well as eutrophication \u2014 the process by which a body of water becomes overly enriched with nutrients, leading to rapid plant and algae growth that depletes dissolved oxygen.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/82\/34\/808x454_cmsv2_ba7e8d77-502c-540d-95a1-682736b0e88d-9928234.jpg\" alt=\"Most wastewater treatment plants are yet to be equipped with a fourth treatment stage specifically designed to remove pharmaceutical pollutants.\"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">Most wastewater treatment plants are yet to be equipped with a fourth treatment stage specifically designed to remove pharmaceutical pollutants.<\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Canva<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Prescribing the right medicines<\/h2>\n<p>Therefore, researchers are looking at improving how medicines are prescribed and used as one of the ways to cut pollution. <\/p>\n<p>That does not mean asking patients to stop taking medicines they need. Rather, researchers say that when several clinically appropriate options are available, environmental impact could become another factor in the choice.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe know for several studies for a long time that not the best drugs are being prescribed, neither from the clinical effect of it, or we have an overuse which is unnecessary,\u201d Wettermark said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo there are lots of win-wins here through improving the prescribing and the use of medicines first, but both are probably needed to get an impact on the environment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But changing prescribing practices is not simply a matter of telling doctors to choose \u201cgreener\u201d medicines.<\/p>\n<p>A recent study of environmentally responsible prescribing in Sweden found that doctors need more targeted education and better access to environmental information about pharmaceuticals.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/82\/34\/808x454_cmsv2_a95e9d1e-f450-5876-a879-eb6c56508486-9928234.jpg\" alt=\"Today, microplastics, industrial chemicals and agricultural runoff are adding to the pressure on the Baltic ecosystem.\"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">Today, microplastics, industrial chemicals and agricultural runoff are adding to the pressure on the Baltic ecosystem.<\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Canva<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Returning unused medicines<\/h2>\n<p>Unused medicines can also find their way into the environment if they are thrown into household waste, poured down sinks or flushed down toilets.<\/p>\n<p>In Lithuania, Garuolien\u0117 said, awareness of returning unused medicines to pharmacies has been increasing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvery year, people are returning more and more medicine to pharmacies,\u201d she said, adding that Lithuania has rules governing how medicines should be returned.<\/p>\n<p>That is a positive development, she said, because it means people are less likely to throw medicines away or flush them down the toilet.<\/p>\n<p>But it also raises another question: why were the medicines unused in the first place?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cProbably they are not using [them] as prescribed, or maybe our doctors are prescribing too many medicines and some of them are not necessary,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>The researchers\u2019 aim is ultimately to move beyond individual prescribing decisions and build a broader picture of how pharmaceutical pollution can be reduced across the Baltic region.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__container\">\n<article id=\"abe-2929389-pos0-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2929389\" data-cid=\"9931204\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2929389-label-pos0-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/12\/04\/480x270_cmsv2_e24a84dd-ad62-5a68-b068-35bf9cb10308-9931204.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The proposal is part of the Commission&apos;s Safe Hearts Plan, presented in December 2025, which aims to cut premature cardiovascular deaths by 25% by 2035.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Health news<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    European Commission goes after bad cholesterol and high blood pressure<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2929294-pos1-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1\" data-nid=\"2929294\" data-cid=\"9930783\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2929294-label-pos1-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/07\/83\/480x270_cmsv2_a1bf2e07-6302-5e76-bda3-6d4955e25f2c-9930783.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Can birdwatching help stroke survivors regain communication skills?\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Health news<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Can birdwatching help stroke survivors regain communication skills?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2928680-pos2-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1\" data-nid=\"2928680\" data-cid=\"9928172\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2928680-label-pos2-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/81\/72\/480x270_cmsv2_b7f77ff5-ff1e-56c9-a184-fd98a675e90f-9928172.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Exercise may help more than common painkillers.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Health news<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Are you in pain? Exercise may help more than common painkillers<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  pharmaceuticals<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  pharmacy<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Coastal waters<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Public health<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Pharmaceutical companies<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Water<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tp-vuukle\">\n<div class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton__header\"><span class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton__title\">Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2929389-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2929389\" data-cid=\"9931204\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2929389-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/12\/04\/320x180_cmsv2_e24a84dd-ad62-5a68-b068-35bf9cb10308-9931204.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The proposal is part of the Commission&apos;s Safe Hearts Plan, presented in December 2025, which aims to cut premature cardiovascular deaths by 25% by 2035.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    European Commission goes after bad cholesterol and high blood pressure<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2929477-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2929477\" data-cid=\"9931637\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2929477-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/16\/37\/320x180_cmsv2_5b1e464b-877e-540f-b5af-2ce23968d5dd-9931637.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A person holding a baby&apos;s hand, 2 August, 2016\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Terminally ill child euthanised in the Netherlands was one year old<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2929294-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2929294\" data-cid=\"9930783\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2929294-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/07\/83\/320x180_cmsv2_a1bf2e07-6302-5e76-bda3-6d4955e25f2c-9930783.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Can birdwatching help stroke survivors regain communication skills?\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Can birdwatching help stroke survivors regain communication skills?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2928680-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2928680\" data-cid=\"9928172\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2928680-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/81\/72\/320x180_cmsv2_b7f77ff5-ff1e-56c9-a184-fd98a675e90f-9928172.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Exercise may help more than common painkillers.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Are you in pain? Exercise may help more than common painkillers<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2928668-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2928668\" data-cid=\"9928061\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2928668-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/80\/61\/320x180_cmsv2_07e4c34d-4b74-5981-a105-8b384488b58e-9928061.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Obesity and overweight cost European economies billions of euros a year.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    How much is obesity costing European economies?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-2\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-most-viewed\">\n<h2 class=\"c-most-viewed__title qa-section-title\">Most read<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__list\">\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">1<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2928695-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2928695\" data-cid=\"9928234\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Europe looks for a prescription to clean up the Baltic<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2928680-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2928680\" data-cid=\"9928172\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Are you in pain? Exercise may help more than common painkillers<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">3<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2928668-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2928668\" data-cid=\"9928061\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    How much is obesity costing European economies?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2819816-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2819816\" data-cid=\"9396520\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Greece cuts emergency care waiting times by using QR codes for triage<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">5<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2929294-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2929294\" data-cid=\"9930783\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Can birdwatching help stroke survivors regain communication skills?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-3\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2929389-pos0-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2929389\" data-cid=\"9931204\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2929389-label-pos0-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/12\/04\/480x270_cmsv2_e24a84dd-ad62-5a68-b068-35bf9cb10308-9931204.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The proposal is part of the Commission&apos;s Safe Hearts Plan, presented in December 2025, which aims to cut premature cardiovascular deaths by 25% by 2035.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Health news<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    European Commission goes after bad cholesterol and high blood pressure<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2929294-pos1-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1\" data-nid=\"2929294\" data-cid=\"9930783\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2929294-label-pos1-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/07\/83\/480x270_cmsv2_a1bf2e07-6302-5e76-bda3-6d4955e25f2c-9930783.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Can birdwatching help stroke survivors regain communication skills?\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Health news<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Can birdwatching help stroke survivors regain communication skills?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2928680-pos2-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1\" data-nid=\"2928680\" data-cid=\"9928172\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2928680-label-pos2-c-article-you-might-also-like__item\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/81\/72\/480x270_cmsv2_b7f77ff5-ff1e-56c9-a184-fd98a675e90f-9928172.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Exercise may help more than common painkillers.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Health news<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Are you in pain? Exercise may help more than common painkillers<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2929389-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2929389\" data-cid=\"9931204\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2929389-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/12\/04\/320x180_cmsv2_e24a84dd-ad62-5a68-b068-35bf9cb10308-9931204.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The proposal is part of the Commission&apos;s Safe Hearts Plan, presented in December 2025, which aims to cut premature cardiovascular deaths by 25% by 2035.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    European Commission goes after bad cholesterol and high blood pressure<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2929477-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2929477\" data-cid=\"9931637\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2929477-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/16\/37\/320x180_cmsv2_5b1e464b-877e-540f-b5af-2ce23968d5dd-9931637.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A person holding a baby&apos;s hand, 2 August, 2016\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Terminally ill child euthanised in the Netherlands was one year old<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2929294-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2929294\" data-cid=\"9930783\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2929294-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/93\/07\/83\/320x180_cmsv2_a1bf2e07-6302-5e76-bda3-6d4955e25f2c-9930783.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Can birdwatching help stroke survivors regain communication skills?\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Can birdwatching help stroke survivors regain communication skills?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2928680-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2928680\" data-cid=\"9928172\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2928680-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/81\/72\/320x180_cmsv2_b7f77ff5-ff1e-56c9-a184-fd98a675e90f-9928172.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Exercise may help more than common painkillers.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Are you in pain? Exercise may help more than common painkillers<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2928668-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2928668\" data-cid=\"9928061\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2928668-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/80\/61\/320x180_cmsv2_07e4c34d-4b74-5981-a105-8b384488b58e-9928061.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Obesity and overweight cost European economies billions of euros a year.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    How much is obesity costing European economies?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2928695-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2928695\" data-cid=\"9928234\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Europe looks for a prescription to clean up the Baltic<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2928680-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2928680\" data-cid=\"9928172\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Are you in pain? Exercise may help more than common painkillers<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2928668-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2928668\" data-cid=\"9928061\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    How much is obesity costing European economies?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2819816-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2819816\" data-cid=\"9396520\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Greece cuts emergency care waiting times by using QR codes for triage<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2929294-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2929294\" data-cid=\"9930783\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Can birdwatching help stroke survivors regain communication skills?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">The Baltic Sea \u2014 an inland sea surrounded by nine countries in the northeast of Europe \u2014 is one of the most polluted seas in the world.\u00a0It carries the legacy of decades of pollution: thousands of tonnes of chemical munitions and other war material were dumped into its waters after the Second World War.\u00a0Today, microplastics, industrial chemicals and agricultural runoff are adding to the pressure on an ecosystem that is particularly vulnerable because of its semi-enclosed nature.The pharmaceutical pollution is what researchers from four different countries \u2014 Sweden, Finland, Lithuania and Latvia \u2014 are after, arguing that the Baltic&#8217;s pharmaceutical problem cannot be solved entirely at the shoreline.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIt&#8217;s not only about wastewater treatment,\u201d Marmar Nekoro, a researcher at the faculty of pharmacy at Uppsala University in Sweden, told Euronews. \u201cWe have to look across the rest of the life cycle.\u201dSome of the pharmaceutical pollution may be preventable much earlier \u2014 when a medicine is prescribed, when a patient decides whether and how to take it, and when an unused packet is returned to a pharmacy rather than discarded.The approach does not mean asking patients to stop taking medicines they need. Instead, researchers say doctors could consider the environmental impact when choosing between medicines, while patients and health systems could do more to prevent unused drugs from entering the environment.One of the medicines researchers are watching is diclofenac, a widely used anti-inflammatory painkiller that has been detected in aquatic environments. According to Kristina Garuolien\u0117, a researcher at Vilnius University, there can be circumstances in which alternative medicines could be considered.\u201cThat is turning to rational prescribing; when doctors are prescribing medicine, they have to also think about which medicine is not dangerous to the environment,\u201d she told Euronews.The issue is particularly relevant in the Baltic Sea, an inland sea surrounded by nine countries in northeastern Europe. It is one of the most polluted seas in the world and is particularly vulnerable because of its semi-enclosed nature.The toll of pollution\u00a0Pharmaceuticals enter the Baltic Sea through multiple pathways, including wastewater from households and hospitals, discharges from pharmaceutical production sites, and runoff from agriculture and other land-based sources. Companion animals can also contribute when their faeces are not properly collected and disposed of.Wastewater treatment plants alone are estimated to release around 1,800 tonnes of pharmaceuticals into the Baltic each year, according to a decade-old report by UNESCO and the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission. Most wastewater treatment plants are yet to be equipped with a fourth treatment stage specifically designed to remove pharmaceutical pollutants.\u201cWhenever you ingest pharmaceuticals, you take it as a patient, your whole body or the whole medicine is not taken up by your body; part of it or quite a large part of it is excreted,\u201d Marmar Nekoro, a researcher at the faculty of pharmacy at Uppsala University in Sweden, told Euronews.Once pharmaceuticals reach the sea, they can persist in the environment for long periods. Carbamazepine, a prescription medication used to treat epilepsy, nerve pain and bipolar disorder, has been repeatedly detected across the Baltic.\u201cIt takes almost three and a half years for it to break down into half,\u201d Nekoro said. \u201cSo the breakdown is very, very slow,\u201d which leads to accumulation of the substance.The main concern is not that people will be harmed simply by swimming in the water, according to Bj\u00f6rn Wettermark, professor of pharmacoepidemiology at Uppsala University who leads the project, aside from the risk of antibiotic or antimicrobial resistance.\u00a0Instead, researchers are concerned about the effects on non-target organisms living in the sea. Pharmaceuticals can affect wildlife and contribute to the broader problem of antimicrobial resistance.Fish, frogs and other species can experience feminisation due to synthetic oestrogens, potentially affecting entire populations. The Baltic blue mussel, Mytilus edulis \u2014 a key species in the ecosystem because it filters water \u2014 can have less energy available for normal metabolism and growth when exposed to some painkillers.Changes to mussel populations could create additional pressure on an ecosystem already affected by pharmaceuticals and other pollutants, as well as eutrophication \u2014 the process by which a body of water becomes overly enriched with nutrients, leading to rapid plant and algae growth that depletes dissolved oxygen.Prescribing the right medicines\u00a0Therefore, researchers are looking at improving how medicines are prescribed and used as one of the ways to cut pollution.\u00a0That does not mean asking patients to stop taking medicines they need. Rather, researchers say that when several clinically appropriate options are available, environmental impact could become another factor in the choice.\u201cWe know for several studies for a long time that not the best drugs are being prescribed, neither from the clinical effect of it, or we have an overuse which is unnecessary,\u201d Wettermark said.\u201cSo there are lots of win-wins here through improving the prescribing and the use of medicines first, but both are probably needed to get an impact on the environment.\u201dBut changing prescribing practices is not simply a matter of telling doctors to choose \u201cgreener\u201d medicines.A recent study of environmentally responsible prescribing in Sweden found that doctors need more targeted education and better access to environmental information about pharmaceuticals.Returning unused medicinesUnused medicines can also find their way into the environment if they are thrown into household waste, poured down sinks or flushed down toilets.In Lithuania, Garuolien\u0117 said, awareness of returning unused medicines to pharmacies has been increasing.\u201cEvery year, people are returning more and more medicine to pharmacies,\u201d she said, adding that Lithuania has rules governing how medicines should be returned.That is a positive development, she said, because it means people are less likely to throw medicines away or flush them down the toilet.But it also raises another question: why were the medicines unused in the first place?\u201cProbably they are not using [them] as prescribed, or maybe our doctors are prescribing too many medicines and some of them are not necessary,\u201d she said.The researchers\u2019 aim is ultimately to move beyond individual prescribing decisions and build a broader picture of how pharmaceutical pollution can be reduced across the Baltic region.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/09\/28\/the-sea-full-of-diclofenac-how-researchers-are-trying-to-cut-pharmaceutical-pollution-in-t&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/82\/34\/1200x675_cmsv2_6540b5ec-6165-599d-b5b3-13f12f846694-9928234.jpg&#8221;] Europe News Estonia slams Russian &#8216;sabotage&#8217; after arson attack on defence company Europe News Frugal countries pile on pressure to shrink EU budget Syria Sabotage halts Syria gas pipeline in latest attack on energy sector Tech News UK&#8217;s biggest AI supercomputer may have to wait until 2030s for enough power Europe News [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-2169128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2169128","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2169128"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2169128\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2169128"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2169128"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2169128"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}