EVALUATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF ANXIOLYTIC DRUGS: PREDICTION OF DRUG TOXICITY TO AQUATIC ORGANISMS

Abstract

Emerging pollutants, such as pharmaceutical residues in sewage, have a worrying environmental impact. This study evaluated the ecotoxicity of nine anxiolytic medications from the benzodiazepine class at three trophic levels: green algae, Daphnia and fish, using the ECOSAR software. The compounds were classified for toxicity based on the European directive 96/67/EEC. The results showed that midazolam was the most toxic in all tests, followed by alprazolam and estazolam, both in acute and chronic toxicity. The data obtained can support changes in Brazilian legislation and the implementation of monitoring programs in sewage treatment plants.

Keywords: Ecotoxicology, drugs in the environment, Benzodiazepines, Metabolites, Structure-ecotoxicity.