Heavily prescribed pharmaceuticals are increasingly linked to bioaccumulation, endocrine disruption and reduced survival rate in marine biota. However, no data on the impact and fate of pharmaceuticals exists for Indonesia coastal waters. Indonesia is the world’s fourth largest country, composed solely of islands and heavily reliant on a stable marine environment for food, health and livelihood.
This research project builds on work at the ͯÑÕÊÓƵ using molluscs to monitor water pollution and work done by LIPI (Indonesian National Institute for Science) on food security, marine biodiversity and natural resources management. Research focuses on the impact of pharmaceuticals on marine bivalves’ early life stages. Within a current split site PhD project, a model is being developed to profile pharmaceutical contamination of Indonesian seawater and ecotoxicological impact.
This project commenced in January 2017 and will continue until January 2020.
This study will employ the use of bioindicators of environmental quality to link organism responses to ecologically relevant endpoints and consequently, to be implemented as part of monitoring and water management programmes. This study considers biological responses in gametes, eggs and larvae of marine invertebrates and relates them to other observations in the adult population. Additionally, changes in water quality and population characteristics (coverage, sex ration, size distribution) will be monitored along the selected areas.
This project will provide evidence for the introduction of a national monitoring programme and will address the absence of effective water treatment strategies, protecting vital marine resources and the health of the most vulnerable Indonesian communities.
Research team
Corina CiocanSusan SandemanDavid Timson
Output
Partners
LIPI – Indonesian National Institute for Sciences