England’s National Parks, renowned for their natural beauty and diverse wildlife, are facing a hidden threat: pharmaceutical pollution.

New research from the University of York and the Rivers Trust has revealed widespread contamination of rivers in the parks, with antidepressants, anticonvulsants, antimicrobials, anti-inflammatory substances, lipid regulators and diabetes treatments being detected.

The study found pharmaceuticals in river water at 52 out of 54 locations monitored across all ten national parks in England. Some pharmaceuticals were found at levels of concern for the health of freshwater organisms and for humans who come into contact with the water, highlighting the need for tighter regulation and greater monitoring of some of England’s most cherished landscapes.

Covered by the BBC Concerning level of antibiotics found in rivers