Pharmaceutical Pollution: Delorazepam's Impact on Embryonic Development in Non-Human Species

Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are emerging as persistent contaminants in aquatic ecosystems due to their widespread use and resistance to degradation. These pharmaceuticals enter water bodies through industrial discharge, healthcare facilities, and improper disposal, while conventional wastewater treatment plants fail to remove them effectively [1]. Given that BZDs act on GABAA receptors—highly conserved across species—they have the potential to interfere with biological processes also in non-target organisms [2]. For this reason, this study investigates the embryotoxic effects of delorazepam, a long half-life BZD, on three evolutionarily distant aquatic species: Artemia salina, Paracentrotus lividus, and Xenopus laevis, widely used as model organisms in ecotoxicology. The research evaluated responses to an environmentally relevant concentration (1 μg/L) and two higher exposure levels (5 and 10 μg/L), considering the postpandemic scenario [3]. The results revealed common effects across all three species, including increased mortality and developmental malformations, indicating a potential teratogenic impact of delorazepam. The similarity of these alterations across different species underscores the broader ecological risks of BZD contamination and raises concerns about potential human health implications. Given their persistent presence in the environment and the current lack of regulatory oversight, a deeper understanding of BZDs’ ecotoxicological impact is essential to protect both aquatic ecosystems and public health.