- Background Information – This section gathered demographic data such as age, occupation, and interaction with local water ecosystems to assess how these factors influence awareness and behavior.
- Awareness and Concern – We aimed to gauge whether respondents were previously aware of pharmaceutical pollution and how concerned they were after learning about the issue. It also explored their understanding of which common drugs contribute to water contamination.
- Impact Perception – This section aimed to uncover respondents' perceptions of the environmental and human health impacts of pharmaceutical pollutants and their understanding of how these substances enter waterways.
- Personal Drug Usage – We sought to explore how people dispose of unused or expired medication, their frequency of drug use, and whether they were informed by healthcare professionals about proper disposal methods.
- Community Action – This section assessed the willingness of respondents to participate in activities aimed at improving water quality, such as clean-up drives, educational workshops, and policy advocacy.
- Additional Comments – The final section provided space for respondents to share suggestions on how to better address pharmaceutical pollution in waterways.
Survey Analysis and Discussion:
This analysis examines the results from a 17-question survey completed by 202 participants on public awareness and behavior regarding pharmaceutical pollutants in waterways. We focus on key questions within each section, analyzing trends in demographic factors, awareness, concerns about environmental impacts, and personal medication usage and disposal habits. By looking closely at specific results, we aim to identify knowledge gaps and behavioral patterns that will inform our project’s next steps.
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Background Information
Graph 1) target group occupation status The bar chart shows that the majority of survey respondents are students (90), followed by those employed (55). A smaller number are self-employed (15), retired (7), or unemployed (7), with only one response marked as N/A. This suggests that most participants are either in education or the workforce, reflecting a younger or professionally active demographic
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Awareness and Concern
Graph 2) target group level of concern Overall, the results suggest that the majority of participants are at least moderately concerned about environmental contamination, with very few showing little to no concern. This indicates a generally heightened awareness or sensitivity to environmental issues among the surveyed group. However, when combined with the results on where participants received their information, it becomes clear that while people are interested in the environmental impact of their medical treatment behavior, they often do not directly connect their personal consumption with this issue.
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Impact Perception
Graph 3) target groups perception of how pharmaceuticals enter the environment This graph shows how participants believe pharmaceutical pollutants enter the environment. The majority (over 150 respondents) indicated that improper disposal of medications is a major contributor. A significant number also acknowledged that pharmaceutical pollutants are introduced through use by patients and consumers, as well as through production processes. Agricultural runoff was also considered a source, though less frequently, while only a small number were unsure about how these pollutants enter the ecosystem. These results suggest a general awareness of the diverse pathways through which pharmaceutical pollutants reach the environment, particularly highlighting improper disposal and direct usage. This awareness presents an opportunity for targeted interventions, especially in promoting proper medication disposal practices.
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Personal Drug Usage
Graph 4) target groups perception of how they should dispose of their meds The graph shows how participants typically dispose of unused or expired medications. The most common method, indicated by nearly 80 respondents, is throwing them in the trash, followed closely by returning them to the pharmacy. A significant number of respondents (around 45) keep unused medications in storage. In contrast, fewer participants donate medications or flush them down the toilet. These results highlight that while many people dispose of their medications responsibly by returning them to a pharmacy, a large portion still resorts to improper methods like trash disposal, which could contribute to environmental pollution. Educational efforts could focus on promoting more environmentally friendly disposal methods.
Graph 5) target groups first contact with pharmaceutical disposal The bar chart shows that 75 participants, the largest group, haven’t received any information about pharmaceutical disposal. Among those informed, 28 learned from friends or family, and 23 from the internet or social media. Smaller groups were informed by schools (17), pharmacies (11), or healthcare providers (5).
This highlights a significant knowledge gap, with many relying on informal sources. Structured educational efforts could help raise awareness about proper disposal practices and their environmental impact.
Graph 6) target groups self-assessment on the impact of the survey The data shows that 46.4% of participants would not adapt their medical usage behavior, while 18.7% indicated they would, and 32.5% are unsure. This suggests that nearly half of the respondents do not see a need to change their habits, even after learning about environmental impacts. The large proportion of uncertain individuals highlights the need for better education on the connection between medical usage and environmental health, as increased awareness could influence future behaviour changes.
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Community Action and Additional Comments
The survey responses indicate a strong desire for increased public awareness regarding the effects of pharmaceutical pollutants, particularly non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, on water quality. Participants suggested various initiatives to address this issue, including hosting a pharmaceutical disposal drive where community members can safely dispose of expired medications while learning about proper disposal methods and the project’s objectives. One respondent emphasized, "It’s an interesting concept and another thing we can be aware of when choosing which medications to take." This reflects a growing recognition of the importance of public education on the environmental impacts of medication disposal. Additionally, suggestions for pharmacies to provide information on handling expired drugs further illustrate the community’s commitment to fostering awareness and responsible practices in medication use. Overall, these comments highlight a proactive attitude towards mitigating pharmaceutical pollution and enhancing community engagement in environmental health issues.
Byebuprofen Artwork
Meet the artist: Zhou Yuqi
We are excited to introduce Zhou Yuqi, the brilliant multidisciplinary artist who collaborated with us on the iGEM artwork. Born in Changzhou, China, and currently studying Transdisciplinary Art in Vienna at the Angewandte, Yuqi’s creative passions range from photography and sound exploration to sustainable projects like cultivating mushrooms and inventing educational games for children.
Her work seamlessly blends storytelling with sustainability and scientific outreach, aligning perfectly with the goals of the Byebuprofen project. Yuqi thrives on bridging the worlds of art and science, making her the perfect partner for our mission to raise awareness about pharmaceutical waste. You can follow her artistic journey on Instagram at maggi nana.
Stay tuned for more updates and a deeper dive into this thought-provoking artwork! It will be displayed on the rand Jamboree!
Art Concept for the Byebuprofen Project:
The Byebuprofen project art installation is designed as part of our Human Practices initiative, aimed at raising awareness about pharmaceutical waste in water systems. Our goal is to reach a broad audience, especially those who are affected by this problem but may not yet realize the extent of its impact. By incorporating art into the conversation, we can make the issue more accessible and relatable to people from all walks of life.
The installation visually represents pharmaceutical pollutants, particularly focusing on common medications like ibuprofen. Encapsulating pill-like objects within plastic textures mimics the dissolving of pills in water, symbolizing how pharmaceutical residues infiltrate and contaminate waterways. These smooth, familiar shapes reflect the intimate connection between consumer habits and environmental degradation, helping viewers see how something as small as a pill can have far-reaching consequences.
By working within small, confined spaces, the art contrasts beauty and harm, encouraging reflection on the invisible effects of pharmaceutical waste. With its use of familiar, everyday forms, the installation engages audiences on both a personal and collective level, sparking conversations about how human health and environmental sustainability are deeply intertwined.
This art project serves as a bridge between science and the public, helping to reach people who may be unaware of the growing issue of pharmaceutical pollutants. Through this medium, we hope to inspire action and promote sustainable practices that protect both human health and the environment.
Exhibition and Presentation of the Artwork
The artwork will be prominently displayed at BOKU University, serving as a focal point for discussions on the critical issue of pharmaceutical waste in our water systems. This exhibition provides an opportunity for students and faculty to engage directly with the topic, fostering awareness and encouraging dialogue about the environmental impacts of pharmaceuticals that often go unnoticed. By presenting the artwork in an academic setting, we aim to create a space where individuals can reflect on their own consumption habits and the broader implications for sustainability.
Additionally, the artwork will be showcased at the iGEM competition, reaching a diverse audience of researchers, students, and professionals from various fields. This exposure is crucial for our Human Practices initiative, as it allows us to extend our message beyond the university community and engage with those who have the power to influence change. By integrating art into scientific discourse, we hope to highlight the interconnectedness of health, environment, and community well-being.
Through these presentations, we aim to inspire action and motivate individuals to consider their role in mitigating pharmaceutical pollution. The artwork serves as a bridge between science and the public, transforming complex scientific issues into accessible, relatable narratives. By inviting audiences to confront the reality of pharmaceutical waste, we hope to spark curiosity and drive engagement, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable future for our ecosystems and communities.
Bye Bye Buprofen the water treatment pop song!
During our iGEM journey, we felt a strong responsibility to educate the public about the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Ibuprofen and Diclofenac, which are commonly used for pain management. Recognizing the importance of critically examining the benefits and risks associated with these drugs, we reached out to pharmacology expert Dr. Tobias Ruff, senior lecturer at the insititute of pharmacology at the Johannes Keppler University Linz in upper Austria for an in-depth interview. Dr. Ruff provided valuable insights into both the advantages and potential dangers of NSAIDs, such as their widespread over-the-counter availability, which often leads to misuse and long-term health risks.
This conversation highlighted key misconceptions about painkillers, such as the assumption that over-the-counter medications are entirely safe. The interview deepened our understanding of how NSAIDs work, their limitations, and the factors influencing their safe use, reinforcing our commitment to public health education throughout the iGEM project. Dr. Ruff’s insights played a crucial role in shaping our educational efforts on the responsible use of NSAIDs, as we sought to address the broader implications of pain management in our project.
Interview Questionnaire iGEM Team Vienna 2024 „Byebuprofen“
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Why are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) nowadays so commonly used? Which characteristics does this class of medications have?
NSAIDs can to a certain degree alleviate pain, which is by definition a highly unpleasant sensation and unfortunately known to most of us. Besides NSAIDs, there are different drugs available for the treatment of pain. Each of these medications has its own advantages and disadvantages and none of them is perfect. The term “non-steroidal” in the abbreviation NSAIDs highlights the differences of this class of drugs to corticosteroids. Corticosteroids had been synthesized and used frequently after the discovery of their anti-inflammatory effects. However, serious side effects including oedema, osteoporosis and hyperglycemia soon became apparent. These side effects are typically not seen with NSAIDs. Their ability to alleviate pain and their availability without prescription (so-called OTC drugs) make them very commonly used. This is also true for acetaminophen (Paracetamol), which has weaker anti-inflammatory properties and does not directly belong to the NSAIDs.
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Can you tell me more about the mechanism of action of NSAIDs? Where do they excert their effects and how can they suppress pain?
The primary mechanism of action of NSAIDs is the inhibition of enzymes called cyclooxygenases. These proteins produce molecules called prostaglandins which are responsible for signs of inflammation and the associated pain.
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What are the advantages of NSAIDs? Do they have any disadvantages?
NSAIDs do not cause dependence like opioids, which are used to treat strong pain. NSAIDs lack many of the side effects of glucocorticoids, which are also used as anti-inflammatory drugs.
However, NSAIDs do have side effects: they can for example lead to damage of the stomach and kidneys, particularly upon frequent or longer intake of high doses. The adverse effects of NSAIDs are well characterised due to their long history of clinical use.
Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) on the other hand has the drawback that it can already cause severe liver damage at slight overdose, but it can in general be safely used during pregnancy at low dose.
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How do factors like like gender, age, weight and the general health status have to be taken into account with respect to the choice for a particular NSAID and its dosage?
All of these factors play an important role with respect to these decisions: older patients for example often show decreased rates of drug metabolism and excretion and thus should receive lower dose. Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) should not be given to patients with pre-existing damage to the liver.
Patients with impaired kidneys should not be given Diclofenac. Other NSAIDs should also be given very carefully, i.e. at a lower dose to these patients.
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What is your opinion on excessive or frequent intake of NSAIDs for suppressing pain associated for example with headaches or menstruation?
This is a serious problem, because the adverse side effects I mentioned before become worse and more severe with increasing dose. Furthermore, regular intake of NSAIDs can lead to a paradoxical syndrome called medication-overuse headaches: In patients suffering from this condition, NSAIDs have become a cause of painful sensations.
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What are the most widespread misconceptions about NSAIDs?
The fact that many NSAIDs and also acetaminophen are available without prescription creates the impression that they are harmless. However, they can cause severe, irreversible damages.
Many NSAIDs were approved by the regulatory agencies decades ago when less was known about their adverse effects and there were fewer concerns about the safety of drugs. Today, regulatory authorities would very likely make different decisions and take more actions to restrict the use of NSAIDs like requiring prescriptions for them. Changing existing regulations to which people got used to is, however, difficult.
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Do you have the impression that there is a tendency of NSAIDs being used not cautiously enough or in the wrong way? Are there any examples for that?
The data on the amount of different medications sold in European countries are very reliable. Indeed, these numbers are high for different NSAIDs and tend to exceed the amount rationally justified based on the frequency of the diseases for which they make sense.
Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) must for example not be given to children below the age of 10, because it can cause life-threatening damage particularly if the child has a flu.
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How serious is the problem of inappropriate use of OTC (prescription free) pain relievers like ibuprofen, acetaminophen (Paracetamol), dicolfenac or acetylsalicylic acid?
Although these medications are usually well-tolerated over shorter periods, long-term use of high doses often causes irreversible damage to the body. This is unfortunately not seldom due to the widespread use of these drugs.
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In which ways can inappropriate use of NSAIDs harm the body?
Long-term intake of high doses of diclofenac can irreversibly damage the kidneys with the need of chronic dialysis or organ transplantation. High doses of acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) over longer periods can result in ulcerations of the stomach. Acetaminophen overdose can cause fatal liver failure.
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Do you think that it would make sense to require a prescription to buy these medications?
This depends a lot on the route of administration: Diclofenac can also be used as a gel for treating muscle aches. In babies, the use of acetaminophen suppositories is safe and helpful in cases of (high) fever. These routes of administration very efficiently reduce side effects and prevent overdose. In my opinion, a prescription should indeed be required to buy acetaminophen medications for oral intake.
Advertising also contributes a lot to the widespread use of OTC drugs and can be misleading. As a consequence, France as for example banned advertisement for medications containing 400mg ibuprofen or more. Moreover, the maximum amount of acetaminophen in one package in France is limited to 8g.
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Is there a need for more detailed instructions about safe use of NSAIDs?
The high sales figures of NSAIDs indicate that many people are not fully aware of the hazards of long-term NSAID use.
A well-known phenomenon is the prolonged intake of analgesics beyond the actual presence of pain due to patients fearing a relapse of pain. This is not only a problem given with respect to the side effects of these drugs, but can also result in habitual use.
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Which health care professionals (like physicians, pharmacists and others) should be responsible for informing the patient about medications for the treatment of pain?
For those medications which require a prescription to be bought, the physician should inform the patient about the drug.
In addition, pharmacists in European countries usually provide comprehensive information to patients buying a medication (including OTC drugs) in a pharmacy. However, there isn’t really anyone who would (actively) explain all potential side effects to patients buying medication online.
Printing clear warnings onto the packages could be a way to highlight possible hazards to patients. In France, a warning about the danger of overdose is mandatory on all medications containing acetaminophen.
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Which information are necessary for patients to better understand potential hazards of OTC pain relievers?
An instruction leaflet for the patient is provided with all medications, but patients often have difficulties in judging the relevance of this information. The breadth of the information by itself can overwhelm patients. Moreover, it is difficult for patients to make individual decisions based on statistical values for a certain risk.
This is why it would be necessary to help patients in understanding the relevance of different pieces of information. Furthermore, it could be helpful to explain the causes of pain and the mechanisms how drugs work in more detail to patients to give them a comprehensive view on the effects of these medications.
On Monday, July 8th our iGEM team was invited by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions, and Water Management to present and discuss our project. Representing the team, Elias, David, and Romi attended the meeting with Dr. Manfred Clara and DI Heide Müller-Rechberger. This meeting was a significant opportunity for us to engage with key stakeholders about the potential impact of our research on pharmaceutical pollution in aquatic environments.
We began our presentation by introducing our project idea, giving insight into synthetic biology and the approach we aimed for, as well as providing an overview of the iGEM competition and our project planning. This foundational context allowed for a better understanding on our project “BYEbuprofen” and set the stage for a more detailed discussion on the challenges associated with pharmaceutical residues in wastewater.
In our following discussion we got to learn that while Austria boasts an advanced wastewater treatment infrastructure, pharmaceutical substances such as Diclofenac and Ibuprofen continue to be detected in various water sources, including surface and groundwater. Dr. Clara elaborated on the issue, noting that while the concentrations of these substances in water are significantly lower than in the human body, their presence—even in trace amounts—can still pose environmental risks.
We found very interesting that Austria’s effective wastewater treatment processes have been successful in removing many pharmaceutical residues, particularly through carbon removal. Dr. Manfred Clara and DI Heide Müller-Rechberger however also confirmed, that some substances like Diclofenac are resistant to these processes, whereas others, such as Ibuprofen, are more readily broken down. We got informed, that Austria routinely monitors around 90 active pharmaceutical ingredients to assess environmental health. This comprehensive monitoring program spans various water bodies, enabling valuable insights into the distribution and persistence of pharmaceutical pollutants across the country.
Despite the generally low concentrations detected in groundwater, the presence of these residues—although only in concentrations of about a nanogram-per-liter levels—indicates that further efforts are necessary to lower their impact. The Ministry is actively involved in research and pilot projects to enhance the removal efficiency of these substances. Techniques such as ozonation and activated carbon treatment are currently being tested, some even on a large scale, to improve the retention and degradation of pharmaceutical residues in wastewater treatment plants.
Our discussion then focused on our own project, “BYEbuprofen,” which aims to develop a solution for degrading pharmaceutical pollutants more effectively. Dr. Clara and DI Müller-Rechberger provided valuable feedback, particularly emphasizing that of the substances we are targeting—Diclofenac, Estrogen, and Ibuprofen—Ibuprofen is currently a drug that is quite targeted in research for being degraded with several new approaches. They also informed us about ongoing and upcoming studies conducted by the Environmental Agency, which regularly assesses pharmaceutical residues in the environment. These comprehensive investigations, similar to those conducted in 2016 (that we used during our research) are essential for understanding the long-term impact of these substances and are publicly accessible.
Our discussion with Dr. Manfred Clara and DI Heide Müller-Rechberger also explored a broader view on our topic by pointing out technical and regulatory challenges, associated with degradation of drug pollutants in wastewater by a synthethic biology approach as we aimed for. Since our offered solution considered the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in our treatment strategy, we discussed the current legislation, which does not permit the deployment of GMOs in wastewater treatment. This led to an exchange of ideas on possible methods to safely utilize GMOs, such as employing genetically engineered “kill switches” that would deactivate the organisms under specific environmental conditions. However, recognizing the limitations and public concerns associated with GMOs, we also considered non-GMO alternatives, which are being actively explored within the ministry.
Furthermore, Dr. Manfred Clara addressed the European Commission’s 2022 proposal to implement a fourth stage of wastewater treatment as part of the new Urban Wastewater Directive. This proposal (which is a component of the Zero Pollution Action Plan under the European Green Deal) aims to significantly reduce the release of harmful substances into the environment. Implementing this additional treatment stage at large wastewater treatment plants would cover approximately half of Austria’s treatment capacity. Nevertheless, there remain certain substances or substance groups that are less effectively removed or, due to high concentrations in wastewater, may still pose a risk of exceeding environmental quality standards despite efficient purification.
Towards the end of our meeting, Dr. Clara and DI Müller-Rechberger provided us with valuable suggestions on potential contacts and research facilities, including the IBS wastewater treatment plant in Vienna and the experimental wastewater treatment plant at TU University in Vienna.
Overall, our team found the meeting incredibly insightful and motivating. We are deeply grateful to Dr. Clara and DI Müller-Rechberger for their thought trough feedback and recommendations. This interaction not only provided us with new perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in our field but also underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration while further developing our project idea.