JERUSALEM, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Israeli researchers have detected residues of 10 common drugs in corals living in the Red Sea's Gulf of Aqaba, also known in Israel as the Gulf of Eilat, Tel Aviv University said in a statement on Wednesday.
In a study published in journal Environmental Pollution, researchers found traces of antibiotics, laxatives, blood pressure-lowering drugs, antiplatelet agents, calcium channel blockers, and antidepressants in coral tissues.
Drug residues were found in all 96 corals examined by the team from two types of stony corals, Acropora and Favites, in shallow waters at depths of 5-12 meters and deep waters of 30-40 meters.
Sulfamethoxazole, an antibiotic for urinary and respiratory tract infections, was found in 93 percent of the corals sampled.
Previous studies indicate that drugs can harm sea creatures by damaging their reproductive capacity, increasing aggression, and affecting memory and learning abilities.
The researchers added that coral reefs are critical for marine biodiversity, offering food, shelter, and breeding grounds for many species, while also supporting human livelihoods through fishing and tourism.
Researchers urged developing wastewater drug treatment methods and safe disposal of old medications. They warned that improper disposal can contaminate wastewater with drug residues, potentially entering the food chain through fish and posing human health risks.
