A Double Challenge for Fish: The Combined Stress of Warming and Pharmaceuticals in Aquatic Systems.

ABSTRACT: Aquatic ecosystems are increasingly threatened by multiple anthropogenic stressors, notably climate change and pollution by pharmaceuticals. Global warming is predicted to raise water temperatures by 2-5 °C by the end of the century. As ectotherms, fish are particularly vulnerable due to limited thermal tolerance and temperature-dependent physiology. Pharmaceuticals are introduced into aquatic systems at concentrations ranging from ng·L^-1 to µg·L^-1, including widely prescribed classes such as antibiotics, hormones, analgesics, antifungals, and neuropsychiatric drugs. This narrative review synthesizes experimental evidence on the interactive effects of warming and pharmaceutical exposure in fish. Thirty-nine peer-reviewed studies published since 2005 were analyzed. The

SUBMITTER: Lourenco T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12641760 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature