Diclofenac in the marine environment: A review of its occurrence and effects

Interest in the presence and effects of diclofenac (DCF) and other pharmaceutical products (PPs) in the aquatic environment has been growing over the last 20 years. DCF has been included in the First Watch List of the EU Water Framework Directive in order to gather monitoring data in surface waters. Despite PP input in water bodies, few studies have been conducted to determine the extent of DCF occurrence and effects on marine ecosystems, which is usually the final recipient of surface waters. The present article reviews available published data on DCF occurrence in marine water, sediment and organisms, and its effects on marine organisms. The findings highlight the scarcity of available data on the occurrence and effects of DCF in marine ecosystems, and the need for further data acquisition to assess the risks associated with the presence of this compound in the environment.