Prolonged exposure to the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone induces brain damage via oxidative stress and apoptotic response in adult Daniorerio.

Due to its extensive use as a painkiller, anti-inflammatory, and immune modulatory agent, as well as its effectiveness in treating severe COVID-19, dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, has gained attention not only for its impact on public health but also for its environmental implications. Various studies have reported its presence in aquatic environments, including urban waters, surface samples, sediments, drinking water, and wastewater effluents. However, limited information is available regarding its toxic effects on nontarget aquatic organisms.

Assessing the impact of COVID-19 era drug combinations on hepatic functionality: A thorough investigation in adult Danio rerio.

Current and thorough information on the ecotoxicological consequences of pharmaceuticals is accessible globally. However, there remains a substantial gap in knowledge concerning the potentially toxic effects of COVID-19 used drugs, individually and combined, on aquatic organisms. Given the factors above, our investigation assumes pivotal importance in elucidating whether or not paracetamol, dexamethasone, metformin, and their tertiary mixtures might prompt histological impairment, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in the liver of zebrafish.