Dangerously high levels of Class A drugs have been found in the river running through the Glastonbury Festival site, according to scientists.
Researchers found that during the five-day festival levels of MDMA and cocaine were so high it was damaging the local wildlife.
Music fans who have chosen to forgo the Somerset festival’s toilets in favour of ‘peeing on the land’ are being blamed for the dangerous levels.
Following the discovery, experts are urging future festival-goers to use the event’s official facilities.
Dan Aberg, a Masters student in the School of Natural Sciences at Bangor University, worked with Dr Daniel Chaplin from the Centre for Environmental Biotechnology to measure levels of illicit drugs before, during and after Glastonbury Festival when it was last held in 2019.
Samples were taken from the Whitelake River both upstream and downstream of the festival site.
The study found MDMA concentrations quadrupled the week after the festival, suggesting long-term release from the site.
They also discovered that cocaine concentrations rose to levels known to affect the lifecycle of European eels, a protected species.
Mr Aberg said: ‘Illicit drug contamination from public urination happens at every music festival.
‘The level of release is unknown, but festivals undoubtedly are an annual source of illicit drug release.’
He added: ‘Unfortunately, Glastonbury Festival’s close proximity to a river results in any drugs released by festival attendees having little time to degrade in the soil before entering the fragile freshwater ecosystem.’
Following the findings, researchers are suggesting studies be carried out into possible treatment via environmentally friendly methods, such as constructed treatment wetlands, in order to minimise the release and impact of illicit drugs from festivals.
They also say festival attendees should be told about the harmful effects public urination can have on natural resources.
Dr Christian Dunn, from Bangor University, said: ‘Our main concern is the environmental impact.
‘This study identifies that drugs are being released at levels high enough to disrupt the life cycle of the European eel, potentially derailing conservation efforts to protect this endangered species.
‘Education is essential for environmental issues, just as people have been made aware of the problems of plastic pollution, and Glastonbury have made great efforts to become plastic-free, we also need to raise awareness around drug and pharmaceutical waste – it is a hidden, worryingly-understudied yet potentially devastating pollutant.’
A spokesperson for Glastonbury Festival said protecting local streams and wildlife was of ‘paramount importance’ to the Festival which has a waterways sampling regime in place during each annual event.
They said ‘no concerns’ were raised by the Environment Agency following Glastonbury 2019.
The spokesperson said: ‘We are aware that the biggest threat to our waterways – and the wildlife for which they provide a habitat – comes from festival goers urinating on the land.
‘This is something we have worked hard to reduce in recent years through a number of campaigns, with measurable success.
‘Peeing on the land is something we will continue to strongly discourage at future festivals. We also do not condone the use of illegal drugs at Glastonbury.
‘We are keen to see full details of this new research, and would be very happy to work with the researchers to understand their results and recommendations.’
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