October 2025 issue

Volume 70, Issue 10

Scientists are beginning to study how fentanyl and its by-products enter and persist in the environment with early findings suggesting it does not easily break down in soil and can be detected in water, wastewater, and even transit systems. While current environmental levels are far below those that pose direct safety risks to humans, little is known about the drug’s metabolites, degradation products, and long-term impacts on ecosystems and food chains. Researchers emphasize that more monitoring, better detection methods, and multidisciplinary collaboration are urgently needed to understand fentanyl’s environmental fate and potential risks.

Cover photo courtesy of iStock/chudakov2.