Wikipedia

Joakim Larsson (researcher)

Joakim Larsson (born 1969, Ljungby, Sweden) is a Swedish researcher primarily known for his studies on pharmaceuticals and antibiotic resistance in the environment.[1] Since 2012, Larsson is a professor of environmental pharmacology at the Department of Infectious Diseases within the Institute of Biomedicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.

Since 2016, he is also director of the Center for Antibiotic Resistance Research (CARe) at the University of Gothenburg.[2]

Research

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Larsson's discovery that ethinylestradiol contributed to the feminization of fish in 1999[3] was one of the triggering factors for today's widespread concern about pharmaceuticals in the environment.[4]

His discovery of significant antibiotic emissions from pharmaceutical manufacturing in India[5] has gained significant attention,[6] including in several documentary films.[7][8][9]

This and subsequent research studies from Larsson's research group, including threshold values for emissions,[10] have led to various societal measures, including:

  • A Global WHO Standard to Limit Emissions from Antibiotic Production: The World Health Organization (WHO) has introduced new global guidelines aimed at reducing pollution caused by antibiotic manufacturing. The guidelines focus on establishing standards to mitigate the environmental impact of antibiotic production, which can contribute to antimicrobial resistance.[1]
  • Two Points (76, 91) on Emission Limits for Antibiotic Production in a UN Declaration: The United Nations has addressed the need for emission controls in antibiotic production within its recent declaration on antimicrobial resistance. Points 76 and 91 specifically highlight the commitment to setting emission standards to curb pollution and address resistance risks associated with antibiotic manufacturing.[2]
  • A proposed Indian law to limit emissions[11]
  • Voluntary commitments from many of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies to reduce industrial antibiotic emissions and the development of an international emissions standard.[12]
  • The introduction of environmental criteria in the procurement of pharmaceuticals in Sweden and Norway.[12]
  • A revision of the Swedish model for generic substitution of drugs that takes into account companies' emissions control.[13]
  • Several UN organizations,[14] the European Parliament, and the G7 have expressed an international need for similar measures, including increased transparency in the pharmaceutical production chain.

Joakim Larsson has published over 200 scientific articles.[15] Since 2018, he has been among the top 1% most highly cited researchers in the world according to Web of Science[16]

Awards and honors

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Larsson was the recipient of the first Swedish award for effective research communication (2023), established by Örebro University and the Hamrin Foundation.[17] He also received the Eric K. Fernström Prize for young, particularly promising, and successful researchers in 2012.

References

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  1. ^ Larsson, D. G. Joakim; Flach, Carl-Fredrik (May 2022). "Antibiotic resistance in the environment". Nature Reviews Microbiology. 20 (5): 257–269. doi:10.1038/s41579-021-00649-x. ISSN 1740-1534. PMC 8567979. PMID 34737424.
  2. ^ "Centre for Antibiotic Resistance Research, CARe, University of Gothenburg". www.gu.se. 2023-12-08. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  3. ^ Larsson, D. G. J; Adolfsson-Erici, M; Parkkonen, J; Pettersson, M; Berg, A. H; Olsson, P. -E; Förlin, L (1999-04-01). "Ethinyloestradiol — an undesired fish contraceptive?". Aquatic Toxicology. 45 (2): 91–97. Bibcode:1999AqTox..45...91L. doi:10.1016/S0166-445X(98)00112-X. ISSN 0166-445X.
  4. ^ COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE European Union Strategic Approach to Pharmaceuticals in the Environment, 2019, retrieved 2023-12-01
  5. ^ Larsson, D.G. Joakim; de Pedro, Cecilia; Paxeus, Nicklas (September 2007). "Effluent from drug manufactures contains extremely high levels of pharmaceuticals". Journal of Hazardous Materials. 148 (3): 751–755. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.07.008. PMID 17706342. S2CID 5283085.
  6. ^ Environment, U. N. (2020-09-17). "Antimicrobial resistance: a global threat". UNEP - UN Environment Programme. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  7. ^ Superbugs: The Dark Side of India's Drug Boom, retrieved 2023-12-01
  8. ^ "The real price of cheap medicine". BNNVARA (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  9. ^ The Bacteria Threat (in Norwegian Bokmål), 2016-04-01, retrieved 2023-12-01
  10. ^ Bengtsson-Palme, Johan; Larsson, D. G. Joakim (2016-01-01). "Concentrations of antibiotics predicted to select for resistant bacteria: Proposed limits for environmental regulation". Environment International. 86: 140–149. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2015.10.015. ISSN 0160-4120. PMID 26590482.
  11. ^ "Antibiotic pollution: India scores a global first with effluent limits – 2020". ReAct. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  12. ^ a b "Antibiotic Manufacturing Standard". AMR Industry Alliance. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  13. ^ Regeringskansliet, Regeringen och (2021-05-07). "Uppdrag angående försöksverksamhet för en miljöpremie i läkemedelsförmånssystemet". Regeringskansliet (in Swedish). Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  14. ^ "Technical brief on water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) and wastewater management to prevent infections and reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)". www.who.int. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  15. ^ "Larsson D G J". scholar.google.com. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  16. ^ "Highly Cited Researchers". Clarivate. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  17. ^ "Joakim Larsson och Anna Duberg får pris för framstående kommunikation om forskning - Nyhetsarkiv - Örebro universitet". www.oru.se (in Swedish). 2023-04-13. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
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