From rivers to resistance: Dr Diego Quijano on the environmental dimension of AMR

2026-06-26

Diego Quijano is an environmental and sanitary engineer, public health researcher, and environmental professional from Colombia. He holds a Master's degree in Environment and Development and a PhD in Public Health from the National University of Colombia. Currently serving as a Technical Liaison at Bogotá’s District Secretariat of Environment, his work focuses on the intersection of health and the environment, particularly emerging contaminants and the environmental impacts of pharmaceutical pollution. In this interview Dr Quijano talks about his work and association with ReAct Latin America.

How did you first come into contact with ReAct Latin America, and what made you fall in love with its approach?

– My first contact with ReAct was in 2016, when I had the opportunity to present a project carried out with Professors José Orozco and Esperanza Holguín on the disposal of unused medicines. We participated in the International Meeting Sumak Kawsay, Microbial World, Bacterial Resistance and Food Sovereignty, held in Ambato, Ecuador.

– There, I was able to hear diverse Latin American perspectives on the microbial world and bacterial resistance, where communities worked hand in hand with academic research. The discussions revealed the complexity of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the importance of building better relationships with the environment. This diversity of knowledge and actions aimed at achieving a better way of living strongly captured my attention and has fascinated me ever since.

Throughout your career as a researcher, educator, and leader, how did your interest in studying environmental contamination by pharmaceuticals — and particularly the presence of antibiotics in water — develop?

– While pursuing my Master’s degree in Environment and Development at the National University of Colombia, I became acquainted with the issue of pharmaceuticals as emerging contaminants. From the outset, I was struck by how this problem reflected the many connections between human health and the environment.

– The negative consequences of these substances as pollutants led me to investigate their causes, impacts, and possible interventions. As I delved deeper into the subject, it became increasingly evident that water plays a central role in transporting these contaminants. Likewise, it became clear that antimicrobial resistance represents one of the most significant negative consequences for global health.

– My interest continued to grow, and through research, academic meetings, and discussion forums, I have had the opportunity to learn about various approaches and actions undertaken by different actors to counteract the harmful effects of environmental contamination.

From your academic perspective, what does it mean to talk about emerging contaminants, and why does the presence of antibiotics in rivers, soils, and aquatic ecosystems represent a growing challenge for the environment and public health?

– Emerging contaminants are a group of substances used routinely in society that are dispersed throughout the environment and may have ecotoxicological effects. They are generally not regulated by environmental legislation and include pharmaceuticals and personal care products, flame retardants, pesticides, antiseptics, additives, and other industrial agents.

– Antibiotics are a particularly concerning group of emerging contaminants. They spread through water, soils, sediments, and various organisms. Because of their potentially harmful effects — especially their contribution to AMR — they are both an environmental and public health concern.

– Antibiotics are critically important for preventing and treating infectious diseases. Therefore, when they become environmental pollutants, they create a global challenge: preventing, reducing, and managing their release into the environment and mitigating the negative consequences that follow.

From your perspective, what role can universities, researchers, and communities play in addressing AMR through an environmental and public health lens?

– AMR has numerous negative implications and can be addressed from multiple perspectives. Tackling antimicrobial resistance requires coordinated action across different sectors of society, reflecting the intersection between health and the environment.
Universities can contribute through interdisciplinary education and critical thinking about consumerism in healthcare and environmental stewardship. The technical evidence generated by universities can also influence public policies governing antibiotic use and environmental and health regulations.

– Researchers can improve understanding of the causes and consequences of this type of contamination and propose social and technological solutions that contribute to better health outcomes. Research advances in environmental monitoring systems, decontamination technologies, exposure pathways, and risk assessment play a critical role in understanding and addressing the problem.
Communities, for their part, can help contain AMR through responsible antibiotic use and proper disposal of pharmaceutical waste.

– Furthermore, advocating for better living conditions and improving public health practices can reduce pressure on both healthcare systems and the environment.

What concrete actions should institutions, health systems, and society take to reduce water contamination by antibiotics and prevent the advance of AMR?

– The rational use of antibiotics is one of the key elements in preventing the spread of AMR. Institutional regulation and effective oversight of antibiotic use, as well as community self-regulation, play important roles.

– Ensuring better living conditions is also essential for improving health and protecting the environment, which in turn can reduce antibiotic use and help contain AMR.

– Technical measures such as implementing medicine take-back systems and managing wastewater contaminated with antibiotics can also contribute significantly.

– Continued research will help quantify antibiotic levels in water and other environmental matrices, identify high-risk areas, and generate technological intervention strategies.

What have been the most important lessons you have learned from your journey in defending environmental and public health?

– Protecting health and the environment involves multiple actors and perspectives. Integrating different ways of understanding and solving environmental problems, while working toward shared objectives, is one of the key elements that allows progress toward better health and healthier relationships with the environment.

– Likewise, recognizing the many connections between social, environmental, and health dimensions enables us to build common pathways that integrate local knowledge, academic expertise, and the participation of diverse actors in protecting both human health and ecosystem health.