A Global Imprint of Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agents Used in Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Drinking Water

and accounts for up to 99% of total dissolved Gd. Contamination hotspots are concentrated in Europe and North America. While Gd levels scale with MRI usage and wastewater generation, the primary driver on contamination exposure is the local drinking water source. These results reveal Gd as a sensitive global tracer of wastewater influence on drinking-water systems. Although current concentrations pose limited immediate health risks, their worldwide prevalence highlights the emerging threat of pharmaceutical pollution and the need for rapid advances in wastewater treatment, environmental monitoring, and water-resource management.