Concentrations of pharmaceuticals in Lake Michigan are undiluted two miles from treated sewage outfalls, according to research published in Chemosphere. Research has linked pharmaceuticals in fish to alterations in reaction times, eating habits, and anxiety. ““You’d expect dilution would kick in and decrease concentrations, and that was not the case here,” said a U.S. Geological Survey research hydrologist. “You’re not going to see fish die-offs [from pharmaceuticals], but subtle changes in how the fish eat and socialize that can have a big impact down the road.”
Blair, B., Crago, J., Hedman, C., Klaper, R.; Pharmaceuticals and personal care products found in the Great Lakes above concentrations of environmental concern. Chemosphere. Online August 23, 2013
Of further interest:
Drugs Contaminate Lake Michigan (Scientific American)
Pharmaceutical Pollution in Water (Hohonu)
Dilute Concentrations of a Psychiatric Drug Alter Behavior of Fish from Natural Populations (Science)
Fish on Prozac: Anxious, anti-social, aggressive (Environmental Health News)
Psychoactive Pharmaceuticals Induce Fish Gene Expression Profiles Associated with Human Idiopathic Autism (PLoS One)
