Anti-Depressants In The Water Supply: 'Dramatic' Side-Effects Blight Aquatic Wildlife Fertility
Source: Huffington Post UK
Tiny quantities of anti-depressants are affecting the fertility of aquatic wildlife such as crustaceans and molluscs, a new study has shown.
Scientists say they are becoming increasingly aware that drugs like Prozac and Sertraline, the most commonly prescribed antidepressants, are having an impact on aquatic life.
The new research has shown that lower than expected concentrations of the drugs in the water will affect the behaviour and biological make-up of these creatures, including changing colour, growing bigger and reproducing more.
In some cases, a lower concentration affected them more than a higher dose.
Dr Alex Ford, a marine biologist from the University of Portsmouth who has led the research published in the journal Aquatic Toxicology, said: "There is a staggering list of prescription drugs passed from humans to wastewater treatment plants and into receiving streams, estuaries, or oceans by direct consumption, metabolism, and excretion or by toilet flushing of old prescriptions.
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Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/04/02/antidepressants-aquatic-wildlife_n_5075386.html
flamingdem
(39,303 posts)Plus, most of those psych drugs do damage to humans.
There's got to be a better way.
frazzled
(18,402 posts)The lobsters and clams get anti-depressants, and they start reproducing more. That's ripe for satire, no matter how much I agree how harmful to wildlife and the environment this is.
Plucketeer
(12,882 posts)The little microbes in our septic tank have to be a carefree bunch! I have to say I envy them - literally buried in shit and smiling about it the whole time!
ForgoTheConsequence
(4,846 posts)Maybe we'll have a breakthrough one of these days but until then these drugs help immensely.
Plucketeer
(12,882 posts)While our eco-system goes haywire, we won't really be bothered by it all.
ForgoTheConsequence
(4,846 posts)But I'm not going to stop taking my medication and become suicidal again. Catch 22.
progressoid
(49,825 posts)BrotherIvan
(9,126 posts)But I do object to the explosion of prescriptions for minor complaints or that have shown little effectiveness in treating the problem, such as statins, antibiotics for a virus or in non-life threatening cases, and steroids. In the case of anti-depressants, doctors are prescribing them for any number of symptoms which could be treated much more easily and effectively with lifestyle changes and counseling. If someone complains of sadness or stress, they are given a pill. I was even offered a prescription to deal with grief from the death of a family member. I must have had the oddest, most quizzical look on my face when I asked how a medication would help with something every person must face? Was I supposed to drug myself until enough time passed so I didn't notice my parent died?
Many European countries are taking them off the drug schedules because they have found little to no effectiveness for mild cases of depression. A vet offered Prozac to my cat when we couldn't figure out why he wasn't using his litter box. Changed his litter instead. Another vet decided my other cat had OCD and that's why he was scratching himself to death but we found out it was a food allergy. Friends have disobedient children on them, some women I know use them as appetite suppressants for weight loss.
The trouble is, doctors treat them as if they are these benign little candies with little side effects, not informing their patients of the harm of abrupt cessation or violent/suicidal thoughts. Also, the small number of people taking them for necessary conditions, like you, are not enough to alter the water supply. It is the boom in overall drugs and prescription taking by millions that is becoming a huge problem.
truedelphi
(32,324 posts)Will soon be apparent. While news stories cover the fact that research findings clearly indicate that among reptilian life, pesticides and other toxins in streams, ponds and lakes have affected the size and functioning of male genitalia, what the public doesn't seem to understand is that what happens in the animal kingdom eventually happens to us.
And that was before Don Huber, a top researcher emeritus from Monsanto, started finding many reasons to believe that RoundUp-impacted soils will further increase the rates of infertility among human beings.