Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Tranquilizers, antidepressants, and other neuroactive phar-
maceuticals may affect the behavior of fish and wildlife. Beulig
and Fowler studied “fish on prozac”—the effects of the selec-
tive serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine (Prozac) on
fish. They found that it alters the amount of the neurotrans-
mitter serotonin (just as it is designed to do in humans), which
causes the fish to reduce their swimming and feeding behav-
ior. It also has some toxic effects on algae. Even low levels of
oxazepam caused perch to become more antisocial, risk-prone,
and hyperactive, making them easier targets for predators.
Only about 20% of the dose of commonly used cholesterol
lowering drugs (statins) is metabolized in the body; the rest
is excreted and finds its way into aquatic systems, where their
effects are largely unknown. Antibiotics such as erythromy-
cin and tetracycline can stimulate the evolution of (or selection
for) antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can later cause illness in
wildlife and humans. Also detected are caffeine, nicotine, acet-
aminophen, ibuprofen, and many other familiar substances—
a veritable drug cocktail. While they are not likely to be toxic
in the traditional sense, they are biologically active and likely
to have effects on aquatic animals.
In addition to pharmaceuticals, personal care products
such as cosmetics, lotions, sun blocks, and insect repellants
(for example, DEET) are not broken down or removed in sew-
age treatment plants, and when they enter aquatic systems
the chemicals in these products can affect aquatic plants and
animals. Triclosan, an antibacterial commonly used in per-
sonal care and household products, is one of the most fre-
quently found chemicals in wastewater in the United States.
It is a potent endocrine disruptor with effects on the thyroid
gland, and is also toxic to aquatic plants. Furthermore, there
is no evidence that over-the-counter antibacterial soap prod-
ucts are any more effective at preventing illness than wash-
ing with plain soap and water. Other antibacterial compounds
are released from sewage treatment plants, and wherever they
have been looked for, they have been found.
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