Fish may be highly sensitive to antidepressants found in water

Fish affected by antidepressant pollution at surprisingly low levels

Fish could be more sensitive to commonly used antidepressants than humans, according to new research which raises concerns about the effects of pharmaceutical pollution in rivers and other waterways. This research follows a recent study which detected elevated levels of antidepressant drugs in several North Carolina waterways. Researchers from Tokyo University of Science and Kochi University studied how antidepressants interact with proteins in …

Fish may be highly sensitive to antidepressants found in water

Many of the drugs that target human brain chemistry, such as antidepressants, are still biologically active when they leave the body. These substances and their metabolites can persist in wastewater and eventually end up in the sea, rivers or other aquatic environments.

Antidepressants in Rivers Reach Fish at Levels That Disrupt Their Brain Chemistry, Study Warns

Antidepressants in rivers may harm fish more than people, blocking their serotonin proteins at levels found in polluted water.