Monitoring Reveals Elevated Antidepressant Levels in some Waterways

Antidepressant drugs detected at potentially harmful levels in waterways

Depression, anxiety and sleep disorders are among the conditions often treated with antidepressant drugs. Yet, up to 90% of these drugs pass through the body into wastewater.

Monitoring reveals elevated antidepressant levels in some waterways

Depression, anxiety and sleep disorders are among the conditions often treated with antidepressant drugs. Yet, up to 90% of these drugs pass through the body into wastewater. They're also difficult to remove during water treatment, presenting a possible risk of environmental contamination and threats to ecological and human health. Now, researchers reporting in Environmental Science & Technology have found some antidepressant drugs at levels that could be harmful to aquatic wildlife in North Carolina waterways.

Study found some antidepressant drugs at levels that could be harmful to aquatic wildlife in North Carolina waterways