Fish Being Contaminated With Prozac

In today’s overstressed world, about one in four Americans and Canadians take antidepressants. But it turns out that all those drugs may be stressing the environment when our bodies eliminate them and they are eventually flushed out into waterways.

Research in Montreal shows that a significant amount of Prozac and other similar pharmaceuticals are being released into the aquatic surroundings.

“We know that antidepressants have negative side effects on human beings,” says researcher Dr. Sébastien Sauvé at the University of Montreal’s Department of Chemistry, “but we don’t know how exactly how these chemicals are affecting the fish, and by extension, the Saint Lawrence River’s ecosystem (adjacent to Montreal).”

Sauvé was quick to point out that there is no immediate danger to humans.

“The amount of antidepressants being released into our river works out to roughly the equivalent of a grain of salt in an Olympic-size swimming pool,” he said. “That’s not enough to affect people, should they are brave enough to go fishing out there – I’d be more worried about the trace metals! Nevertheless, we are seeing an impact on the river’s ecosystem, which should concern cities everywhere.”

Further research by other teams will look at exactly what the consequences might be.