This is food for thought!

Fish on Prozac and painkillers

4 July, 2015

The happy but erratic behaviour of the fish in Finding Nemo might be explained by their exposure to antidepressants, opiates and benzodiazepines in the waters of Sydney Harbour, research suggests.

Significant levels of antidepressants, painkillers, beta blockers and other pharmaceuticals are present in Sydney’s harbours, bays and tributaries, according to environmental scientists writing in the Marine Pollution Bulletin.

The researchers, from the University of Sydney and the University of Queensland, analysed water samples from 30 sites adjacent to stormwater outlets across the Sydney estuary.

Out of the 59 common pharmaceuticals that were tested, eight were present in low levels in Sydney water samples.

Eight pharmaceuticals found in the Sydney estuary (maximum concentration detected shown in brackets)

1. Paracetamol (67ng/L)
2. Fluoxetine (36ng/L)
3. Venlafaxine (32ng/L)
4. Iopromide (13ng/L)
5. Codeine (10ng/L)
6. Propranolol (9ng/L)
7. Tramadol (6ng/L)
8. Carbamazepine (3ng/L)

The researchers say  pharmaceuticals commonly end up in wastewater after being excreted from the body.