[Pharmwaste] Fish exposed to anti-anxiety meds live longer, better lives

Mon Aug 11 12:08:41 EDT 2014

Hi all,

Now there is a anthropomorphized headline if I ever saw one.  Good thing the
authors came to their senses in the text of the article.  

Very truly yours,

Catherine Zimmer, MS, BSMT

Zimmer Environmental Improvement, LLC

St. Paul, MN 

Ph:  651.645.7509

 <mailto:zenllc at usfamily.net> zenllc at usfamily.net

From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us
[mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of DeBiasi,
Deborah (DEQ)
Sent: Monday, August 11, 2014 10:45 AM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: [Pharmwaste] Fish exposed to anti-anxiety meds live longer, better
lives

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/fish-exposed-anti-anxiety-meds-live-long
er-better-life/

 <http://www.pbs.org/newshour/topic/science/> Science 

Fish exposed to anti-anxiety meds live longer, better lives

BY  <http://www.pbs.org/newshour/author/dave-sloan/> Dave Sloan August 8,
2014 at 4:32 PM EDT

European perch. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

A study
<http://iopscience.iop.org/1748-9326/9/8/084003/article?_ga=1.8786231.327671
969.1407421678>  released on Friday revealed that young fish live longer
after being exposed to anti-anxiety medicine concentrated in sewage runoffs.

Past studies on the consequences of other compounds found in streams and
waterways such as caffeine, estrogen, and diabetes medicine showed that they
were potentially altering the reproductive systems of fish living in the
affected areas.

Scientists tested to see if the exposure to
<http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682050.html> Oxazepam, an
anti-anxiety and insomnia medication, was impacting the survival rate among
Eurasian perch. They tested adult and embryos of the species by exposing
them to several levels the sedative. The result concluded that both groups
had a significantly higher survival rate than the studies non-exposed
control group.

The therapeutic effect of the drug also caused a noticeable change in the
species' behavior. For example, the perch were believed to be less anxious
and more comfortable in a predator-free environment, causing them to travel
and search for food away from their pack. The change in their behavior led
to a higher feeding rate than the unexposed fish.

Researchers are concerned about the shift in behavior and increased
longevity of the exposed fish. Baby Eurasian perch typically have a
<http://iopscience.iop.org/1748-9326/9/8/084003/article?_ga=1.8362544.327671
969.1407421678%20> 92 percent mortality rate at hatching but the change in
survival rate might potentially alter the the ecosystem.

Tomas Bodin, one of the co-authors of the study,
<http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/fish-exposed-anti-anxiety-meds-live-lon
ger-better-life/%20http:/qz.com/246792/sewage-spiked-with-anti-anxiety-meds-
helps-baby-fish-live-longer-mellower-lives/#/> explained, "A therapeutic
effect leading to increased survival of one species may generate a
proportional increase in mortality of that species' prey, which may have
cascading ecological consequences that need consideration."

The study has opened a conversation among the research community to take a
further look into the long-term effects on fish and wildlife exposed to
other human compounds.

Deborah L. DeBiasi
Email:   Deborah.DeBiasi at deq.virginia.gov
WEB site address:  www.deq.virginia.gov <http://www.deq.virginia.gov/> 
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Office of Water Permits 
Industrial Pretreatment/Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Program
PPCPs, EDCs, and Microconstituents

http://www.deq.virginia.gov/Programs/Water/PermittingCompliance/PollutionDis
chargeElimination/Microconstituents.aspx

Mail:          P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA  23218
Location:  629 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA  23219
PH:         804-698-4028      FAX:      804-698-4032

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