A recent finding from a nationwide study (National Rivers and Stream Assessment) of human drugs in fish tissue has prompted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to increase its study to more locations. The drugs found in the fish tissues included medicines for depression, bipolar disorders, allergies, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. This raises the question of what is in our tap water. Recent findings (reported in the Associated Press) have also demonstrated some of these drugs in tap water provided to at least 46 million Americans. Although the water is highly diluted, repeated exposure to the pharmaceutics should be of concern. The study found that fish close to waste treatment plants where treated sewage was released were at greater risk. The study included major cities such as Dallas, Phoenix and Chicago. They also tested fish in isolated areas such as the Gila River Wilderness Area in New Mexico. Nothing was detected in the isolated fish from New Mexico, however, the fish in major urban areas were found to have 7 drugs and 2 soap scent chemicals in their tissues. According to an EPA spokeswoman Suzanne Rudzinski, limited laboratory studies have shown that human cells failed to grow or took unusual shapes when exposed to combinations of some pharmaceuticals found in drinking water.
What have we learned here? For one, I would catch and release those local fish at the end of your fishing line. Drink filtered water because you just never know what's coming out of that tap, and why get treated for depression if your not clinically depressed. Lastly, consider the products you use in your home that are dumped down the drain. You can make a great impact on your environment by using biodegradeable products that won't harm the fish or your environment.
