Drugs waste in waterways are affecting fish behaviour, study

Drugs waste in waterways are affecting fish behaviour, studyAccording to a new study, the wastes from medical drugs, which are taken to deal with anxiety, are affecting fish behaviour in a significant manner in waterways.

The new study in Sweden, which was published in Science magazine, showed that when laboratory perch were exposed to the level of Oxazepam drug that are seen in rivers and streams, the fish began eating faster and were found to be bolder and less social than other fishes that were not dosed. The study was led by researchers at Umea University said that the behavioural changes noted in the affected animals could impact evolutionary and ecological environment in the wild setting.

Umea University's Tomas Brodin said, "The strong behavioural modifications we saw were at low concentrations, and I firmly believe we could go even lower and still see these effects. We looked at just one benzodiazepine-type drug but there are many others out there, and they probably all have the same effects on fish and other vertebrates. So we may be underestimating what is happening in nature."

Dr Brodin was speaking at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Boston.