Your Fish Is on Drugs
March 16, 2016
Story at-a-glance
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Fish in Washington’s Puget Sound are being contaminated by
drug-laden discharge from wastewater treatment plants
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Antidepressants, diabetes drugs, cholesterol-lowering
medications, and triclosan were detected in fish
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More than 40 contaminants were detected in Puget Sound
salmon, including some at levels that could harm their
growth, reproduction and behavior
By Dr. Mercola
Fish was once one of the healthiest food sources on the
planet, but as waterways have become increasingly polluted by
industry and pharmaceuticals, so, too, have the creatures that
live in them.
Discharge from wastewater treatment plants is turning out to
be an alarming source of this pollution, particularly since the
plants are not always designed to remove pharmaceuticals and
chemicals in personal care products.
The result is that once they get flushed down the drain (or
toilet), they end up in local waterways.
Puget Sound Fish at Risk From Wastewater Contaminants
A study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) Northwest Fisheries Science Center
analyzed wastewater effluent for 150 contaminants and found 81
present in the samples.1
Pharmaceuticals, including the antidepressant Prozac, the
diabetes medication metformin, cholesterol-lowering statin drugs
and triclosan, an antibacterial compound found in soap and
personal care products, were found in the wastewater flowing
into Washington’s Puget Sound, as well as in the Sound’s water
and fish.
According to the researchers:2
“Collectively, we detected 81 analytes in effluent,
25 analytes in estuary water, and 42 analytes in fish
tissue.
A number of compounds, including sertraline,
triclosan, estrone, fluoxetine, metformin, and nonylphenol
were detected in water and tissue at concentrations that may
cause adverse effects in fish.”
Nearly 30 of the contaminants were detected in fish but not
in surrounding waters, which suggests the toxins are
bioaccumulating in their flesh.
Salmon on Drugs
Salmon are regarded as an indicator species, which means they
serve as a measure of environmental conditions. The researchers
examined juvenile Chinook salmon and Pacific staghorn sculpin,
both of which are native to Puget Sound.
More than 40 contaminants were detected in their tissues and
some, namely Prozac, metformin and triclosan, were found at
levels that could harm their growth, reproduction and behavior.
No one knows how this chemical cocktail will affect fish,
especially since they’re being exposed to a mixture of drugs at
once, but it may mean adverse effects will occur at even lower
concentrations.
The study did not look into the health effects to humans of
eating these contaminated fish, but the fish themselves could
likely show some issues. Past research has found, for instance,
that dilute concentrations of psychiatric drugs alter the
behavior of fish.
Exposure to Pharmaceuticals Disrupts Wild Fish Behavior
Wild perch exposed to anxiety drugs displayed increased
activity, reduced sociality and higher feeding rates,3
which could disrupt the natural balance of their surrounding
ecosystem.
The featured study researchers further explained that while
the contaminants may not kill fish outright, they’re likely to
have serious, lasting consequences:4
“A noteworthy outcome of the present study is the
occurrence of several compounds in water and tissue that
have the potential to affect fish growth, behavior,
reproduction, immune function, and antibiotic resistance.
One recent review provides a summary of studies on
the effects of endocrine disruptors on immune system in fish
(Milla et al., 2011). Many of these agents, such as
metformin [a diabetes drug], may impact multiple systems
such as growth and reproductive pathways.
It is unlikely that the level of exposure for these
compounds would result in direct mortality to estuarine
organisms; however, all of the above mentioned responses
could lead to indirect mortality or reduced population
fitness.
As noted by Spromberg and Meador (2005) and Meador
(2014) even a minor inhibition in juvenile salmonid immune
function or growth likely results in a major impact on
survivability during their first year in marine waters.”
Kentucky Warns Residents Not to Eat Too Much Locally Caught Fish
Unfortunately, the contamination in Puget Sound is not
unique. Fish across the U.S. are simply too contaminated to eat.
Kentucky is one state that has a fish-consumption warning in
place for women of childbearing age and children aged 6 years
and younger, as these are the populations most at risk from
eating mercury-contaminated fish.
But the state’s waterways are so contaminated with mercury
that state officials have since expanded the warning. Now,
everyone is warned not to consume much of the fish caught in
local rivers, streams and lakes. Kathy Fowler, director of the
Division of Public Health Safety, said:5
“Contaminants, like mercury, can be harmful to the
brain and nervous system if a person is exposed to too much
of them …
We ask that Kentuckians be mindful of the kinds and
amounts of fish they consume, particularly more sensitive
populations such as infants, young children and pregnant
women.”
The waterways are still clearly contaminated, despite the
Clean Water Act, which was enacted more than 40 years ago. It’s
crucial to heed such warnings, as the
effects of mercury poisoning are slow; you likely won’t
realize you’re being poisoned until months or years down the
road.
Why Mercury-Contaminated Fish Must Not Be Eaten
Pollution has rendered many sources of seafood unsafe to eat,
and a major problem is the combustion in power plants of coal
containing mercury.
Mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants and other
sources moves through the air and is deposited in water and
finds its way into fish, accumulating especially in fish that
are higher up the food chain.
Fish like tuna, marlin, shark, barracuda, and swordfish have
some of the highest levels of contamination. Further, according
to a
U.S. Geological Survey study, mercury contamination was
detected in EVERY fish sampled in nearly 300 streams across the
U.S.
More than one-quarter of these fish contained mercury at
levels exceeding the EPA criterion for the protection of human
health. Up to 90 percent of the organic mercury in fish and
shellfish is methylmercury, which is the most dangerous form.6
Methylmercury harms your nervous system to differing degrees
depending on how much mercury you've accumulated.
At above average doses, brain functions such as reaction
time, judgment, and language can be impaired. At very high
exposures, mercury can affect your ability to walk, speak,
think, and see clearly.
A 2012 study that evaluated the effects of mercury on
cognition in otherwise healthy adults found that those with
blood mercury levels below 5 µg/L had the best cognitive
functions.7
Mild impairment was evident at blood mercury levels of 5 to 15
µg/L and above 15 µg/L, cognition was significantly impaired.
The risks are even steeper for children and pregnant women,
the latter of whom suffer higher rates of miscarriage and birth
defects if they eat mercury-contaminated seafood, even if the
woman does not appear to be poisoned. Eating
mercury-contaminated food may even alter human chromosomes.8,9
Philippines’ Fish Distorted by Endocrine-Disrupting Toxins
The problem also extends beyond U.S. borders. Laguna de Bay
is the largest lake in the Philippines. Untreated wastes dumped
into the bay are being blamed for reproductive system
abnormalities in male common carp, including testicular
degeneration that could lead to infertility and ultimately
threaten the sustainability of the species.
Among the pollutants are xenoestrogens, which are capable of
disrupting the endocrine system. Study author Michelle Grace
Paraso, PhD an associate professor at the University of the
Philippines Los Baños, College of Veterinary Medicine, told
SciDev:10
“ … [I]n humans, xenoestrogen exposure has been
linked to low sperm count, precocious puberty and increased
incidence of cancer in estrogen-sensitive tissues [such as
in the breast]. In wildlife, exposure has been linked to
reproductive abnormalities and population decline.”
Moss in Portland, Oregon Contaminated With Toxic Heavy Metals
Even Portland, Oregon, a city known for its “green”
initiatives, is not immune from the assaults of environmental
pollution. Researchers from the U.S. Forest Service revealed
that moss taken from the city’s tree trunks and branches
contains high levels of heavy metals, including cancer-causing,
kidney-damaging cadmium.
Nearby glass factories, which use metals for coloring, are
the suggested culprits, although other industry, including a
railroad yard, a cement plant and a metal-casting company, are
also in the area. The city and its residents were left reeling
over the news and puzzled over what to do next.
City officials are now testing soil and air samples and have
warned residents living near the glass factories to hold off on
backyard gardening until further notice, a warning that,
according to The New York Times, “sent another shiver through a
city where 'eat local' is almost a mantra.” The Times continued:11
“Oregon’s state epidemiologist and medical director
of public health, Dr. Paul R. Cieslak, called the Forest
Service study 'genius' in looking where no one had ever
thought to look. But the puzzle of science, anxiety and
uncertainty that has resulted, he said, is messy.
… 'From a doctor’s standpoint, they always tell us,
‘Never order a test unless you know what you’re going to do
with the result,' Dr. Cieslak said. 'Now we’re in this
situation where we have all this data from the moss, and
we’re left struggling to figure out what does it all mean.'”
Are Any Fish Safe to Eat?
Among the safest in terms of contamination, and the highest
in healthy
omega-3 fat, is wild-caught Alaskan and sockeye salmon.
Neither is allowed to be farmed, so each is always wild-caught.
The risk of sockeye accumulating high amounts of mercury and
other toxins is reduced because of its short life cycle, which
is only about three years. Additionally, bioaccumulation of
toxins is also reduced by the fact that it doesn't feed on other
already contaminated fish. The two designations you want to look
for on the label are: “Alaskan salmon” (or
wild Alaskan salmon) and “Sockeye salmon.”
Canned salmon labeled "Alaskan salmon" is also a good choice
and offers a less expensive alternative to salmon fillets. A
general guideline is that the closer to the bottom of the food
chain the fish is, the less contamination it will have
accumulated, so other safer choices include smaller fish like
sardines, anchovies, and herring.
Sardines, in particular, are one of the most concentrated
sources of omega-3 fats, with one serving containing more than
50 percent of your recommended daily value.12
They also contain a wealth of other nutrients, from vitamin B12
and selenium to protein, calcium, and choline, making them one
of the best dietary sources of animal-based omega-3s.
If you enjoy catching your own fish, you’ll want to pay
attention to local fish advisories and avoid eating fish from
contaminated waters. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) maintains a searchable map to find fish advisories where
you live.13
Finding Sustainable Seafood Is Important Too
In addition to finding non-polluted fish, you’ll also want to
look for fish that are being harvested responsibly. From a
sustainability perspective, you’ll want to avoid
Atlantic sardines that come from the Mediterranean in favor of
Pacific sardines. According to the Seafood Watch program:14
“As a result of ineffective management and
overfishing, consumers should 'Avoid' Atlantic sardines from
the Mediterranean. Instead, choose the relatively abundant
and well-managed Pacific sardines from U.S. waters — a
Seafood Watch 'Best Choice.'
Also, look for varieties that have received the Marine
Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. This certification
assures that every component of the manufacturing process — from
how the raw materials are harvested to how the product is
manufactured — has been scrutinized by MSC and has been
independently audited to ensure it meets sustainable standards.
All of my krill products, for example, are MSC certified,
allowing you to track where the krill oil came from in the
Antarctic Ocean, as each batch of krill is carefully monitored
all the way through, from catch to sale. Seafood Watch can also
guide you in the direction of more sustainable seafood choices.
They have a
searchable database to find more sustainable seafood
options, and they even offer a
Sustainable Seafood app for your smartphone. Other labels
that signify more sustainable products include:
- Whole Foods Market Responsibly
Farmed 3rd Party certification
- Fishwise: The Fishwise label identifies
how the fish was caught, where it came from, and whether the
fish is sustainable (or environmentally threatened).
- Seafood Safe: The Seafood Safe label
involves independent testing of fish for contaminants,
including mercury and PCBs, and recommendations for
consumption based upon the findings.
© Copyright 1997-2016 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved.
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