NBonefish are often called grey ghosts because of their stunning silver scales, stealth and speed. This species is protected by catch-and release laws in the US and is highly prized by anglers all over the globe, many of whom travel to Florida to hunt the elusive fish.
However, evidence suggests that there has been a dramatic drop in bonefish population in south Florida. Populations have decreasedMore than 50% of the population has fallenAccording to research, it has been around for over forty years.
Dr Jennifer Rehage is a fish ecologist at Florida International University (FIU) and an associate professor. She has spoken to many anglers regarding the disappearance of fish from Florida’s seagrass flats. [bonefish]I have been searching for them all my adult life. It’s been five years since I last saw a bonefish, and it freaks me out.
Rehage has been conducting a study for the past three years to discover why and has found a possible explanation: pharmaceuticals.
According to the report, all 93 bonefish that she and her team collected were positive for at least one pharmaceutical. This includes heart medications, opioids, and antidepressants. The study’s resultsThis article was published in February.
According to the study, 56% of fish were tested positive for pharmaceutical levels. These levels are higher than what we would expect to cause adverse effects. One Key West bonefish tested positive for 17 pharmaceuticals, eight antidepressants and a total of 300 times more than the human therapeutic levels. The study concluded that South Florida’s bonefish were at risk from pharmaceutical exposure.
Researchers also studied 125 bonefish prey, including shrimps, crabs, small fish, and other small animals. Each contained an average 11 pharmaceutical contaminants, which indicates that contamination is not restricted to bonefish.
Although more information is available about the effects of pharmaceutical pollution on freshwater, marine impacts are still less well understood. While there isn’t enough information to establish a direct link between bonefish decline and pharmaceuticals, it is clear that there is potential for pharmaceuticals being a problem. [for fish in the sea]Rehage believes that it is both frightening and concerning.
Nearly5bn in medicationsIn the US, they are prescribed each year. The average American has approximately 12 prescriptionsA year. A year.Different ways, including through manufacturing, rainwater run-off and human and livestock WaterOne of the main causes, especially when it comes to what people flush down the toilet.
Although the exact health effects of pharmaceutical contamination on marine life remain unknown, there are multiple negative effects.
[It]This can have a variety of consequences, including a change in the behaviour of fish and a decrease in their ability to reproduce.
Researchers from Ume University, Sweden, partnered with FIU to study bonefish. In 2013, they discovered that wild perch were being caught by scientists. Fear lessAnti-anxiety medication can make them more aggressive and potentially affect their ability to feed and breed. A 2016StudyThe same university found that salmon exposed t this medication swam more quickly and had a riskier behaviour. Exposure of Crayfishes to Antidepressants Has been linkedThey may exhibit altered behaviours, such as increased boldness or more time foraging. This could make them more vulnerable to predators.
Rachel Silverstein (director of Miami Waterkeeper), says there are three main ways wastewater can end up in the ocean. These are all major problems in Florida. In 2020, Fort Lauderdale’s waterways were contaminated by 212 million US gallons (800m L) of sewage.
Silverstein states that although most contaminants are removed at sewage treatment plants it is difficult to remove some pharmaceuticals from water. Due to rising sea levels, more than half of Miami-Dade’s septic tanks aren’t properly filtering waste, creating a public health and environmental danger, she states.
Silverstein sees the FIUs Study as further evidence of the need to urgently make changes to improve our infrastructure for continued living in this area and protecting our economic, and environmental interests.
The problem isn’t limited to Florida. Experts agree that there is a pressing need to improve the infrastructure for wastewater treatment. Globally to eliminate pharmaceuticals before reaching the ocean.
Rehage states that ozonation is an additional step in wastewater treatment. The technique adds oxygen to the water to eliminate contaminants that are often missed with traditional wastewater treatment. This includes pesticides and pharmaceuticals. However, not enough countries are retrofitting their plants to incorporate this step. She points out that Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and Sweden are the only countries who are actually dealing with this issue.
Fabbri states that while improved wastewater management is important, the pharmaceutical industry also has a responsibility for finding greener alternatives. These substances cannot be banned because they are necessary, but we can encourage or push the pharmaceutical industries to seek out greener alternatives. This could include the production of drugs that break down quicker in the environment.
There are political movements to learn more about the effects of drugs on waterways. The EU adopted a 2019 directive. Strategic planto reduce the risk of pharmaceutical pollution in the environment. However, many of these initiatives focus more heavily on the impact on freshwater ecosystems.
Fabbri said that more research is showing the effects of pharmaceuticals in oceans. This means that we must continue publishing about this topic to inform regulatory authorities that regulations are needed in marine environments.
Researchers say that the US has a long way to go. Aaron Adams, director, science and conservation, at the University of Minnesota, says that chemical intrusions into our environment have always been reactive. Bonefish & Tarpon TrustThe FIU study was ordered by, a conservation organisation.
According to the report, there are no legal limits for pharmaceuticals causing pollution during manufacture, use, or disposal.
Nick Castillo, a FIU PhD student and co-author of this study, said that standardised metrics were needed to evaluate the effects of drugs upon exposed organisms. He points out that current environmental regulations tend not to consider pharmaceuticals as they are not lethal.
Rehage states that while the impact of pharmaceuticals on waterways has been studied extensively in freshwater, this is the first study to look at marine coastal environments. It also covers a large area to show the presence of pharmaceuticals.
