"Study: Fish In Drug-Tainted Water Suffer Reaction"

"What happens to fish that swim in waters tainted by traces of drugs that people take? When it's an anti-anxiety drug, they become hyper, anti-social and aggressive, a study found. They even get the munchies."



"It may sound funny, but it could threaten the fish population and upset the delicate dynamics of the marine environment, scientists say.

The findings, published online Thursday in the journal Science, add to the mounting evidence that minuscule amounts of medicines in rivers and streams can alter the biology and behavior of fish and other marine animals.

'I think people are starting to understand that pharmaceuticals are environmental contaminants,' said Dana Kolpin, a researcher for the U.S. Geological Survey who is familiar with the study."

Jeff Donn reports for the Associated Press Thursday, February 14, 2013.

Source: AP, 02/15/2013