Friday April 17, 2026
Phys —
Fish living downstream of wastewater treatment plants are accumulating antidepressants, opioids and other drugs of abuse in their bodies, according to a new study. Using a new analytical method they developed, a team of researchers from the University of Waterloo discovered that several substances that affect the central nervous system, including fentanyl, methadone and venlafaxine, were detected in small fish living in rivers that receive urban wastewater.
Previous research indicated that these substances have the potential to alter fish behavior, development and reproduction, but this is the first time that scientists documented their distribution in wild fish in Canada. The findings, published in Environmental Pollution, improve our understanding of how this novel group of contaminants can enter and potentially accumulate in freshwater ecosystems, raising concerns about the potential for long-term effects.