Pharmaceuticals Found in Florida Fish

A three-year study by Florida International University (FIU) and Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) has discovered pharmaceutical contaminants in the blood and other tissues of bonefish in Biscayne Bay and the Florida Keys.

“Coastal fisheries face increasing threats associated with human-based contaminants,” said Jim McDuffie, BTT president and chief executive officer. “Pharmaceuticals are an often-overlooked dimension of water quality and their presence in south Florida bonefish is cause for concern. These contaminants pose a significant threat to the flats fishery, an important part of Florida’s recreational saltwater industry, which has an annual economic impact of $9.2 billion and directly support over 88,500 jobs.”

The study began in 2018, and FIU scientists and BTT research associates, in partnership with Sweden’s Umeå University and the University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), have sampled 93 fish in south Florida, finding an average of seven pharmaceuticals per bonefish, and 17 pharmaceuticals in a single fish. The list includes: S Blood pressure medications S Antidepressants S Prostate-treatment medications S Antibiotics S Pain relievers

Researchers also found pharmaceuticals in bonefish prey, such as crabs, shrimp, and fish, suggesting that many of Florida’s valuable fisheries are exposed, not only bonefish.

Lead researcher Jennifer Rehage, a coastal and fish ecologist and associate professor at the FIU Institute of Environment, presented the study’s findings at a BTT panel event in Tallahassee.

“These findings are truly alarming,” Rehage said. “Pharmaceuticals are an invisible threat, unlike algal blooms or turbid waters. These results tell us that they are a formidable threat to our fisheries, and highlight the pressing need to address our longstanding wastewater infrastructure issues.”

Approximately 5 billion prescriptions are filled each year in the United States, yet there are no environmental regulations for the disposal of pharmaceuticals, either in the U.S. or worldwide.

Pharmaceutical contaminants originate most often from human wastewater and are not sufficiently removed by conventional water treatment. They remain active at low doses, can be released constantly, and exposure can affect all aspects of fish behavior, with negative consequences for their reproduction and survival. Pharmaceutical contaminants have been shown to affect many aspects of the life of fish, including their feeding, activity, sociability, and migratory behavior.

“These troubling findings underscore the urgent need for Florida to expand and modernize wastewater treatment facilities and sewage infrastructure statewide,” said McDuffie. “The leadership of Gov. Ron DeSantis, and the historic funding provided for water quality improvements, along with legislative support and funding, has set us on the right path. Now we must expedite these efforts, increase investment over the long term, and pursue innovative solutions. We must accelerate septic-to-sewer conversion, and in those places where sewage disposal is not available, require the use of advanced septic technology. The health of our citizens and the coastal resources that support Florida’s economy depend on it.”

Over the past three years, the state has passed major legislation to modernize its water policy and provided funding of more than $2 billion for water quality issues. Florida Rep. Bobby Payne (R-19) has addressed the state’s extensive efforts to address the issue, saying, “Water quality is vital to our state’s identity and economy. That’s why I’ve made water issues one of my priorities and why I sponsored the Clean Waterways Act to address wastewater, septic issues, stormwater management, nutrient reduction, and new standards for biosolid applications, to mention a few. This historic legislation is a great step and is continuing to make a real difference for Florida’s natural resources.” S