Monitoring reveals elevated antidepressant levels in some waterways

Article excerpt

Depression, anxiety and sleep disorders are among the conditions often treated with antidepressant drugs. Yet, up to 90% of these drugs pass through the body into wastewater. They're also difficult to remove during water treatment, presenting a possible risk of environmental contamination and threats to ecological and human health. Now, researchers reporting in Environmental Science & Technology have found some antidepressant drugs at levels that could be harmful to aquatic wildlife in North Carolina waterways.