Short Wave Why These Salmon Are On Anxiety Meds
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Apr 23, 2025 
Jonathan Lambert, an NPR science reporter, dives into the intriguing world of pharmaceuticals in our waterways. He discusses the alarming presence of over 900 drugs in rivers and how they affect fish behavior, particularly salmon. Research shows that anti-anxiety medications can disrupt fish migration patterns. Lambert shares insights on the environmental implications of this pollution and potential solutions, like improved wastewater treatment and eco-friendly drugs, highlighting a profound connection between human health and aquatic life.
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Pharmaceuticals in Waterways Impact Fish
- Over 900 pharmaceutical ingredients have been found in waterways due to human medication and factory runoff.
- These drugs affect fish behavior by entering their bodies through dilution in rivers, notably altering anxiety and social behaviors.
Tracking Drugged Salmon Migration
- Researchers implanted slow-release capsules containing anxiety and pain meds into over 250 juvenile Atlantic salmon.
- They tracked the fish's migration using sound-emitting devices and receivers along the route to the Baltic Sea.
Anxiety Meds Speed Salmon Migration
- Salmon exposed to anti-anxiety drug clobizam migrated faster and more successfully through dangerous hydropower dams.
- The drug reduced their hesitation, helping them navigate risky areas quicker but increasing risky behavior overall.