What Can We Learn From Fish With Dual Sex Organs?

Many bodies of water are now producing deformed frogs and fish with dual sex organs. (no bad fish jokes please) This is a real problem and it is a problem federal officials believe is being caused by improper disposal of human prescription drugs and personal care products.

Despite what you may have been told, you can't simply dump unused drugs down the toilet. They end up somewhere, they don't just disappear.

Americans are taken far more drugs than ever before, anti depressants, birth control, etc and they are polluting the ecosystem, and maybe your drinking water.

Pharmaceuticals were found in 80 percent of the samples taken during a U.S. Geological Survey and EPA study of 139 streams in 30 states. Many of America’s wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove pharmaceuticals and personal care products, the EPA says. Federal officials are investigating a wide range of fish health problems in Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. Several studies of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers have revealed inter-sex fish, a wide range of “abnormalities in which both male and female characteristics are present within the same fish.” Early studies are showing that these same pollutants may be leading to higher cancer rates in humans exposed to the water.

This is should be a major issue of concern people in the MD, DC, Va area since the Potomac river provides about 3/4 of the drinking water to the 3 million plus people in the area.

Granted, there are a few people that just do not care and will flush just about anything down the toilet. But I have to believe that anybody with common sense would agree that this is not a good. Make sure everyone knows that you must be cautious of how you dispose of things.

If you need to dispose of drugs look online for safe disposal methods in your area.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the American Pharmacists Association recently launched “SMARxT DisPOSAL,” a public education project about pharmaceuticals and fish that includes a traveling awareness show, brochures and a website for consumers and health professionals. The campaign will visit select U.S. cities this fall and be expanded in 2008.

“While EPA continues to research the effects of pharmaceuticals in water sources, one thing is clear: improper drug disposal is a prescription for environmental and societal concern,” says EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. “Following these new guidelines will protect our nation’s waterways and keep pharmaceuticals out of the hands of potential abusers.”

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The purpose of these articles is not to stress you, but to educate you so you can help make a difference.