Opioids and antidepressants found accumulating in freshwater fish

A new study led by Water Institute researcher Mark Servos and colleagues in the Servos Group has detected antidepressants, opioids and other drugs of abuse accumulating in freshwater fish living downstream of urban wastewater treatment plants. Using a newly developed analytical method, the team found compounds such as fentanyl, methadone and venlafaxine in multiple wild fish species, marking the first documentation of these substances in wild fish in Canada.

The findings raise important questions about how pharmaceuticals move through aquatic ecosystems and what long-term effects they may have on fish health and behaviour. The study highlights the need for improved monitoring tools to better understand emerging contaminants in freshwater systems.

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