Diabetes drug found in freshwater is a potential cause of intersex fish

[n2doc]

A medication commonly taken for Type II diabetes, which is being found in freshwater systems worldwide, has been shown to cause intersex in fish -male fish that produce eggs.

A study by Rebecca Klaper at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee determined exposure to the diabetes medicine metformin causes physical changes in male fish exposed to doses similar to the amount in wastewater effluent.

In addition to intersex conditions, fish exposed to metformin were smaller in size than those not exposed, said Klaper, a professor in UWM's School of Freshwater Sciences.

The study, co-authored by Nicholas Niemuth, a researcher in Klaper's lab, was recently published in the journal Chemosphere.

more

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/04/150424141753.htm

[In_The_Wind]

1. Why are drugs showing up in lakes?

Of the chemicals she has detected in water samples collected from Lake Michigan, metformin stands out, Klaper said.

[n2doc]

4. See #3 n/t

[jwirr]

2. How does it get in the waters? I do know that my metformin does not fully digest.

[n2doc]

3. It is not taken out by sewage treatment

So it gets into the waters that way. Along with other drugs that aren't broken down easily. Drug companies deliberately design drugs to be breakdown resistant so that they last longer in the body. But this also reduces the ability of bacteria to break these compounds down.

[jwirr]

5. Thank you.