Download Pharmaceuticals in Florida's Recreational Fisheries: A Concerning Presence and more Lecture notes Accounting in PDF only on Docsity! BIO 182 These studies of bonefish and redfish are the first to document the concerning presence of pharmaceuticals in species that are important to Florida's recreational fisheries,” said Jennifer Rehage, FIU professor and the study’s lead researcher. "Given the impacts of many of these pharmaceuticals on other fish species and the types of pharmaceuticals found, we are concerned about the role pharmaceuticals play in the health of our fisheries. We will continue this work to get more answers to these concerning questions.” “The results underscore the urgent need to modernize Florida’s wastewater treatment systems,” said BTT President and CEO Jim McDuffie. “Human-based contaminants like these pose a significant threat to Florida’s recreational fishery, which has an annual economic impact of $13.9 billion and directly supports more than 120,000 jobs.” Approximately five billion prescriptions are filled each year in the U.S., yet there are no environmental regulations for the production or disposal of pharmaceuticals worldwide. Pharmaceutical contaminants originate most often from human wastewater and are not sufficiently removed by conventional water treatment. They remain active at low doses and can be released constantly, and exposure can affect all aspects of fish behavior, with negative consequences for their reproduction and survival. Pharmaceutical contaminants have been shown to affect all aspects of the life of fish, including their feeding, activity, sociability and migratory behavior. “Florida is a leader in addressing water quality issues and wastewater infrastructure, including converting septic systems to sewage treatment,” said Kellie Ralston, BTT’s vice president for conservation and public policy. “The results of this study indicate that there are additional opportunities for improvement by retrofitting existing wastewater treatment plants with innovative technologies, like ozone treatment, to remove pharmaceuticals and requiring such technology on new wastewater facilities." Where can these pharmaceuticals be coming from? How did the pharmaceuticals get in the water? Pharmaceuticals in water can come from various sources, primarily through human wastewater. When people take medications, their bodies metabolize and excrete the drugs, which eventually end up in the sewage system. From there, the pharmaceuticals can enter the water supply through several pathways: 1. Flushing unused medications: Some people dispose of unused or expired medications by flushing them down the toilet or sink, which introduces pharmaceuticals directly into the water system. 2. Wastewater treatment plants: Conventional wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove pharmaceuticals effectively. As a
