Dilute Concentrations of a Psychiatric Drug Alter Behavior of Fish from Natural Populations
Abstract
Environmental pollution by pharmaceuticals is increasingly recognized as a major threat to aquatic ecosystems worldwide. A variety of pharmaceuticals enter waterways by way of treated wastewater effluents and remain biochemically active in aquatic systems. Several ecotoxicological studies have been done, but generally, little is known about the ecological effects of pharmaceuticals. Here we show that a benzodiazepine anxiolytic drug (oxazepam) alters behavior and feeding rate of wild European perch (Perca fluviatilis) at concentrations encountered in effluent-influenced surface waters. Individuals exposed to water with dilute drug concentrations (1.8 micrograms liter(-1)) exhibited increased activity, reduced sociality, and higher feeding rate. As such, our results show that anxiolytic drugs in surface waters alter animal behaviors that are known to have ecological and evolutionary consequences.
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Concentrations of benzodiazepines in water effluents affect the behavior of fish and disrupt the food chain, with potentially serious evolutionary consequences.
“A study published in the Science journal reveals that concentrations of benzodiazepines in water effluents affect the behavior of fish and disrupt the food chain, with potentially serious evolutionary consequences [48].”
From Cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy for the discontinuation of long-term benzodiazepine use in insomnia and anxiety disorders (2021) · cites this paper as [48]
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“A study published in the Science journal reveals that concentrations of benzodiazepines in water effluents affect the behavior of fish and disrupt the food chain, with potentially serious evolutionary consequences [48].”
BackgroundRobinson, R. F. A., Mills, G. A., Grabic, R., Bořík, A., & Fones, G. R. (2024) · Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173316 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
- Authors
- Brodin, T., Fick, J., Jonsson, M., & Klaminder, J.
- Affiliations
- Umeå University (SE)
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden.
- Corresponding author
- Brodin, T.
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 2013-02-15
- Volume
- 339
- Issue
- 6121
- Pages
- 814-815
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W2025530120
- Cited by
- 850
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 37 · 2025: 58 · 2024: 54 · 2023: 68 · 2022: 61 · 2021: 74 · 2020: 72 · 2019: 73 · 2018: 63 · 2017: 81 · 2016: 58 · 2015: 67 · 2014: 55 · 2013: 29
- FWCI
- 54.32
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Svenska Forskningsrådet Formas
- Vetenskapsrådet
- Umeå Universitet
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Physiology › Reproductive biology and impacts on aquatic species
- Keywords
- pharmaceutical pollution, oxazepam, benzodiazepines, Perca fluviatilis, fish behavior, feeding rate, sociality, treated wastewater effluent, aquatic ecotoxicology, anxiolytics, surface water
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Behavior, Animal, Benzodiazepines, Environmental Exposure, Environmental Pollution, Feeding Behavior, Fishes, Oxazepam, Perches, Anti-Anxiety Agents, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Wastewater
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