Medicines risk to shrimps
Rising levels of antidepressants in coastal waters could change sea-life behaviour and potentially damage the food-chain, say scientists.
Research into the behaviour of shrimps exposed to the antidepressant fluoxetine showed that their behaviour was dramatically affected.
The shrimps are five times more likely to swim toward the light instead of away from it, making them more likely to be eaten by fish or birds. Researchers fear this could devastate the shrimp population.
Prescriptions for antidepressants have risen recently.
The study is published in the journal Aquatic Toxicology.