Anti-Depressants Affecting Montreal

According to a recent research study about 25 percent of Montreal residents take an anti-depressant, and human waste that enters the Montreal sewage system contains these drugs. The system is similar to sewage treatment facilities in other major cities around the world, so there is some chance a similar effect may be occurring there as well. The Montreal system treats solid waste but does not disinfect wastewater, so anti-depressants are present in the system, which empties into the Saint Lawrence river ecosystem. Researchers found anti-depressants accumulate in fish and can alter their brain activity.

“We know that antidepressants have negative side effects on human beings, but we don’t know how exactly these chemicals are affecting the fish, and by extension, the Saint Lawrence River’s ecosystem. Nevertheless, we are seeing an impact on the river’s ecosystem, which should concern cities everywhere,” said Dr. Sébastien Sauvé. (Source: eurekaalert.org)

Last year research conducted in England discovered a similar scenario, but with shrimp instead of fish. Dr. Alex Ford from the University of Porthsmouth revealed anti-depressants in wastewater released into rivers and estuaries have probably already altered shrimp behavior making them more likely to be eaten by predators. So when Dr. Sauvé referenced the impact on the whole St. Lawrence river ecosystem, that is a very real possibility.

If trout behavior was altered as significantly as the shrimp’s was in England, they may not play their normal role any longer and their habitat could also change. Additionally, whatever species consume them when they are alive or dead could be affected by the ingestion of tissue containing anti-depressants. The amount of anti-depressants in the fish is very small, but we don’t know how little of the drugs can cause a change in small marine creatures, or even in birds that may consume contaminated fish. Once a chemical has entered the food chain it may be recycled many times. There is no immediate danger to humans from the presence of anti-depressants in the Montreal waters.

It isn’t known exactly if the anti-depressants are having negative effects on Montreal fish, but in humans they can cause decreased libido, weight gain, nausea, dizziness, insomnia, dry mouth, blurred vision, nervousness and constipation.

Last year the United States Geological Service conducted research in Colorado and Iowa showing anti-depressants in water and fish downstream from sewage treatment plants. “The antidepressants were found in fish collected over 8 kilometers (approximately 5 miles) downstream of the location of the wastewater discharge. The scientists detected several commonly used antidepressants in water, streambed sediment, and the brain tissue of white suckers, a native fish species. Fish collected upstream from the wastewater discharge did not have antidepressants present in their brain tissues.” (Source: USGS)

Cognitive behavioral therapy, meaning working with a therapist to reduce sad, angry, and negative thoughts to improve mood, actually can work better for some people, than anti-depressants.

Image Credit: Philthy54

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Eternal G.

4:12PM PST on Mar 3, 2011

How about the contraceptive pill? Let alone thinking of all the other allopathic pharmaceutical shit ending up in our water? One of the reasons one should opt for homeopathics or herbal remedies first!

send a green star

Elizabeth M.

11:51AM PST on Feb 20, 2011

Thanks you for this information Jake. I am guilty for taking anti depressants, and never even thought about this. I am lowering doses to get off, but it isn't easy.Cognitive Therapy didn't help and walking is out until my back heals. Never Go On Antidepressants!!!!!

Gita S.

9:49AM PST on Feb 1, 2011

Depressing news !

Lupe G.

10:20AM PST on Jan 27, 2011

We've heard for years how run off from fertilizers has caused so many problems to our ecosystems & people were warned not to throw away pills & such in trash or flush them down toilets to avoid this matter, but of course if the body excretes them all we can do is suck it up & stop relying on pharmaceuticals to tell us how we should feel, take our $$$ & just try to heal naturally from what we suffer from.

Quanta K.

8:58PM PST on Jan 25, 2011

Where I come from sewerage is treated (I hope) and then released into the river/sea. The problem with pills (in my opinion) is that they if they are water soluble, they're difficult to remove unless they add chemicals to make it precipitate or flocculants to collect or molecular sieves to remove individual chemicals. Then you can simply filter it out.

But of course you have got to know what is in there first so that you can use the right treatment to get it out.

Unfortunately when a potable water processing unit is built it's pretty standard (I think).

Take water from river (hopefully upstream of where sewerage is released), treat it by way of removing solids (flocculating and filtering) and disinfect it (add chemicals or ozonate it) to kill bacteria. Disinfection does not remove chemicals, it's purely germicide.

I doubt they are going to test for herbicides/pesticides/pills (unless it’s a known problem) and provide a specific processing unit for their removal.

heather g.

5:07PM PST on Jan 25, 2011

The treatment of sewage in Canada leaves a lot to be desired and many coastal outlets are very close to where people swim and where people go fishing, etc. Yes, our food chain is affected.
Only local community action can insist authorities update sewage works. You would also have no more regular 'closed beaches.'

wendy s.

1:45PM PST on Jan 25, 2011

Good Heavens, WHO IS IT that we are paying to take care of this kind of thing, who ever it is needs to be replaced by someone who understands that we can't DUMP everything into our waters. As for the pills that are being handed out, is this really the best we have come up with to help these poor souls. God help us all. Good Artical. Thanks

Jason R.

9:18AM PST on Jan 25, 2011

FISH OIL!

Jennifer M.

9:01AM PST on Jan 25, 2011

Anti-depressants should be banned! As well as most other medications. They do more harm than good. And why is wastewater being dumped into oceans anyway?? This world is so jacked up. We are never going to survive.

Tamara E.

8:17AM PST on Jan 25, 2011

It's depressing to hear this and related stories. Certainly doesn't give one much hope for the future. I would never take antidepressants. They shouldt hand them out at all. I never eat lake fish either. Shouldnt the waste treatment centers disinfect the water?