Concerns about the safety of consuming fish have escalated in recent years, as an increasing number of pollutants are detected in seafood. While you won’t taste, smell, or see these contaminants in the fish, it’s becoming more likely that the seafood on your dinner plate is tainted with harmful industrial chemicals. From antibiotics, herbicides, and pesticides to heavy metals like arsenic, lead, and mercury, and more recently, microplastics, the list of pollutants in fish seems to be growing endlessly.

Whether originating from water, sediment, or the fish’s diet, contaminants from streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans inevitably make their way into the food chain. Yet, as concerning as this may be, an even more alarming threat has emerged: prescription drugs.

Prescription Drugs in Fish: A Growing Concern
Jennifer Rehage, a fish ecologist and associate professor at the Institute of Water and Environment at Florida International University, has uncovered alarming findings. Rehage and her research team discovered that Florida’s prized bonefish, caught in Biscayne Bay and the Florida Keys, are contaminated with a wide array of pharmaceutical drugs.

By analyzing 93 fish samples from a 200-mile stretch of the South Florida coastline, Rehage’s team detected a staggering 58 different pharmaceutical drugs in the fish. Some individual samples contained as many as 17 different drugs, including antibiotics, antidepressants, high blood pressure medications, pain relievers, and prostate treatment drugs. Even more disturbing, the team found an average of 11 different pharmaceuticals in the shrimp and crabs that the bonefish feed on. Rehage emphasized that the rate at which these pharmaceuticals are being released into the environment far exceeds our capacity to assess their safety.

Pharmaceutical Pollution Extends Beyond Florida
This problem is not isolated to Florida. In Puget Sound, researchers like James Meador at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center have found similar contamination in Chinook salmon. Fish there were found to be tainted with drugs like Lipitor, OxyContin, Valium, Prozac, and even the widely prescribed diabetes drug Metformin. Disturbingly, illicit drugs, including cocaine, have also been detected in fish. In addition, freshwater shrimp samples from 15 sites in England have tested positive for similar contaminants.

Experts believe a significant portion of these pharmaceuticals comes from unmetabolized drugs excreted by humans in urine and feces. It’s estimated that up to 90 percent of a prescription drug is not metabolized by the body and ends up in urine and excrement. While in 2019 the FDA banned the practice of hospitals and long-term care facilities disposing of an estimated 250 million pounds of pharmaceuticals into sewers annually, consumers may continue this practice at home and water treatment plants are ill-equipped to remove them. Further, hospitals in many other countries continue this practice.

Additionally, farm animal operations, which use thousands of tons of antibiotics, anti-parasite drugs, and hormones, contribute to drug-laced runoff that enters waterways and ultimately the ocean.

The Effects on Marine Life
While the impact of consuming pharmaceutical-contaminated fish on human health is still unclear, there’s growing evidence that marine life is already suffering. Studies show that exposure to these chemicals can disrupt fish behavior, including migratory patterns, feeding habits, sociability, and reproduction. Moreover, synthetic estrogens from birth control pills are causing feminization of male fish, leading to significant population declines in some species.

Consumers Left in the Dark
One of the most troubling aspects of this issue is that consumers are largely uninformed about the pollutants in the fish they consume. Current regulations do not require seafood labels to disclose contaminants, leaving consumers unaware of the risks associated with the seafood they buy or order at restaurants.

A Path Forward
Addressing the growing contamination of our oceans and the fish that inhabit them requires comprehensive action. This means tackling the sources of pollution, enforcing stricter regulations, and raising awareness. Unfortunately, it may already be too late to reverse the damage. The sheer volume of contaminants entering the oceans daily may have surpassed the point of no return.

Is Eating Fish Necessary for Health?
The good news is that eating fish was never necessary for maintaining good health. Despite the common belief that fish are a vital source of omega-3 fatty acids, these fats are derived from the microalgae that fish consume in the wild. Today, these microalgae are harvested in FDA-certified labs and are made into omega-3 supplements that offer all the benefits without the accompanying toxins. This offers a safer, more sustainable option for those seeking to boost their omega-3 intake.