Environment & Energy

TexasTowelie

(112,558 posts) Sun Apr 26, 2015, 12:22 AM Apr 2015

Diabetes drug found in freshwater is a potential cause of intersex fish

A medication commonly taken for Type II diabetes, which is being found in freshwater systems worldwide, has been shown to cause intersex in fish -male fish that produce eggs.

A study by Rebecca Klaper at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee determined exposure to the diabetes medicine metformin causes physical changes in male fish exposed to doses similar to the amount in wastewater effluent.

In addition to intersex conditions, fish exposed to metformin were smaller in size than those not exposed, said Klaper, a professor in UWM's School of Freshwater Sciences.

The study, co-authored by Nicholas Niemuth, a researcher in Klaper's lab, was recently published in the journal Chemosphere.

Read more: http://phys.org/news/2015-04-diabetes-drug-freshwater-potential-intersex.html

Cross-posted in the Diabetes Support Group.

[font color=green]Please dispose any unused prescriptions in any environmentally conscious manner.[/font]

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Diabetes drug found in freshwater is a potential cause of intersex fish (Original Post) TexasTowelie Apr 2015 OP

Our water ways are turning into nightmares.. AuntPatsy Apr 2015 #1

And the saddest thing of all is that metformin is... Systematic Chaos Apr 2015 #2

AuntPatsy

(9,904 posts)

1. Our water ways are turning into nightmares..

Reply to TexasTowelie (Original post)

Sun Apr 26, 2015, 11:48 PM

Apr 2015

Systematic Chaos

(8,601 posts)

2. And the saddest thing of all is that metformin is...

Reply to TexasTowelie (Original post)

Mon Apr 27, 2015, 03:05 AM

Apr 2015

...a relatively easy medicine on most people's systems.

I tremble to think about what these insane new drugs like Victoza and Farxiga will do to wildlife, when they can fuck up a person almost beyond repair.

One of Victoza's side effects is nausea and vomiting. I took precautions against that, including an anti-nausea drug and extra-strength Tums at the ready. I didn't even eat all that much in spite of being very hungry. Well, all of that was for nothing, because at some point during the night I let rip with a projectile mess which covered the entire bed and incurred an $18 laundry bill to clean up. I have had to quit taking it, which SUCKS, because it was doing wonders for my sugar control.

But long personal anecdote aside, I fear what havoc these drugs will wreak upon other organisms which ingest them.

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