title: The apparently very variable potency of the anti-depressant fluoxetine.
abstract: The anti-depressant fluoxetine is widely present in the aquatic environment. Typical river concentrations are in the low ng/L range. Many ecotoxicity studies have assessed the effects of this pharmaceutical on a range of aquatic species. Some studies report that ng, or even pg, per litre concentrations cause effects, whereas other studies report that effects only occur when the water concentration is in the μg/L range. It seems unlikely that all reported effects will be repeatable. Many of the studies have considerable limitations. Currently it is impossible to ascertain what environmental concentrations of fluoxetine pose a risk to aquatic organisms. The key question can be answered only by high quality, reproducible research.
authors.affiliation: Institute for the Environment, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, United Kingdom. Electronic address: john.sumpter@brunel.ac.uk.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Sumpter
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Donnachie
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005399:Fishes; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000633:toxicity*; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000187:drug effects*; D012106:Research / Q000592:standards*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014116:Toxicology / Q000592:standards; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D005473:Fluoxetine
keywords: Fish; Fluoxetine; Invertebrates; Variable potency