THE low levels of antidepressants and other psychoactive drugs found in water supplies can trigger the expression of genes in fish that in humans are associated with autism.
The levels of these drugs in drinking water are very low, but in theory a small dose could have an effect, says Michael Thomas of Idaho State University in Pocatello.
His group exposed fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) to the drugs at relatively high concentrations for 18 days. They saw changes to 324 genes linked to autism in humans (PLoS One, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0032917).
via Antidepressants in water trigger autism genes in fish – 13 June 2012 – New Scientist.
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