The apparently very variable potency of the anti-depressant fluoxetine

The anti-depressant fluoexetine 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 enven pg per litre concentrations cause effects, wherease other studies report that effects only occur when the water concentration in in the ug/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 only be answered only by high quality, reproducible research.