You guys… the water got tested in Sydney Harbour, and it turns out that we really like drugs. No, not that kind – prescription drugs. We love ’em a lot.
According to a study done by Gavin Birch from the School of Geosciences at the University of Sydney, we really like painkillers and anti-depressants.
30 different sites were tested, each one right next to a stormwater outlet. The following drugs were found:
- Paracetamol – AKA Panadol (67ng/L)
- Fluoxetine – AKA Prozac/Lovan (36ng/L)
- Venlafaxine – AKA Effexor (32ng/L)
- Iopromide – AKA Ultravist, a intravenous contrast medium for X-Rays (13ng/L)
- Codeine (10ng/L)
- Propranolol – AKA blood pressure medication (9ng/L)
- Tramadol – AKA Ultram (6ng/L)
- Carbamazepine – AKA anti-seizure medication/painkiller (3ng/L)
(ng = nanogram/one billionth of a gram)
How did it get into the water? Birch says it may be a sewage leak:
“The presence of acesulfame [a recognised marker of domestic wastewater] and pharmaceuticals in water from all parts of the estuary after a dry period, suggests sewage water is leaking into the stormwater system in this catchment.”
It is currently not known whether these drugs are harmful to flora and fauna in the area, but at least the Sydney Harbour is super happy and pain-free. We are literally all dealing free drugs to our national landmarks. The chillest harbour in all the land.
via ABC
Image: Saeed Khan via Getty Images
