A new study from Oregon State University highlights how even minimal exposure to common pesticides can have significant harmful effects on fish, raising concerns about broader environmental and health implications.
Courtney Flatt reports for OPB.
In short:
- Recent research by Oregon State University indicates even minimal exposure to pyrethroid pesticides can harm fish by disrupting their endocrine systems.
- In experiments, fish exposed to low doses of pesticides exhibited altered behavior and reproductive issues in adulthood and their offspring.
- The study emphasizes the potential long-term effects of these chemicals on aquatic life and possibly human health, urging further investigation.
Key quote:
“You’re basically doing an uncontrolled experiment when you spray chemicals like this in your house. It affects other things besides insects.”
— Susanne Brander, associate professor at OSU’s Hatfield Marine Science Center
Why this matters:
Pesticides often do not discriminate between target pests and non-target species, leading to unintended consequences for biodiversity and our ecosystems.
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