Study Reveals Pharmaceutical Pollution Alters Salmon Migration and Behavior

Exposure to the drug clobazam increases migration success but disrupts natural behaviors, raising ecological concerns.

New research published in *Science* shows that clobazam, a common anti-anxiety drug, affects the migration behavior of Atlantic salmon in Sweden's River Dal.
Clobazam exposure increased migration success and speed through hydropower dams but led to riskier behaviors, such as reduced shoaling, which may heighten predation risks.
The study combined field experiments and lab tests, confirming that pharmaceutical pollutants accumulate in salmon and alter their brain function and social dynamics.
Over 900 pharmaceutical compounds have been detected in global waterways, often due to inadequate wastewater treatment systems, highlighting a growing environmental issue.
Researchers plan follow-up studies using advanced tracking tools to assess the long-term impacts of pharmaceutical pollution on fish survival and ecosystems.