River’s opioid levels enough to affect fish reproduction

WATERLOO REGION — There are enough opioids present in the Grand River to reduce fish reproduction, a new study confirms.

The study published this summer from Trent University analyzed the effects on fish of opioids found in southern Ontario rivers. It included the high levels of codeine, an opioid drug prescribed for pain, found in the Grand River.

The Grand River had the second-highest level of codeine of the six rivers sampled at just under 249 nanograms per litre. A nanogram is one-billionth of a gram. The sample was taken near Brantford.

“A range of drugs are found in surface waters all around the world, not only in Ontario or in the Grand River,” says Chris Metcalfe, professor emeritus with the School of Environment at Trent University.

“It should be no surprise that there are also illicit drugs like cocaine, amphetamines and also opioids both prescription and non-prescription in the Grand River.”

Although codeine does not seem to accumulate in fish, Metcalfe and the other researchers found that when fish are constantly exposed to codeine at levels as low as 100 ng/l, the drug impacts their reproduction by interfering with hormones and reducing the number of eggs successfully produced by females.

“If fish are swimming around in water that is contaminated with this stuff, then it will effect their reproduction,” says Metcalfe.

“The fish are taking it up, but they probably metabolize it — get rid of it quite quickly. But it’s still causing endocrine disruption, it causes effects on their hormones, it causes them to not be able to reproduce.”

A previous study of the Grand River from Mcgill and Trent universities in 2015 showed there are measurable amounts of all kinds of drugs of concern in the Grand River downstream of wastewater treatment plants.

Some of these are also present in drinking water after treatment, including cocaine, at least one derivative of amphetamine, and several prescription opioids.

The study also found levels of fentanyl downstream from a wastewater treatment plant on the Grand River at 35 ng/l.

Although the concentrations of these drugs in the river are very low, “a lot of people just don’t like the idea that these chemicals are present in our drinking water, no matter how low the concentrations are. So we should do whatever we can to make sure those levels are low,” says Metcalfe.

Opioids enter the Grand River through wastewater treatment plants. Trevor Brown is the manager of engineering and wastewater programs with the Region of Waterloo. He says that staff stay up-to-date with ongoing research surrounding drugs and pharmaceuticals in wastewater so they can know what to expect in terms of future regulations.

“Locally there are no regulations associated with these compounds just yet as most of the research is focused on fully understanding the fate of these compounds within the municipal treatment process/environment and their potential impact, if any,” writes Brown to The Waterloo Region Record in an email.

“We maintain full compliance with all federal and provincial regulations for both our water and wastewater systems.

“Until the regulatory agencies update and include these compounds in the regulations, the Region will continue to follow the research (and participate where feasible) to ensure we are prepared for any new regulations based on the outcomes of the research.”

Waterloo Region sources approximately 20 to 25 per cent of its drinking water from the Grand River.