Traces of medicines, chemicals found in oysters
You may be getting more than the odd pearl in your oysters. Medicines ranging from antibiotics to pain relievers, as well has carcinogenic chemicals, have been found in oysters growing in two Oregon bays, STAT reports.
While the findings of the recent study don’t suggest immediate risks to human health, researchers told STAT more analysis is needed to determine how the pollutants might affect the shellfish population.
“The problem is that we don’t know how these things interact in the body of a plant or an animal,” Elise Granek, associate professor of environmental science and management at Portland State University and coauthor of the study told STAT. “So how do we minimize the concentration of pharmaceuticals and chemicals going into the oysters?”
Read the full STAT report here.
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