The Environmental Watchdog MasterThread

Psy-Fi · 05-31-2022, 07:34 AM

Pharmaceutical contaminants discovered in South Florida bonefish

Quote:

A three-year study by FIU and Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) has discovered pharmaceutical contaminants in the blood and other tissues of bonefish in Biscayne Bay and the Florida Keys.

“Coastal fisheries face increasing threats associated with human-based contaminants,” said Jim McDuffie, BTT President and CEO. “Pharmaceuticals are an often overlooked dimension of water quality and their presence in South Florida bonefish is cause for concern. These contaminants pose a significant threat to the flats fishery, an important part of Florida’s recreational saltwater fishery, which has an annual economic impact of $9.2 billion and directly support over 88,500 jobs.”

Since the study began in 2018, FIU scientists and BTT research associates, in partnership with Sweden’s Umeå Unversity and the University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), have sampled 93 fish in South Florida, finding an average of seven pharmaceuticals per bonefish, and a whopping 17 pharmaceuticals in a single fish. The list includes blood pressure medications, antidepressants, prostate treatment medications, antibiotics, and pain relievers. Researchers also found pharmaceuticals in bonefish prey — crabs, shrimp and fish — suggesting that many of Florida’s valuable fisheries are exposed, and not only the bonefish fishery.

Lisnaholic · 05-31-2022, 05:11 PM

That's depressing news. It's worrying that there are so many knock-on effects from pollution that we don't much think about until they turn up in some scientific study.

In a similar way, forest fires are in the news only while they are burning, but that's only part of the story. After the news cycles have moved on to other scandals, the real impact of fires starts to kick in, but those reports are most often local news only:-

Ayn Marx · 05-31-2022, 05:18 PM

Underneath discussions such as this is the now forbidden topic, seldom raised since the 1970s, the population explosion.
If by some miracle the majority of our species began behaving in an ecologically sensible way the mere presence of billions upon billions of our species imagining we can continue to increase in numbers without negative consequences is no more than a delusion. Never mind, the planet is about to take its revenge.
Glad I wont be around to see it.

**Frownland** · 06-07-2022, 02:45 PM

It's a pretty good point if we accept the parasitic nature of capitalism to be inherent to human nature and therefore unchangeable.

SGR · 06-07-2022, 03:04 PM

Oooooh, Malthusianism...

Ayn Marx · 06-07-2022, 04:41 PM

Given not everyone is as startlingly erudite as your good self :-
Malthusianism is the idea that population growth is potentially exponential while the growth of the food supply or other resources is linear, which eventually reduces living standards to the point of triggering a population die off.

TheBig3 · 06-08-2022, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

It's a pretty good point if we accept the parasitic nature of capitalism to be inherent to human nature and therefore unchangeable.

How are you defining capitalism in this case?

I only ask because I'm currently reading The Mushroom at the End of the World, and the author suggests that markets alone don't make capitalism, it requires investment. It's a poorly written book (because economists can't write) but the subject matter is interesting, and she's a Left-wing economist endorsed by Adam Tooze so you might enjoy it.

**Frownland** · 06-08-2022, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBig3

How are you defining capitalism in this case?

In the Marxist sense (who has underrated writing style btw).

Quote:

I only ask because I'm currently reading The Mushroom at the End of the World, and the author suggests that markets alone don't make capitalism, it requires investment. It's a poorly written book (because economists can't write) but the subject matter is interesting, and she's a Left-wing economist endorsed by Adam Tooze so you might enjoy it.

I generally agree with that but think it's more important to note the violent foundations of the power imbalance between those who can make such investments and those who are exploited by them.

TheBig3 · 06-08-2022, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

I generally agree with that but think it's more important to note the violent foundations of the power imbalance between those who can make such investments and those who are exploited by them.

Well then you might love Mushroom, violence in capitalism is a solid portion of the book.

~~jwb~~ · 06-08-2022, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elphenor

here we go again with this

it's not raised anymore because anyone serious realized how catastrophically unethical any population control measures would be

lucky for us, birth rates fall in developed countries, meaning the answer to this problem, (insofar as you want to see it that way) like so many other problems, is a more equitable world

actually i think it's not mentioned mostly because that book made all sorts of outlandish predictions that never happened... If I'm thinking of the right book anyway that's what i heard

These days decreasing birth rates pose a bigger problem than overpopulation in much of the world.... China is going to be extra ****ed because they put in that one child policy largely in reaction to this hype and it backfired. Now they have reversed it and still can't convince most Chinese people to have more than one kid because it's become culturally ingrained

05-31-2022, 05:11 PM	#912 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	That's depressing news. It's worrying that there are so many knock-on effects from pollution that we don't much think about until they turn up in some scientific study. In a similar way, forest fires are in the news only while they are burning, but that's only part of the story. After the news cycles have moved on to other scandals, the real impact of fires starts to kick in, but those reports are most often local news only:- __________________ "Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

06-07-2022, 02:45 PM	#914 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	It's a pretty good point if we accept the parasitic nature of capitalism to be inherent to human nature and therefore unchangeable. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

05-31-2022, 05:18 PM	#913 (permalink)
Ayn Marx Music Addict Join Date: May 2022 Location: Sometimes Posts: 552	Underneath discussions such as this is the now forbidden topic, seldom raised since the 1970s, the population explosion. If by some miracle the majority of our species began behaving in an ecologically sensible way the mere presence of billions upon billions of our species imagining we can continue to increase in numbers without negative consequences is no more than a delusion. Never mind, the planet is about to take its revenge. Glad I wont be around to see it.

06-07-2022, 03:04 PM	#915 (permalink)
SGR No Ice In My Bourbon Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: /dev/null Posts: 4,326	Oooooh, Malthusianism...

06-07-2022, 04:41 PM	#916 (permalink)
Ayn Marx Music Addict Join Date: May 2022 Location: Sometimes Posts: 552	Given not everyone is as startlingly erudite as your good self :- Malthusianism is the idea that population growth is potentially exponential while the growth of the food supply or other resources is linear, which eventually reduces living standards to the point of triggering a population die off.