In a study recently published in the journal, “Aquatic Toxicology,” researchers found that while concentrations of the herbicide fluridone similar to those used when it’s applied to lakes to control Eurasian watermilfoil and hydrilla can have major impacts on fish reproduction.
A research team with the Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, exposed fathead minnows to concentrations of fluridone that would be found in a lake during treatment. After 30 days of fluridone exposure, the adult male fish showed an increased number of nuptial tubercules, which can indicate endocrine disruption and could have a major impact on fish preproduction.
The researchers also found that the fishes’ livers were enlarged and that their ability to catch prey decreased significantly when exposed to fluridone, which could be because it impairs their ability to move