Shrimp Become Suicidal After Swimming in Prozac-Contaminated Water

In another one of those so-weird-but-true-and-possibly-important research studies, scientists have discovered that shrimp, when swimming in "Prozac-contaminated water," are often more reckless and perhaps even more suicidal than their un-polluted water buddies.

While Prozac, and its main ingredient fluoexetine, have been known to possibly cause suicidal thoughts in humans, when shrimp were dumped into water containing fluoexetine, their brains became more sensitive to serotonin "the brain chemical responsible for moods and sleep patterns." And while the shrimp weren't trying to jump out of their aquariums or anything drastic like that, they were "five times more likely" to swim towards bright spots in the tank as opposed to staying in their usual dark and safe hiding places.

"This behavior makes them much more likely to be eaten by a predator, such as a fish or bird," explains Dr. Alex Ford, the author behind the sad shrimp study.

Not only is this new information important for humans taking anti-depressant drugs, it's vital to developing research around our water supply and the way animals and the environment may be effected by human waste – waste that routinely finds it's way there through illegal chemical dumping as well as normal, every day bathrooms.

While it's not time to freak out yet about accidentally polluting our oceans by flushing our toilets, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency acknowledges that this issue is "a growing concern" and has begun to test water treatment plants around the US for possible drug contamination.