Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 8 November 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 10 November 2005. It was answered by Elliot Morley (Labour) on Tuesday, 15 November 2005 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Marine Environment (Monitoring)

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to determine the (a) levels of fluoxetine and norfluoxetine residues in UK aquatic environments and (b) impact on the environment.

Answer: The Environment Agency has published a briefing note on fluoxetine, and developed analytical methods for the detection of fluoxetine and norfluoxetine in river water. Investigational monitoring for these substances was undertaken in spring 2005 downstream of a small number of large sewage works in the North West and Midlands. For the great majority of samples fluoxetine and norfluoxetine levels were below the limit of detection.Further investigational monitoring downstream of sewage works is presently under way at a wider range of rivers sites across England and Wales. No results are available yet.The Environment Agency briefing note on fluoxetine is available at: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/commondata/acrobat/fluoxetine__1068996.pdf.

Secondary information