What Does Not Kill Can Weaken: How Herbicides Impact Fish In The San Francisco Estuary

Farmers in the San Francisco Estuary have been using increasing amounts of weed killers, also called herbicides, on their farms. Herbicides kill unwanted weeds without hurting food crops. However, did you know that herbicides can hurt fish as well, especially those live Estuary, like delta smelt? Delta smelt are small, translucent only occur Estuary. In past, could be found everywhere they currently threatened with extinction, largely due to human activities. this study, we tested toxicity fluridone, a commonly used herbicide smelt. None died from but it weakened them, even after little 6 h exposure!