HUMAN waste flushed down the toilet is having a worse effect on the aquatic environment than anyone had thought.
Some corals off the coast of Florida, which form the world’s third largest barrier reef, are tainted with bacteria and viruses found in human faeces. Researchers also report this week that prescription drugs flushed into waterways can kill or maim the plankton that are a mainstay of freshwater ecosystems.
On average, half of the live coral off Florida has disappeared in the past five years. Scientists and politicians have argued vigorously over just who or what is to blame, echoing similar…
