ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — University of South Florida scientists are studying how contaminants like flushed or thrown away pharmaceuticals impact Tampa Bay, hoping to mitigate future environmental damage.

As part of the Tampa Bay Surveillance Project, USF scientists placed 17 racks around Tampa Bay for barnacles to grow on.

“We’re interested in what contaminants they may be actually filtering out and contained within their bodies,” said Steve Murawski, professor at USF’s College of Marine Science.

Murawski said previous research has detected PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, in the bay. He said research has also shown the presence of anti-depressants, heart medicine, illicit drugs and other pharmaceuticals.

“The majority of them are passing through people first before they actually get in the bay. So, the fact that we can detect them in concentration is very impressive and what that basically says is it’s primarily coming from the wastewater treatment system,” Murawski said.

The Tampa Bay Surveillance Project aims to characterize the distribution of what’s called contaminants of emerging and known concern.

“We’re trying to understand what the sources are of these chemicals that are entering the environment and also how they might spread out,” he said.

Because these pollutants impact more than just the environment.

“Many of these chemicals can mimic estrogen, for example. So, they potentially can disrupt reproductive facilities, not only in the fishes, but in people as well and so that’s why it’s quiet problematic,” Murawski said.

The concept for the research began years ago when USF was studying the impacts of the Deep Horizon oil spill. When that projected ended Murawski said the Tampa Bay Surveillance Project was the next logical step.

The five-year study will come to end in 2028, but researchers are hoping to extend the project to answer more questions about the bay.