AP finds drugs in 13.5% of U.S. water supplies

William Atkins
Monday, 10 March 2008 19:27

Science - Health

The Associated Press article “AP probe finds drugs in drinking water” reveals that its five-month study found prescription and OTC drugs such as antibiotics, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen in the drinking water of at least forty-one million Americans.        

With a U.S. population at just over 303.6 million people, the number of Americans possibly affected by prescription and over-the-counter drugs in U.S. water supplies is about 13.5%.

The AP article (“AP probe finds drugs in drinking water”) was written by writers Jeff Donn, Martha Mendoza, and Justin Pritchard and published on Sunday, March 9, 2008.

The three AP writers state that the amount of drugs found in water supplies is “tiny,” being measured in parts per billion or trillion. Such levels would be considered much, much below any levels given in a medical dose.

Utility companies stated to the writers that the drinking water supply in the United States is, and remains, safe.

The study looked at water supply facilities in all fifty states, in all of the largest fifty cities in the nation, along with smaller towns and cities across the United States.

Some of the areas tested within the AP study were southern California and northern New Jersey. Several of the cities tested were Detroit, Michigan; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; San Francisco, California; Washington, D.C.; and Louisville, Kentucky.

However, the AP article does state that scientists have concerns “of long-term consequences to human health.”

One of the primary sources that these drugs get into the American water supply is when Americans flush drugs down the toilet or sink.

Articles have been written in the past that discourage such practices and, rather, request that U.S. citizens instead dispose of drugs by more appropriate means.

For instance, the iTWire article “DON’T throw those old pills down the toilet!” states that health officials suggest consumers contact their local or state health departments or their local pharmacy for more information on available disposal plans.

There are other sources of drugs in our water. Please read on for additional information.