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

William Atkins
Monday, 10 March 2008 19:27

Science - Health

Pharmaceutical industries, hospitals, and other medical facilities are also other sources of drugs in water.

Plus, when farmers give their animals, such as cows and pigs, hormones, antibodies, and other such medicines, these drugs are passed on into the environment when the animals remove their waste products.

The issue of drugs in water supplies surfaced about ten years ago when German environmental scientists found clobibric acid in groundwater below a water treatment plant. Clobibric is a cholesterol-lowering drug.

Later, they found other drugs such as ibuprofen and phenazone in groundwater under sewage plants. Upon their discoveries, other European scientists found other drugs in local water sources.

Earlier than these European findings, U.S. researchers discovered drugs, such as aspirin, in the American water supply, but decided it was not of a health concern.
However, since then, some U.S. researchers are re-focusing their attentions on drugs in the water treatment facilities and other such sources.

In the article from the University of Arizona (Water Resources Research Center) “Pharmaceuticals In Our Water Supplies,” it states, “What risk does chronic exposure to trace concentrations of pharmaceuticals pose to humans or wildlife?”

The authors write, “Some scientists believe pharmaceuticals do not pose problems to humans since they occur at low concentrations in water. Other scientists say long-term and synergistic effects of pharmaceuticals and similar chemicals on humans are not known and advise caution.”

The AP and UA articles are interesting readings. They could also be very informative to look at, along with other such stories.

AP article at MyPlainView.com.

University of Arizona article at UA Water Resources Research Center.