William Atkins
Sunday, 14 September 2008 20:21
Science -
Health
Page 1 of 2
An Associated Press report in March 2008 showed 41 million Americans have pharmaceuticals in their drinking water. An updated September 2008 AP report shows that number is now at least 46 million—and will likely increase in the future!
On March 10, 2008, the Associated Press article “
AP: Drugs found in drinking water” reported in the newspaper
USA Today that
“A vast array of pharmaceuticals — including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones — have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans, an Associated Press investigation shows.”
ITWire reported on this subject within its science article “
AP finds drugs in 13.5% of U.S. water supplies.”
Now, a September 12, 2008 AP article (
"Report: Drugs in drinking water of more Americans"), also in
USA Today, reports that
“Testing prompted by an Associated Press story that revealed trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in drinking water supplies has shown that more Americans are affected by the problem than previously thought — at least 46 million.”
The first AP report led to expanded testing of at least 27 additional metropolitan areas in the United States.
Of those numbers, 17 of them (nearly 63%) reported positively as having trace amounts of pharmaceutical drugs in their drinking water.
The second AP article contends that the majority of the drug-contaminated water came from pharmaceuticals after
“being flushed into sewers and waterways through human excretion.”
Is there substantiate risk from drugs in our drinking water? Please read on.
