2nd AP report: Even more Americans have drugs in drinking water

William Atkins
Sunday, 14 September 2008 20:21

Science - Health

Although unclear as to the risk such contamination holds for fish, other aquatic species, and humans, the accumulating scientific evidence appears to lean toward the conclusion that even tiny amounts of such drugs in water can harm smaller species and can cause increased health risks to larger species.

Writers for the Associated Press state that “And while the new survey expands the known extent of the problem, the overwhelming majority of U.S. communities have yet to test, including the single largest water provider in the country, New York City's Department of Environmental Protection, which delivers water to 9 million people.”

In other words, the number of people subjected to drug-contaminated drinking water will likely be much more than the 46 million people now estimated for the country—just because the majority of drinking water in the United States has yet to be tested.

As of September 14, 2008, the U.S. Census Bureau places the U.S. population at approximately 305.15 million people. Thus, over 15% of the U.S. population is known to be subjected to drinking water that contains trace amounts of pharmeautical drugs.

Although drugs appear in drinking water primarily through human excretions, pills are also thrown away through the toilet. ITWire informed the public about this dangerous practice in the April 11, 2007 article “DON’T throw those old pills down the toilet!”

Find out more information about your local drinking water supply at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA's) website “Local Drinking Water Information.”