Mood stabilizers, antibiotics, anti-convulsant, acetaminophen, ibuprofen – though deemed to be far below the levels of a medical dose, scientists are worried about long term human effects of this recent findings stemming from an Associated Press investigation and reporting.
AP conducted a five-month study of major metro areas from coast to coast and found that at least 41 million residents are affected by this.
Just how do these pharmaceutical drugs get into drinking water?
Traces of prescription medication passes through our body as waste and dumped into the sewage. In turn sewage water is treated before it is released into some lakes and water system. A lot of residential areas in the US gets their tap water supply from treated water coming from rivers, lakes and other water tributaries. In some areas, treated sewage water is directly reused as drinking water after passing through several filtration process. Oh yum!
Unfortunately, water treatment does not completely eliminate traces of prescription medication that has been released into the water source. And it is not only a concern for residents living in largely populated city centers, people drawing their drinking water from wells can also be affected. CNN has a great article on this health worries. In a New York Times article, they mentioned that scientists are concerned that pharmaceuticals in river water is responisble for the “feminization” of male fish. Evidence of pharmaceuticals’ ability to alter behavior or composition of wildlife ingesting minimal amounts of drug doses pose potential of long term harmful effect to humans who not only drink these waters but eat seafood swimming in such an environment. Though it has to be said that there has not been an extensive scientific research done as to the long-term real effects of the AP study.
Why such a phenomena, probably because Americans are medicating too much? There is a pill for every ache, pain or twitch we happen to have. You blink and voila, you have a medicine for that. CNN has also posted a map of states with known pharmaceuticals in their water source. Minnesota so far only posted for “caffeine”, shows you what’s important. Coffee perhaps to battle the cold? =)