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Kizzume
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 Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:03 pm Post subject: Prescription drugs found in drinking water across U.S.!!!!! |
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http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/03/10/pharma.water1.ap/index.html
| Quote: | (AP) -- 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.
To be sure, the concentrations of these pharmaceuticals are tiny, measured in quantities of parts per billion or trillion, far below the levels of a medical dose. Also, utilities insist their water is safe.
But the presence of so many prescription drugs -- and over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen and ibuprofen -- in so much of our drinking water is heightening worries among scientists of long-term consequences to human health.
In the course of a five-month inquiry, the AP discovered that drugs have been detected in the drinking water supplies of 24 major metropolitan areas -- from Southern California to Northern New Jersey, from Detroit, Michigan, to Louisville, Kentucky.
Water providers rarely disclose results of pharmaceutical screenings, unless pressed, the AP found. For example, the head of a group representing major California suppliers said the public "doesn't know how to interpret the information" and might be unduly alarmed.
How do the drugs get into the water?
People take pills. Their bodies absorb some of the medication, but the rest of it passes through and is flushed down the toilet. The wastewater is treated before it is discharged into reservoirs, rivers or lakes. Then, some of the water is cleansed again at drinking water treatment plants and piped to consumers. But most treatments do not remove all drug residue.
And while researchers do not yet understand the exact risks from decades of persistent exposure to random combinations of low levels of pharmaceuticals, recent studies -- which have gone virtually unnoticed by the general public -- have found alarming effects on human cells and wildlife.
A 'growing concern'
"We recognize it is a growing concern and we're taking it very seriously," said Benjamin H. Grumbles, assistant administrator for water at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Members of the AP National Investigative Team reviewed hundreds of scientific reports, analyzed federal drinking water databases, visited environmental study sites and treatment plants and interviewed more than 230 officials, academics and scientists.
They also surveyed the nation's 50 largest cities and a dozen other major water providers, as well as smaller community water providers in all 50 states.
Here are some of the key test results obtained by the AP:
• Officials in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, said testing there discovered 56 pharmaceuticals or byproducts in treated drinking water, including medicines for pain, infection, high cholesterol, asthma, epilepsy, mental illness and heart problems. Sixty-three pharmaceuticals or byproducts were found in the city's watersheds.
• Anti-epileptic and anti-anxiety medications were detected in a portion of the treated drinking water for 18.5 million people in Southern California.
• Researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey analyzed a Passaic Valley Water Commission drinking water treatment plant, which serves 850,000 people in Northern New Jersey, and found a metabolized angina medicine and the mood-stabilizing carbamazepine in drinking water.
• A sex hormone was detected in the drinking water of San Francisco, California.
• The drinking water for Washington, D.C., and surrounding areas tested positive for six pharmaceuticals.
The situation is undoubtedly worse than suggested by the positive test results in the major population centers documented by the AP.
Testing not required
The federal government doesn't require any testing and hasn't set safety limits for drugs in water. |
I've been someone who has not wanted to drink tap water for quite a while now. After reading about just how many chemicals they put into water, including the idiotic idea of putting FLUORIDE in the water (oh it helps kid's teeth--so let's make everyone drink it! What a horrible idea!), many years ago I stopped drinking tap water if I could at all help it. This is the final nail in that coffin for me.
This sort of reminds me of how FDA makes dairies put on their labels that rBST milk isn't any different than milk that doesn't contain it--completely forgetting to mention that rBST increases the pus production in cows--oh but pus shouldn't be a problem 
I'm glad they're finding out these kinds of things. It's important people know.
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Kizzume
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| Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:06 pm Post subject: |
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Something to take note of though---
Bottled water that doesn't specifically come from springs are USUALLY bottled tap water that is either slightly filtered OR they even sometimes put MORE chemicals in the water. Aquafina, Dasani--the ones that are put out by the big boys--Coke and Pepsico--are packaged tap water. Don't bother with them.
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jq
Joined: 02 Dec 2007
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| Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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I drink costco bottled water. I wonder, is it safe?
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Kizzume
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| Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:41 pm Post subject: |
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I know that Kirkland milk was using both Wilcox (which won't be around after the end of this month) and Darigold. If you can find out what company they use for their water, you should be able to get the answers.... I'll try to look into that for you...
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debateman
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jq
Joined: 02 Dec 2007
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| Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:21 pm Post subject: |
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Man it sucks that wilcox went out of business......
Newayz, yeah, I have always been nervous about drinking water. This just makes me more so. But then again, I wonder, is ANYTHING really safe? The juice I drink-- where do they get THAT water from (when it comes from concentrate.)
| debateman wrote: | | I drink evain. |
Nice choice. I would trust that. There is also that famous Swedish water. What is it called again....anyway, I'm sure that one is safe, too.
Last edited by jq on Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:22 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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debateman
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Kizzume
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| Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:02 pm Post subject: |
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I wonder if Arrowhead is safe..... 
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Hackfest
Joined: 04 Dec 2007
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| Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:05 pm Post subject: |
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I haven't drank tap water in 10 years or more. I usually do get the spring stuff. Hey debateman, spell evian backwards. lol
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jq
Joined: 02 Dec 2007
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| Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:39 pm Post subject: |
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| debateman wrote: | | And Fiji. Fiji is good. |
Oh yeah, that one is good too. I for one though have, for the sake of income, kept it pretty simple, and maybe that put me more at risk than I realized. We go through a lot of bottled water here at the house, and I just haven't seen most of the premium waters for sale in bulk.....................I may have to just get some sort of filter. But I wonder-- would a domestic filter really protect and cleanse out these sort of traces?
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debateman
Joined: 05 Dec 2007
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Location: New Mexico
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| Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 12:21 am Post subject: |
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| jq wrote: | | debateman wrote: | | And Fiji. Fiji is good. |
Oh yeah, that one is good too. I for one though have, for the sake of income, kept it pretty simple, and maybe that put me more at risk than I realized. We go through a lot of bottled water here at the house, and I just haven't seen most of the premium waters for sale in bulk.....................I may have to just get some sort of filter. But I wonder-- would a domestic filter really protect and cleanse out these sort of traces? |
Depends on the drugs too. I'll take some sedative but I'd rather not be on estrogen.
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jq
Joined: 02 Dec 2007
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| Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 1:32 pm Post subject: |
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| debateman wrote: | | jq wrote: | | debateman wrote: | | And Fiji. Fiji is good. |
Oh yeah, that one is good too. I for one though have, for the sake of income, kept it pretty simple, and maybe that put me more at risk than I realized. We go through a lot of bottled water here at the house, and I just haven't seen most of the premium waters for sale in bulk.....................I may have to just get some sort of filter. But I wonder-- would a domestic filter really protect and cleanse out these sort of traces? |
Depends on the drugs too. I'll take some sedative but I'd rather not be on estrogen. |
I hear ya. But since we don't know for sure what's in the water, can I filter this stuff out with an over the counter water filter? I am thinking probably not, but I don't seem to be able to find an official answer on this somewhere.
I'm looking into the possibility of something like this
http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/
but I don't know. Seems a little over-the-top.
Last edited by jq on Tue Mar 11, 2008 1:34 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Kizzume
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| Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 1:34 pm Post subject: |
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If you can find water that comes from springs, you should be a lot more safe from these kinds of things.
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