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You’re taking Drugs and You Don’t Even Know It!

According to an investigation conducted by Associated Press, a vast assortment of pharmaceutical drugs such as: antibiotics, mood stabilizers, sex hormones, and even , anti-convulsants have been discovered in the drinking water of over 41 million Americans!

How do Drugs get into your water?

When people ingest medicine, some of it absorbs into their bodies and a lot of it leaves the body and enters sewage systems.  The water goes through various treatments so it is safe for rivers and streams, and then more treatments so it is safe for drinking.  But these purifications do not remove all pharmaceuticals.

During a five month study the Associated Press discovered drugs in over 20 cities.  Cities Ranging from Northern New Jersey to Southern California all the way to Kentucky are among the list of contaminated water supplies.

Although the particles are small, (measured in parts per billion or trillion) one must remember that there are over 300 million people in the United States.  The amount of people who take prescription drugs and over the counter drugs every day is phenomenal. Think about how many people take an ibuprofen or other pain reliever for a simple headache every single day.  Exposure to a small amount once in a while probably will not do much harm.  But long term exposure is dangerous.

What a shock, water providers rarely disclose results from pharmaceutical screenings, and it’s obvious why. They also say that drinking “Drug Water” is not harmful.

Researchers still do not know all the risks from decades of exposure to random drugs, they recently have discovered alarming effects among cells and wildlife. These studies have gone virtually unnoticed by the public.

Reason for Concern

Here are some results from the AP (Associated Press) investigation:

• Philadelphia, PA tested positive for  56 pharmaceuticals or byproducts in treated drinking water. This includes medicine for pain, infection, high cholesterol, asthma, epilepsy, mental illness and heart problems. Sixty-three pharmaceuticals were also found in the city's watersheds.

• 18.5 million people in Southern California are drinking Anti-epileptic and anti-anxiety medications.

• New Jersey’s  Passaic Valley Water Commission drinking water treatment plant, which serves 850,000 people had metabolized angina medicine and the mood-stabilizing carbamazepine in drinking water.

• A sex hormone was detected in the drinking water of San Francisco, CA.

• Washington, D.C. tested positive for six pharmaceuticals.

Note: The AP only tested a few areas and they found something in most of the places they tested.

Testing not required?

It seems crazy, but it’s true, the federal government doesn't require any testing and hasn't set safety limits for drugs in water.

Sadly, the studies also suggest that most of our nation’s watersheds are also contaminated.

Of the 28 major metropolitan areas where tests were performed on drinking water supplies, only Albuquerque, New Mexico; Austin, Texas; and Virginia Beach, Virginia, said tests were negative.

The AP also contacted 52 small water providers -- one in each state, and two each in Missouri and Texas that supply water to about 25,000 people. Only one water provider told the AP that they had screened for pharmaceuticals.

Bottled water and Well water also unchecked

Since most Bottlers simply use straight tap water the same dangers apply.  As for wells, well water is supplied by our nation’s watersheds. 

Think about this: Over the past five years, the number of U.S. drug prescriptions rose 12 percent to a record 3.7 billion, while nonprescription drug purchases held steady around 3.3 billion, according to IMS Health and The Nielsen Co. 

Many scientists are skeptical because there is so much unknown.  Everyday scientists learn more and hopefully there will be more solid information soon.  But unlike other substances, water is consumed in sizeable amounts every day by all people. 

By: JENNIFER KARKOSKA

Sources: www.CNN.com