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| AP probe finds drugs in drinking water |
| 2008-03-09 |
| Well this could explain a lot... 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. Here are some of the key test results obtained by the AP: Officials in Philadelphia 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 San Francisco's drinking water. The drinking water for Washington, D.C., and surrounding areas tested positive for six pharmaceuticals. Three medications, including an antibiotic, were found in drinking water supplied to Tucson, Ariz. Long. Rest at the link. |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #5 Did they test the drinking water after it was passed through a Pur or Brio filter? I didn't bother reading the article, but I'm going to check the Pur 800-number to see what they say. But in the meantime, a nice piece of sari silk will filter out everything short of chemicals in solution. In case any Rantburgers happen to be out in the back of the beyond with unsafe water. Filter, then boil, then be grateful that terminal dehydration has been avoided. ;-) |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2008-03-09 19:59 |
| #4 All this story means is that the chromatagraphs, mass spectrum analysers, etc. are getting more accurate. This stuff has always been there. Now we can just (barely) detect it. Note the lack of quantification in the story below. On a related note, I recall not too long ago the hysteria over hormones in beef were causing precocial (sp?) sexual development. I think it turned out to be a mixture of statistical noise, anecdotal stories, and what i think of as "if a critter is well (or slightly over-) fed, it will start preparing to breed ASAP" effect. Just more hysterical scare mongering. |
| Posted by: N guard 2008-03-09 19:03 |
| #3 IOW, nothing has changed since the introduction of BOTTLED WATER [versus tap], espec the 5-gal variety. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-03-09 18:32 |
| #2 I note that this "Scare them to death" story completely left out any percentages, in other words the percentage difference between "Detectable" and "Harmful" is NOT MENTIONED. (Wonder why?) |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2008-03-09 18:31 |
| #1 I am really looking forward to the new water filter technology using nanotubes. The tubes are just large enough to pass individual water molecules, nothing else. It uses only 1/4th of the energy of reverse osmosis and is pretty low maintenance. The only obvious drawback is that a tiny amount of trace element salts need to be added. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2008-03-09 18:04 |