Federal officials tested the waters and found pharmaceuticals in drinking water in 17 of 27 metropolitan areas they inspected. They claim at least 46 million people are affected by this drug-tainted water.
AP
posted a story some months ago about trace amounts of pharmaceuticals found in drinking water. They said it affects 41 million nationwide. The federal officials investigated it after the story broke and have found even more water areas tainted with drugs.
Positive tests were reported in 17 cases, including Reno, Nev., Savannah, Ga., Colorado Springs, Colo., and Huntsville, Ala. More results are pending in three others.
These results showed at least 46 million people are exposed to drugs tainted water. Many cities have not tested their waters, though.
Eight cities, including Boston, Phoenix and Seattle, were happy that their waters showed no trace of drugs in it.
The federal officials found a number of drugs in the waters and it mirrored the findings of the AP story.
Some of the drugs found in the waters were cholesterol medication, nicotine derivative, anti-convulsant carbamazepine, tranquilizer and hormone.
Colorado Springs community found five drugs in their waters. Colorado Springs spokesman Steve Berry told
AP:
"This is obviously an emerging issue, and after the AP stories came out we felt it was the responsible thing for us to do, as a utility, to find out where we stand. We believe that at these levels, based on current science, that the water is completely safe for our customers...We don't want to create unnecessary alarm, but at the same time we have a responsibility as a municipal utility to communicate with our customers and let them know."
Fargo's water director, Bruce Grubb, said the amount of drugs present in their waters were in small amounts (parts per trillion) and has sent the report to the local health officer to see whether it poses dangers or not.
How did the drugs enter the water system?
The drug residues detected in water supplies are generally flushed into sewers and waterways through human excretion. Many of the pharmaceuticals are known to slip through sewage and drinking water treatment plants.
Though minute traces of drugs have been found so far, even these tiny amounts seem to affect the local fish, frogs and other aquatic species. Eventually it may affect the human cells as well, according to the researchers.
