March 10, 2008
Probe: Pharmaceuticals In Drinking Water
Widespread Trace-Level Contamination Found In U.S. Water Supply, AP Investigation Shows
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Drinking Water Drug Cocktail
An investigation by the Associated Press found traces of pharmaceutical drugs in the water supplies of 24 major U.S. cities. Researchers don't know if the levels are hazardous. Nancy Cordes reports.
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How Safe Is Our Water?
Harry Smith speaks with Dr. David Carpenter of SUNY Albany and "Early Show" medical correspondent Dr Emily Senay about drinking water safety.
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Drugs In Drinking Water
An Associated Press investigation found pharmaceuticals in nearly ever drinking water supply that they tested, including those of 24 major metropolitan areas across the nation. Nancy Cordes reports.
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As part of the advanced secondary treatment, at the Orange County Sanitation District, a settling basin is used to filter water before it's diverted into the ocean Monday, Nov. 19, 2007, in Fountain Valley, Calif. (AP)
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Carla Wieser, fishery biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, takes a blood sample from a carp in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, near Boulder City, Nev., Monday, Nov. 5, 2007, to study effects of pharmaceuticals in water on fish. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Duane Moser, an assistant research professor with Desert Research Institute, collects water samples from the Las Vegas Wash in Henderson, Nev., Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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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 to Louisville, Ky.
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?
CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes reports that, according to the AP study, it's the fault of every American who ever took a pill.
When people take medicine some gets absorbed by the body, but the leftovers end up getting flushed down the toilet and into the water supply.
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.
Treatment facilities aren't required to test for pharmaceuticals or filter them out, reports Cordes.
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.
"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.
Dr. David Carpenter, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the State University of New York at Albany, tells CBS' The Early Show that it is important to remember, "you have to drink water. And bottled water isn't any better than tap water."
Carpenter said most tap water is not treated in a way that can get out pharmaceuticals, but he said activated charcol filters - whether used at home or by water treatment authorities - do remove most chemical compounds. He said a small number of public water providers use charcol filters already.
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director, Institute for Health and the Environment, SUNY Albany
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.We know we are being exposed to other people's drugs through our drinking water, and that can't be good.
Dr. David Carpenterdirector, Institute for Health and the Environment, SUNY Albany
Here are some of the key test results obtained by the AP:
The situation is undoubtedly worse than suggested by the positive test results in the major population centers documented by the AP.
The federal government doesn't require any testing and hasn't set safety limits for drugs in water. Of the 62 major water providers contacted, the drinking water for only 28 was tested. Among the 34 that haven't: Houston, Chicago, Miami, Baltimore, Phoenix, Boston and New York City's Department of Environmental Protection, which delivers water to 9 million people.
Some providers screen only for one or two pharmaceuticals, leaving open the possibility that others are present.
The AP's investigation also indicates that watersheds, the natural sources of most of the nation's water supply, also are contaminated. Tests were conducted in the watersheds of 35 of the 62 major providers surveyed by the AP, and pharmaceuticals were detected in 28.
Yet officials in six of those 28 metropolitan areas said they did not go on to test their drinking water - Fairfax, Va.; Montgomery County in Maryland; Omaha, Neb.; Oklahoma City; Santa Clara, Calif., and New York City.
The New York state health department and the USGS tested the source of the city's water, upstate. They found trace concentrations of heart medicine, infection fighters, estrogen, anti-convulsants, a mood stabilizer and a tranquilizer.
City water officials declined repeated requests for an interview. In a statement, they insisted that "New York City's drinking water continues to meet all federal and state regulations regarding drinking water quality in the watershed and the distribution system" - regulations that do not address trace pharmaceuticals.
In several cases, officials at municipal or regional water providers told the AP that pharmaceuticals had not been detected, but the AP obtained the results of tests conducted by independent researchers that showed otherwise. For example, water department officials in New Orleans said their water had not been tested for pharmaceuticals, but a Tulane University researcher and his students have published a study that found the pain reliever naproxen, the sex hormone estrone and the anti-cholesterol drug byproduct clofibric acid in treated drinking water.
Of the 28 major metropolitan areas where tests were performed on drinking water supplies, only Albuquerque; Austin, Texas; and Virginia Beach, Va.; said tests were negative. The drinking water in Dallas has been tested, but officials are awaiting results. Arlington, Texas, acknowledged that traces of a pharmaceutical were detected in its drinking water but cited post-9/11 security concerns in refusing to identify the drug.
The AP also contacted 52 small water providers - one in each state, and two each in Missouri and Texas - that serve communities with populations around 25,000. All but one said their drinking water had not been screened for pharmaceuticals; officials in Emporia, Kan., refused to answer AP's questions, also citing post-9/11 issues.
Rural consumers who draw water from their own wells aren't in the clear either, experts say.
The Stroud Water Research Center, in Avondale, Pa., has measured water samples from New York City's upstate watershed for caffeine, a common contaminant that scientists often look for as a possible signal for the presence of other pharmaceuticals. Though more caffeine was detected at suburban sites, researcher Anthony Aufdenkampe was struck by the relatively high levels even in less populated areas.
He suspects it escapes from failed septic tanks, maybe with other drugs. "Septic systems are essentially small treatment plants that are essentially unmanaged and therefore tend to fail," Aufdenkampe said.
Even users of bottled water and home filtration systems don't necessarily avoid exposure. Bottlers, some of which simply repackage tap water, do not typically treat or test for pharmaceuticals, according to the industry's main trade group. The same goes for the makers of home filtration systems.
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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See all 91 CommentsThis may have something to do with early onset of Alzheimer''s? Maybe.......or other maladies.......
And too,,,it wasn''t too long ago that the powers that be,,was telling people to dump any "unused" or "old" medecines down the toilet. I''m sure that didn''t help either. It''s guite possible that these so-called experts had no idea what they were talking about. As usuall!
The problem I believe,,is we have not been able to keep up with modern technology. I''m not impressed with the so-called experts, either.
They tend to blather on about info,,then turn right around and say something like,,, that we don''t understand what they are talking about.. When clearly they understand very little themselves....
And where do you think bottled water comes from???
It''s the "long term exposure of these Pharmas that we must worry about. Not each serving....
This is a great reason to drink coke or pepsi either regular or diet.
Just one question:
Will we now need a prescription to drink the water?
So they get ''alarmed'', then EDUCATE them what the numbers MEAN dont HIDE the truth!
"And bottled water isn''t any better than tap water."
Wrong in part, ''spring'' water may be filtered tap water, but DISTILLED water made by boiling water and collecting the STEAM, and then filtering that is the cleanest water you can buy or make.
You can buy a home water distiller that sits on the countertop and makes up to several gallons of pure clean water a day- free of florides, clorine, rust, lyme, pesticides, bacteria, bad taste and drugs.
Expect to pay around $400-$600 or thereabouts depending on brand and size for one, they should be stainless steel.
I don''t know what you''ve been drinking....but you should try water.
GOOD!, given the overpopulation problem in this country from soaring 150 million to 300 million since 1950 any decrease in fertility is a blessing, too bad it''s not more like 75% instead of just 12%
Till there are no unwanted babies *ADOPT*!!!
Nope, Pepsi and Coke also use municipal tap water. You''re screwed either way...
The concentrations can not be significant because there is still too much urban violence.
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I agree. Every prescription or OTC medication should have instructions on the package for proper disposal. I once took some meds to a pharmacist and asked him to dispose of them since flushing them down the toilet was the only way I knew - he suggested that I do just that, because if he took them, that is what he would do with them.
We have been told for years not to put pills or anything down our toilets but it isn''t because it is going back into our water supply. It goes through a treatment plant and then out into the ocean.
Toilet water shouldn''t be recycled back into the same place you are getting your drinking water.
We are told to take our pills back to the pharmacy where they dispose of them but they are not disposing them down the toilet.
It''s interesting that the "experts" who decry homeopathic treatments (where vanishingly small amounts of a drug give efficacy) think that ppt''s of the same drugs are significant in drinking water.
conservative republican deregulation at work here
you can always trust a republican businessman , right?
Not only is it a deregulation problem and an EPA problem , it is a doctor overprescription problem, and ultimately a problem with stupid humans who choose not to take good care of their bodies... better self care = less drugs needed = less drugs in the water. Your choices affect my life. Stop being dumb-***** people!
No thank you on the Brave New World mandatory drugs.
The problem is more about used prescription drugs than unused ones, the stuff that gets peed out.
I wonder about the common drugs--nicotine, caffeine, THC
Most bottled water is just expensive tap water...that''s why I usually don''t bother with it. I thought about getting an RO/DI machine to use for my aquarium, but maybe I''ll go in for a distiller. Apparently makes just as good water and enough to use for drinking, too. I wonder how many of these drugs have topical effects.
So that glass of water you drank quite possibly was pissed out by a dinosaur millions of years ago or a cow at Browns farm last year. Thats the fact.
I have a private well, 160 feet deep, the water pumped into my home is charcoal filtered before it goes into my holding tank. The water comes out of the holding tank and is charcoal filtered again before entering the plumbing to the house. So even the water to my toilets and showers has been filtered three times. Once by mother earth and twice by me. I change out the filters every 60 days.
My neighbors don''t do anything at all and they still have their hair nor do they glow in the dark. It''s just an added precaution I like to take.
My point is, you can do the same thing with municipal supplied water. The two whole house filter systems I use came in a kit that are easily installed. They cost about $25.00 each and the charcoal filters are $5.00 each.
[Posted by vermonter52 at 10:57 AM : Mar 10, 2008]
the new rule is that anything left over ... or didn''t work in the first place (that''s likely why they''re left over) should be returned to the company that made them ... for a full refund.
I remember I read once that the river Thames is drunk three times between spring and ocean. Makes ya think huh?
Water filtering through about 10 feet of fine sand as it does when it rains and soaks into the ground to eventually wind up in aquafers, is very clean, well water gets contaminated by leaky well heads where contaminated surface water gets into the well head, poorly maintained pipes etc.
Brooks, streams etc get contamined by animal and bird droppings, dead carcases, pollution, fish (rivers are the fishes'' toilet) then theres industrial dumping, farm runoff and city storm sewers that collect water off dirty pavement that has oil, antifreeze etc on it.
Many cities ''treat'' the waste sewer water and dump it into rivers, NY city used the Hudson and East rivers as sewers- all the waste went out untreated.
A water distiller is better the Rev osmosis, and theres no membraine to replace. Charcoal filters dont remove all the chemicals and stuff either, good too but distilled is best. Charcoal filters get clogged fast if you have hard water or alot of clorine and sediments. Best to tap for everything and distilled for drinking and pets
You said it. I used to laugh at some buddies of mine that liked to drink Rolling Rock Beer. They say it''s brewed with pure mountain spring water. I always liked to ask them how they knew a large Moose or bear did not just take a cra-p upstream. LOL.
RF35
Notice they recommend you use only distilled water in your iron, your car battery, and that clorinated water can harm fish in an aquarium etc.
Bottled water is not ALL tap water, some comes from underground springs, some does come from tap but is FILTERED which removes most of the crud.
You can filter your own water, but when a gallon of distilled water is 69 cents and you dont drink 5 gallons a day, you can buy distilled for drinking about the same price as the filtered tap, or distill your own.
Distilled water has NO taste at all, some don''t like that, I do, and being the cleanest water it will clean your body''s wastes out better than water that is already contaminated. Add a little lemon or something if you want a hint of taste, or carbonate it for making your own soda using various flavored juices or syrups- free of the preservatives and caffein they put in pop.
Otherwise if you keep a gallon of it in the fridge REAL cold, nothing better than distilled water about 34 degrees with just a hint of ice crystals in it :)
Your right, your private well must be maintained and inspected periodically for surface water contamination. Thats a given, it''s a good idea to have it tested once a year also. We have a cabin in the mountains, I filter that but don''t cook or drink it. We alway take bottled water up with us.
Water Distiller Baffle Distance - When water boiled it is first converted to wet steam and then to dry steam through water distillation. Contaminates rise with wet steam, but not with dry steam. The longer the distance between the boiling chamber and the condensing coil produces more dry steam resulting in purer distilled water from your water distiller.
Water Distiller Construction - The best construction material is surgical quality stainless steel.
Water Distiller Storage Containment - The best materials for water distiller storage is stainless steal or glass. While glass maintains a high level of water purity, it is not as durable as stainless steal, which is why it is not the most reliable storage container used by the water distiller.
This is why you dont buy a CHEAP compact distiller, those $119.95 deals, a good distiller is a counterop sized model, larger would have more distance between the boiling chamber and the collector which is good.
The unit if a good brand, stainless steel should last many years with minimal care- just keep it clean.
The better units will cost some money, in my opinion anything less than around $350 is a much lesser compact type unit that is not as good as the larger better built units- those may run you $500 and up, but like buying a new washing machine, fridge or diswasher- consider you are buying an APPLIANCE, and $500 for an appliance is not unreasonable- you would spend 3 times that for a side by side fridge with water in the door and icemaker.
www.polarbearwater.com
And here;
www.clearchoicewater.com/English_Site/English_HomePage.htm
But start someplace and buy where you like.
Polar Bears site has some in the $500 price range, 8 gallon production a day, that''s more than most people would ever need.
As early as 1992, the Cincinnati Enquirer [11Sept92] reported that the sperm count in healthy males had dropped by half in the past 50 years, according to a global review of 61 studies involving nearly 15,000 men. Also, the risk of developing testicular cancer is up by 50% over the past 25 years, although neither have been attributed to estrogen contamination at this time.
http://www.physiciansforlife.org/content/view/1350/36/
Scientists, however, have paid attention. CBS reports, "... recent studies - which have gone virtually unnoticed by the general public - have found alarming effects on human cells and wildlife."
Filtration and water purification, in general, is not rocket science. There is already abundant research on both water supply contaminants and various filtering and removal technologies.
Bush leaves behind an unintended consequence of his anti-government regulation policy-- now, it is painfully obvious he indifferently risked our health and welfare, with no thought of tomorrow.
Posted by alphaa10 at 02:27 PM : Mar 10, 2008
Which brings up the obvious solution: Since we''re dealing with narrow-minded, shortsighted, business-first types, start a rumor that people are smoking the water...
That''ll bring the right-wingers out in force to eliminate the source.
Posted by USBrit
I''ll probably flush it down the toilet!
...and that clorinated water can harm fish in an aquarium etc.
Posted by newster1
Yep, I have a source of free RO water, but it''s a hassle lugging 5 gallon bottles back and forth. I was mainly using it for the fish, plus an extra bottle for the counter-top dispenser I bought after discovering the obscene fluoride levels in my local water. I still use tap water for cooking and drinking more often than not, though, just to save more trips for the RO stuff. I figure a distiller will eliminate the trips and produce good water for all.
Looks like a smart choice to me ...
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