Drugs in Our Water?

I do not regularly read the newspaper, but today someone left a copy sitting in front of me. A headline caught my eye, so I had to read the story. The headline read…’Drugs in water danger viewed as minimal’…what? Drugs in our water?

The article went on to say that the effect of prescription drugs in our drinking water is not known, but it is not likely a threat. Well, if the effects are not known, how and who says it is not threat? It continued with stating for the majority of people it is probably not a threat, but elderly and pregnant women could be more sensitive. The Environmental and Occupational Health Science Institute at Rutgers University needs to determine whether or not there are areas where the concentrations of prescription drugs in the water are higher than just trace amounts.

A five month study was conducted and it showed that trace amounts of prescription drugs were in the drinking water. Approximately 41 million Americans are affected. The study’s report was released on March 10 and said the drugs detected were antibiotics, pain medications and heart treatments among others.

In northern New Jersey, trace amounts of metabolized angina medicine and the mood stabilizer carbamazepine were detected in the drinking water. In Philadelphia, 56 pharmaceuticals and byproducts were found in the city’s drinking water.

Prescription drugs are said to get into the water by people dumping unused drugs down the drain and medicine not completely metabolized and leaving through the human body waste. Also if a water supply uses surface runoff as a source can also contain trace prescription drugs. Chemical treatments are not able to remove all the prescription drug traces.

So…is our water even remotely safe to drink? What were your thoughts after reading this post?

Makes me feel uncomfortable knowing our water might not be as safe as I thought

From the Dentist's Chair to Our Water

Dentists and Mercury:
The most common use of mercury in dental operations is in dental amalgam. An amalgam being a mixture or blending of mercury with another metal. Amalgams are commonly used in dental fillings. It is made up of approximately 40 to 50% mercury, 25% silver and 25 to 35% mixture of copper, zinc and tin.

Amalgam particles enter wastewater from dental offices when dentists remove old fillings or place new fillings. Estimates of the contribution of mercury in wastewater from dentists range from 11% to 80%.

In a recent survey of seven major wastewater treatment plants in California, Minnesota, Ohio and Maine, dentists were identified as the largest contributors of mercury. There have been more than 20 studies from Europe, Canada and the US that identify the dental industry as the leading source of mercury to sewer systems.

Mercury contaminates our environment, therefore threatens public health and threatens the fishing industry.

Publicly owned treatment works are looking for ways to reduce metals at the source and meet stricter limits using cost effective pollution prevention.

The Impact of Car Washing

Are you aware there are acute impacts of driveway car washing?

Water from residential driveway or fund-raising car wash events is allowed to run down the street or parking lot and into the nearest storm drain. This wastewater may carry detergent, traces of metals and small amounts of fuels and auto fluids. This water goes untreated and right into the nearest stream. This has the potential to harm fish and other marine life in the streambed.

There were two practical fish toxicity tests done in Seattle Washington. The first one ran from August 28 to Sept 1, 2006 and used water collected from a fundraiser car wash at a commercial auto service location. The second test done was from November 29 to December 3, 2006 and used a consumer car wash detergent. Juvenile rainbow trout were used in both tests. The tests produced similar results. The first test indicated a percent concentration that was lethal to 50% of the test organisms, the second test indicated 3%.

Other research indicated that detergents as a rule will destroy fish mucus membranes and gills. Natural oils may be washed away, affecting oxygen uptake by the gills. Other freshwater organisms living in streams would also be affected.


Source: Stormwater magazine