You may already be aware that chemicals, minerals and other substances can exist in your water. However, it may be absurd to imagine prescription drugs in drinking water right out of your faucet. Several pharmaceutical products have actually been detected in different systems which call for immediate safe procedures to keep water safe and consumable. Here's more.
Introduction to Drugs in Water
Drugs in the drinking water such as antibiotics, mood stabilizers, hormones, etc. have been found to exist in different water supplies in over 24 major metropolitan areas in the United States. According to research and investigation, the drugs enter water supplies through many ways.
First, people flush down unneeded medications in toilets. Second, the medicine may be passed through urine or feces after being consumed and absorbed by individuals. Third, different cleansing processes and treatments result to pharmaceutical remains. Generally, the levels are low measured in parts for every billion or trillion. Although utility companies report that the water is safe, some private laboratories and institutions tend to counter the claims.
Is This New?
Pharmaceuticals have long been present in water supply in low levels for 10 years or more. Since the late 1990s, several drugs have been discovered in sewage water particularly oral contraceptives. These pose a risk in potentially contaminating consumable water in households. Recent technologies and new filtration methods have been developed to improve the quality of water, detect tinier amounts of harmful agents and minimize the presence of prescription drugs in drinking water.
Experts are not yet fully aware of the health effects of the drugs but the hormones can affect individuals even in low concentrations. Children, babies, pregnant women and the elderly are the individuals who will most likely be vulnerable should there be any significant effect. These are people who have less competent detoxification systems thus increasing the risks.
Is There a Solution?
The presence of drugs in the drinking water can be alleviated through new home filtering systems using state-of-the-art techniques to reduce medication levels. Boiling alone is not a worthwhile solution and pharmaceuticals will most likely remain except if the process used is distillation, reverse osmosis and other new purification means. Reverse osmosis however, takes out the needed minerals naturally present in raw water that sustains growth and development. Activated charcoal system is another method known to reduce prescription drugs in drinking water.
Local public utilities should be alerted to test the different pollutants and drugs that can exist in drinking water. Individuals should also avoid flushing down expired and unneeded medications. The best approach is to mix unused drugs with coffee grounds or pet litter then seal the mixture in a sealed container before throwing it in the trash.
What are the Experts Doing?
AP National Investigative Team members studied several scientific reports. They analyzed federal drinking water databases, treatment plants and environmental study sites. They talked to over 230 officials, scientists and academics and observed the top 50 biggest cities, 12 major water providers and smaller water providers in communities in all 50 states.
Research showed that there were 63 pharmaceuticals or by-products in treated drinking water which include medicine for pain, convulsion, infection, asthma, epilepsy, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart problems and mental illness. These were all accessible to over 41 million Americans. Although officials at regional and municipal water providers reported zero presence of such, the tests revealed otherwise. Prescription drugs in drinking water triggered the development and production of more powerful purification systems for safe consumption.
A drinking water filter system if designed correctly should remove the bad and dangerous items that can get mixed in the water you drink. These "bad" items include chemicals like chlorine and pesticides, plus toxic microbes and metals. Unfortunately, some systems do not do a quality job of providing you with safe water.
The advantages of getting the right method are obvious. The drawbacks of a substandard drinking water filter system may be difficult to "see". Most of the impurities that we face are invisible to the naked eye, as well as being odorless and colorless. The only way that you can be sure is to have your water tested. You can pick up a do-it-yourself test at home and building supply stores.
One chemical that you can smell, taste and sometimes see is added at the treatment facility to prevent bacteria, algae and other things from growing in the pipes that lead to your home.
It is called chlorine and it is a fairly effective disinfectant, but most people do not like the way that it tastes or smells. Chlorine removal is one of the most common reasons that people give for wanting a drinking water filter system.
Since you can taste it and smell it, you may be fooled by the so-called "purifiers" that only block that single chemical. For many reasons, a drinking water filter that only targets that one problem is not the best choice.
First of all, they cost as much as other systems that do a better job. Secondly, a drinking water filter system that seems inexpensive may need replacement filters more often, leading to a higher cost of use. Most important of all is that other infiltrates could be even more hazardous to your health than chlorine.
Studies have established a link between chlorinated drinking water and cancer. This you may know, but you may not know that when chlorine interacts with bacterial contaminants cancer causing by-products (THMs) are released. You would think that any drinking water filter system that blocks chlorine would also block its by-products. It seems logical, but that is not the case.
The safest choice is to choose a drinking water filter system that blocks THMs. The technology is available. It is just not used by all manufacturers.
EPS standards limit the amount of THMs that may be present and still be classified as "safe". But, the standards are based on what would be immediately toxic to a 175 pound adult. Of course, smaller individuals are not protected by these standards. Another concern is that, cancer is not a result of a single exposure, but prolonged exposure over a number of years. In other words, the more you take in over your lifespan, the higher your risk of developing cancer.
A good drinking water filter system can reduce the risk. There are only a few on the market that block THMs, but they are worth looking for. They are reasonably priced and easy to install, either on the kitchen counter or under the sink. You can think of the purchase of a drinking water filter system has an investment in your children's future. You are doing all that you can to protect their health.
Both Peter Patterson & Tyler Monesy are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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