THINGS TO KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT

by GENE MASCOLI

Gene's Columns Are Archived HERE

THINGS TO KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT

Would your tap water pass a drug test?

Until a few months ago, I was under the misconception that prescription drugs break down as they pass through a person’s system. Drugs are chemicals, very pure and refined chemicals used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of disease. Now I know that cattle and pigs have their chow spiked with antibiotics and, as a result we ingest small quantities of antibiotics every time we munch on a steakburger. Yummy. This topic is well documented and I’ve already pondered this issue. But I didn’t know that pharmaceutical contamination of groundwater is starting to be a problem — with unknown consequences.

At the American Chemical Society’s spring meeting, scientists from around the world met and discussed the fact that a broad mix of drugs, including psychiatric drugs and anti-inflammatory prescriptions are passing unscathed not only through our bodies, but also through sewage-treatment plants into the water table. From which, of course, we pump it out and DRINK IT!

The good news is that scientists are only measuring concentrations of most drugs in the parts per billion (ppb), much less than could arguably cause an effect on a person. But some drugs frequently are showing up in concentrations nearer to 1 part per million. And unless something is done about it, it’s apt to continue as the population grows and the waters become more polluted. The ‘something done about it’ part of course costs money, and consists of filtering sewage through carbon and ozone, thus preventing the pharmaceutical contamination from getting in the ground water in the first place. And because the problem is everybody’s and nobody’s fault, who’s going to step up and spend the bucks? The environmentalists have already weighed in on this issue and a couple of web sites I visited lumped it in with food irradiation and mad cow disease. In other words, it’s bad. Business interests point out that we are alleviating illnesses and pain and suffering. But there is no free lunch. Certainly there should be a healthy, open-minded debate on the subject.

Perhaps long-term exposure to trace amounts of drugs won’t be a problem for people. But what about aquatic plants and animals? They’ll live in the stuff. Have you ever seen an amoeba on Ritalin? It’s not a pretty picture.

And perhaps the problem is really one of water treatment and management and is just another reason why a sane and safe sewage and water treatment policy is best for everyone. Until then relax, have a glass of water and I’ll catch you later.

If you would like to learn more about this subject you can start with a visit to the American Chemical Society. The Society has extensive educational resources available.

Also of interest, though a bit technical for young readers, is the PDF file from the USGS called ‘Occurrence of Antibiotics in Liquid Waste at Confined Animal Feeding Operations and in Surface and Ground Water’ --> http://water.usgs.gov/owq/AFO/proceedings/afo/pdf/meyer.pdf

Solutions exist, but cost money. --> http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/SSG/es40743e.html

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