• Jun 02, 2015
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  • by Alex Tiscareno

As disturbing as it may be tests now conclude that drinking water consumed by over 46 million people in the USA is known to contain trace levels of pharmaceuticals including antibiotics, mood stabilizers and hormones.

Why is this happening?

PEOPLE: Most pharmaceuticals in the environment come from consumers. Many drugs end up in toilets, unmetabolized by the body or thrown away.

HOSPITALS: Hospitals and long-term care facilities also contribute to the problem. They throw away 250 million pounds of unused drugs and contaminated packaging annually, the Associated Press estimates. Most go into landfills or down drains toward drinking water supplies.

WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT: Sewage treatment plants were designed to remove disease causing microbes and pathogens from water – not pharmaceuticals.

SURFACE WATER: Testing has confirmed more than 100 different pharmaceuticals in surface water. Fish, mollusks and algae are adversely affected by contamination.

DRINKING WATER TREATMENT PLANT: Standard treatments to clean drinking water do not remove all pharmaceuticals.

YOUR FAMILY: Humans may be affected by the consumption of water which contains pharmaceuticals.