{"id":2114,"date":"2023-06-12T23:04:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-12T23:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lifewaterreport.com\/?p=2114"},"modified":"2023-06-13T21:14:21","modified_gmt":"2023-06-13T21:14:21","slug":"pharmaceuticals-in-your-drinking-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lifewaterreport.com\/pharmaceuticals-in-your-drinking-water\/","title":{"rendered":"Are there pharmaceuticals in your drinking water?"},"content":{"rendered":"
TABLE OF CONTENT:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Are you concerned about what might lurk in your drinking water? The answer might surprise you. Pharmaceutical drugs have been found in drinking water supplies in both the United States and Europe. Studies have shown that pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics, hormones, and antidepressants, have been detected in US drinking water supplies. These contaminants can pose a risk to human health, especially for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and young children.\u00a0Studies have found that pharmaceuticals are present in up to 60% of domestic or public-supply water systems in the United States.<\/strong><\/p>\n Pharmaceutical drugs in drinking water are worrying trends and becoming increasingly prevalent. Pharmaceuticals are discharged into our environment through sewage, wastewater, and agricultural runoff. These contaminants then enter our water supplies, where they are consumed.<\/p>\n Studies have shown that pharmaceuticals can be found in drinking water in both low and high concentrations. Drugs such as antibiotics, hormones, antidepressants, and painkillers have been found in drinking water supplies in different parts of the world. The extent of these concentrations can vary, depending on the source and contamination. Pharmaceuticals in drinking water raise concerns about potential health risks and water treatment and regulations. Available studies have reported that concentrations of drugs in surface waters, groundwater, and partially treated water are typically less than 0.1 \u00b5g\/l (or 100 ng\/l), and concentrations in treated water are generally below 0.05 \u00b5g\/l (or 50 ng\/l).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In streams<\/strong>\u00a0EFFLUENT from 24 WWTPs across the country without PMF discharge. Released waters from these two WWTPs were discharged into streams where pharmaceuticals were detected downstream. This was as far as 30 kilometers from one plant’s outfall.<\/p>\n Manufacturing plants are not the only source of pharmaceuticals in water. The livestock industry often uses antibiotics and drugs, and USGS studies have found pharmaceuticals such as acetaminophen, caffeine, cotinine, diphenhydramine, and carbamazepine in streams receiving runoff from animal-feeding operations. Stream water contains pharmaceuticals from you and me. Drugs taken internally are not all metabolized in the body and the excess ends up in our wastewater. The presence of these drugs in streams miles downstream from wastewater treatment plants may seem surprising, but many plants don’t routinely remove pharmaceuticals from water.<\/p>\n Healthcare<\/strong>\u00a0institutions are another source of pharmaceutical water pollution. Hospitals are probably less of a problem than nursing homes because they typically have on-site pharmacies that return unused drugs for credit or disposal. In nursing homes, however, medications have often been flushed down the toilet or drain after a patient dies or is transferred. Their return policies are usually different from hospitals. As a result of the rules for disposing of opioid painkillers, which allow for disposal down the drain, some nursing homes have inadvertently encouraged this practice.<\/p>\n Drug manufacturing<\/strong>\u00a0also results in pharmaceutical pollution, although some factories are a bigger problem than others. According to a U.S. Geological Survey study, contamination levels downstream from two drug manufacturing plants in New York State were up to 1,000 times higher than those at comparable facilities.<\/p>\n Agriculture<\/strong>\u00a0is another major source. It is estimated that 2 trillion pounds of animal waste is generated by large-scale poultry and livestock operations in this country. These wastes contain hormones and antibiotics that help the animals to grow faster and keep them healthy. Inevitably, some antibiotics and hormones leach into groundwater. And that groundwater ends up in your drinking water.<\/p>\n Chemicals<\/strong>\u00a0are also released into the water when we use drugs. The majority of drugs we swallow are metabolized by our bodies in a fraction of the time. Wastewater is primarily excreted in urine or feces (some is sweated out). As more medications are applied as creams or lotions, their unabsorbed portions can contribute to pollution when they are washed off. An individual using testosterone cream can put as much testosterone into the water as 300 men excreting naturally.<\/p>\n Pharmaceuticals have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey found that 80% of the water samples taken from 139 streams in 30 states contained measurable amounts of one or more medications<\/strong>. Drugs identified included antibiotics, antidepressants, blood thinners, heart medications (ACE inhibitors, calcium-channel blockers, digoxin), hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone), and painkillers.<\/p>\n The effects of these drugs on drinking water can range from mild to severe. Depending on the type of drug, there can be potential risks to human health. For instance,\u00a0antibiotics<\/strong>\u00a0can cause bacterial resistance,\u00a0hormones<\/strong>\u00a0can disrupt the endocrine system, and\u00a0painkillers<\/strong>\u00a0can cause dizziness and nausea.\u00a0“Ever since the late 1990s, the science community has recognized that pharmaceuticals, especially oral contraceptives, are found in sewage water and potentially contaminate drinking water,”<\/strong>\u00a0Janssen tells WebMD.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are some steps to minimize pharmaceutical risk in drinking water. The most effective measure is to ensure wastewater is treated properly before discharge into the environment. Agricultural runoff can be managed to reduce the pharmaceutical release into our water supplies.<\/p>\n As outlined in the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality, the water safety plan approach is the \u201cmost effective way to consistently ensure the safety of a drinking-water supply\u201d… through the use of a comprehensive risk assessment and risk management approach that encompasses all steps in the water supply from catchment to consumer. A water safety plan emphasizes the importance of considering risk assessment and risk management holistically from source to tap and adopting preventive measures to reduce the risk of contamination.<\/p>\n There are several methods used to remove pharmaceuticals from water, including:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n We must prioritize investments in water treatment technologies that remove pharmaceuticals from our drinking water. This will require collaboration between government agencies, industry, and the public to implement solutions that protect our health and environment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Reducing the pharmaceutical footprint can be achieved in various ways including:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CONCLUSION:<\/strong><\/p>\n It is imperative to know the potential risks associated with pharmaceuticals in drinking water. While they may not be as visible as other pollutants, they still threaten human health. While it can be difficult to eliminate pharmaceuticals from drinking water completely, we should strive to reduce these dangerous chemicals as much as we can. We should also take steps to ensure that the water we drink is safe to drink. In conclusion, pharmaceuticals in drinking water are serious issues that require immediate attention. By working together and taking proactive measures, we can protect our communities and ensure access to clean and safe drinking water for generations to come.<\/p>\n Discover the true quality of your water with Life Water Report! Get your personalized water analysis report by zip code today and take control of your health and hydration. Don’t wait, start making informed decisions about your water source. Click here<\/a> to order your report now!”<\/p>\n As for practical filtration and purification, we suggest you install a reverse osmosis (RO) system with a post-alkaline mineral system or install a multi-filter countertop unit that removes the majority of toxic chemicals and then L. C. (2008, March 10).\u00a0Drugs in Our Drinking Water?<\/em>\u00a0Web MD.<\/p>\n (2011, June 1).\u00a0Drugs in the water June 1, 2011<\/em>. Harvard Health Publishing.<\/p>\n J. D., M. M., & J. P. (2008, March 10).\u00a0Pharmaceuticals lurking in U.S. Drinking water<\/em>. News.<\/p>\n\n
Are There Pharmaceuticals In Your Drinking Water?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Sources of pharmaceuticals:<\/strong><\/h1>\n
Key findings:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Is It Possible To Avoid Pharmaceuticals In Water?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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The Best Way To Reduce Pharmaceutical Footprints<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\ncreates alkalized mineral water with antioxidants.<\/p>\n