About 5 years ago, I became aware of the growing problem of drug residues in the water: you can find my summary here.
The problem has certainly got no better in the interim, and a 2 year recent Canadian study raises the alarm again. Called There is No ‘Away’, the 94-page document is a detailed discussion and action plan for emerging environmental contaminants — trace levels of active ingredients from pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) that end up in surface and ground water. PPCPs pose hazards not only because they are persistent. Even at low levels, these substances may contribute to antibiotic resistance and play a role as hormone mimics.
>The EPA maintains a website ,an over view of environmental issues connected to personal care products, not updated since last year, 2005 - but still a source of interesting information.
Between the drugs we take personally, the ones we give to our pets, the massive amounts of drugs given to agricultural animals, and the unregulated ingredients in cosmetic products, our planet is in trouble.
While the toxic substances are currently detected at extremely low levels, they do not break down, which means they have the potential to bioaccumulate. For those that have been identified as endocrine disruptors, it may not take much to have an effect (www.ourstolenfuture.org).
>The feminization of wild fish has become a real concern since the 1990s.
The most troubling findings in the growing body of PPCP research is that some of these drugs are making it into fresh water systems, and are detectable at the tap. In a study by Glen Boyd at Tulane University, several PPCPs were detected in local tap water samples including the pain killer naproxen, the sex hormone estrone, and a breakdown product of anti-cholesterol drugs (Potera, 2000). Though the chemicals were found at very low levels -- they were barely detectable -- scientists consider them of concern because, by design, pharmaceuticals are intended to exert their effects at very low concentrations.
>A scientist discusses the problem rather cold-bloodedly.
Some simple things you can do immediately to help:
Don't flush left-over drugs down the toilet, or put them in the trash. try instead returning them to the pharmacy. Explain why you are doing it, and raise their consciousness too!
Do consider changing over to beauty products from environmentally responsible manufacturers.
Do consider exchanging the chemicals in your household for cleaners that do not harm our world.
Do begin the switch to organic lawns and gardens.
