An Associated Press or AP probe discovered drugs in drinking water and it should be to the public's concern as to how these came to exist in the first place.
The ill effects for the short and long term should also be noted including different strategies and tools that can help alleviate a possible epidemic.
Families and homes can actually stay safe using effective and useful devices.
Finding Pharmaceuticals The AP's probe's 5-months study resulted to drugs found in drinking water with documents showing that more than 41 million individuals in the United States are exposed to the risk everyday.
The water is contaminated before and after it gets treated by plants as well as when it comes out of taps and faucets in homes, offices and other private areas.
All types of drugs were found in drinking water like mood stabilizers, sex hormones, anti-seizures, anti-convulsions, heart medications, birth control pills, etc.
All sources and mains are affected too including city treatment facilities, wells, open water surfaces, ground water and huge watersheds.
Water suppliers have been keeping the information from the public for years to protect companies and businesses.
Health Consequences Similar to contaminants like organic and inorganic chemicals, minerals and pathogens that exist in drinking water, water suppliers defend that the drugs found in drinking water only come in very low concentrations and cannot in any way affect human health or pose risks.
However, the long term effects are not yet fully known and some individuals drink lots of water at one time which means that the drugs enter human systems in low doses on a regular basis.
Effects and health risks may not surface until several years later since no early signs or symptoms were discovered.
Tests for pharmaceuticals in the past also did not involve humans drinking water with trace amounts over a period of time.
Subtle health issues can arise such as drug resistance, birth defects and susceptibility to cancer.
What People Can Do Since all of the treatment procedures done in plants do not remove the drugs in drinking water completely, individuals need to find individual techniques and materials that will help provide safe and drug-free water.
There are different effective filtration methods and devices that incorporate these techniques.
You can install one right in your own home for added safety.
A home water filtering system is an excellent choice since it is very affordable and easy to install and use.
Multi-stage units remove drugs found in drinking water including lead, rust, chlorine and other chemicals and substances used by plants to destroy bacteria and germs.
Some systems will leave beneficial minerals like potassium and magnesium for human consumption.
Others using reverse osmosis completely remove all minerals including the good ones.
Managing Risk Boiling tap water will not get rid of the medicines.
Drinking bottled water is also not a recommended solution since 25% of bottled water comes from the tap.
Some individuals are also more prone to early development of complications due to incompetent detoxification systems like the elderly, children and babies.
These individuals should be given special attention to keep them from taking drugs in drinking water.
It is important to detect and recognize early symptoms early on as well as find the right approach that best removes pharmaceuticals such as activated charcoal system.