Antidepresants. Part.I

I’m shocked! In recent weeks I’ve been on a quest to learn about what exactly is in my drinking water. I had already read that the Ralph Nader Institute had issued a report stating, “U.S. drinking water contains more than 2,100 toxic chemicals that can cause cancer,” but I had no idea that pharmaceuticals in water supply systems were a part of those chemicals.

Can you believe it? With all the other concerns about the quality of our drinking water, now we have to worry about the presence of prescription drugs. Because it is important to remain informed about these matters that impact us and our families, I’d like to share 7 facts about pharmaceuticals in water supply systems that you need to know.

Approximately 10% of our drinking water has been used before. Our planet has one, finite supply of water which is continuously recycled and reused. This means that ANY substance, including drugs, given to humans and animals, passes through the body and winds up in this recycled water. Ultimately, they make it into our drinking water.

The presence of pharmaceuticals in water supply systems has already been proven. A 10-week, independent science project conducted by Ashley Mulroy, a high school student from West Virginia, turned up traces of vancomycin, tetracylcline and penicillin in water samples she took from various sites of the Ohio River.

Her investigation was then expanded to test tap water samples from three towns in her local vicinity, as well as, the drinking fountain at school. Surprisingly, the same three antibiotics showed up in the test samples. Ashley’s award winning science project caught the attention of numerous U.S. scientists.