Quench your thirst

[NickolasJames8]

Probe Finds Drugs in Drinking Water

AP

Posted: 2008-03-09 21:42:14

Filed Under: Health News, Nation News, Science News

 

(March 9) - A vast array of pharmaceuticals

[AFriendlyFace]

Wow! That's both shocking and disturbing!

 

I read a similar article about water recently that focused on bottled water, basically saying that the chemicals the water absorbs from the plastic might be extremely toxic. Then it went on to point out how these toxins in the plastics that we use for all sorts of things get into our bodies. It turned out that some ridiculously high portion of people, even young people in remote areas, all tested positive for the various toxic chemicals in their bodies.

 

I would be interested to find out if actual people could be tested and found to have trace amounts of these drugs in their bodies. I'm assuming they probably can't be since in smaller doses they would probably be metabolized by the body too quickly or simply be undetectable.

 

In any case it certainly gives us something new to think (and worry) about.

 

Thanks for the info, Nick

-Kevin

[S.L. Lewis]

Uh, wow, shocking, isn't it? I didn't know that. Thanks for posting this for us.

[Tiger]

That is appalling. EEK!!! I don't think I want to drink water at all anymore. That is the most disgusting thing I have ever heard. I don't need any of those meds. I'll be in real trouble if there is Levitra in the water.

[Ieshwar]

I don't think I will have these problems. In Mauritius, we have reservoir water (direct from rain) which is treated of course! No recycling! But that's indeed worrisome.

 

Ieshwar

[Jack Scribe]

That is appalling. EEK!!! I don't think I want to drink water at all anymore. That is the most disgusting thing I have ever heard. I don't need any of those meds. I'll be in real trouble if there is Levitra in the water.

Yikes. I can just imagine a warning being enclosed with the water bill:

 

"If you maintain an erection for four hours or longer after drinking water, consult your physician."

 

Seriously, this is disturbing. Thanks, Nick, for bringing up this topic. Since this isn't in the Soap Box Forum, I won't go into the leadership issues that are needed to address this problem.

 

Jack

[JamesSavik]

What was left out of this article:

 

The reason that antibiotics in the environment is a big problem is that it causes drug resistence in some strains of bacteria- typically the ones that can become a problem like strep or staph.

 

Hormones in food and the water supply can cause petty adolescence in children- the onset of adolescence years in advance of its natural onset.

 

One of the most common ways for disposing of drugs is to flush them down the toilet: please don't. Chemicals like antibiotics are nearly impossible to completely filter out of water short of making it into a vapor and then recondensing it.

 

Another way is through waste from people who are taking them.

 

Anti-biotics are not only found in drugs but household cleaning supplies. While these are different from perscription drugs, they serve the same purpose.

 

Whether we believe in evolution or not, it chugs along quite oblivious to anyones opinions. In the realm of microorganisms, generations occur in a matter of hours and evolution/mutation works much faster than any other sphere of biology.

 

Please dispose of anti-biotics with care. Treat it like a hazardous chemical.

[Benji]

I don't think I will have these problems. In Mauritius, we have reservoir water (direct from rain) which is treated of course! No recycling! But that's indeed worrisome.

 

Ieshwar

 

 

 

.................I've been on a well for the last 12 years, I wonder if I should have my well water tested?

[Graeme]

I read a similar article about water recently that focused on bottled water, basically saying that the chemicals the water absorbs from the plastic might be extremely toxic. Then it went on to point out how these toxins in the plastics that we use for all sorts of things get into our bodies. It turned out that some ridiculously high portion of people, even young people in remote areas, all tested positive for the various toxic chemicals in their bodies.

This sounds similar to the urban myth about reusing plastic water bottles. In summary, I would take it with a huge dose of scepticism.

 

On the original topic, though, I remember that a similar situation was reported in the UK a couple of years ago. The researchers found measurable doses of pharmaceutical products in the water supply (I think it was Vallum, though it may have been Prozac). Essentially, so many people are using the products that they are getting into the water supply.

 

This is one of the reasons I'm really sensitive to the over-use of medication. Especially medication that affect the mind.

[FrenchCanadian]

It is indeed enough to be a little worried about. Our body being exposed to all those antibiotics can certainly cause some drug resistance. meaning that when (or if) you actually need to take those, your body won't be affected as it would be and will need a stronger dose.

 

But the thing is, in general people takes medications for any little problems. Sometimes at moments where you didn't really needed to take those meds. that's just as bad and even more to worry about than really really low level of meds in the drinking water.

[JamesSavik]

These meds can be a problem, even in trace amounts, because medications are engineered to bind themselves to receptor sites on human cells or microorganisms.

 

At the micro level only a single molecule is necessary to establish a chemical binding on a receptor site. This binding always results in something unwanted or unnecessary to happen. In most cases this results in cell death.

 

An antibiotics action on microorganism in the wild is even worse. In the same way that we can be vacinated against some diseases by a very low dose or exposure to disease organisms, some bacteria become immune to entire classes of antibiotics. They pass this immunity own to their progeny.

 

If this bacteria is pathogenic, the human victim and his doctors are in for a big surprise when they try standard antibiotic therepies for illnesses and infections like strep throat that have responded to penecillian series antibiotics for generations.

[Tiger]

These meds can be a problem, even in trace amounts, because medications are engineered to bind themselves to receptor sites on human cells or microorganisms.

 

At the micro level only a single molecule is necessary to establish a chemical binding on a receptor site. This binding always results in something unwanted or unnecessary to happen. In most cases this results in cell death.

 

An antibiotics action on microorganism in the wild is even worse. In the same way that we can be vacinated against some diseases by a very low dose or exposure to disease organisms, some bacteria become immune to entire classes of antibiotics. They pass this immunity own to their progeny.

 

If this bacteria is pathogenic, the human victim and his doctors are in for a big surprise when they try standard antibiotic therepies for illnesses and infections like strep throat that have responded to penecillian series antibiotics for generations.

Wow, that is scary. You have taught us all a little bit about microbiology. Thanks for the info.

[NickolasJames8]

The only good news about this article is that the water in Va Beach was tested and was drug free Because honestly, I almost puked my oatmeal and freshly sliced bananaa and strawberries up when I read it this morning.

[AFriendlyFace]

What was left out of this article:

 

The reason that antibiotics in the environment is a big problem is that it causes drug resistence in some strains of bacteria- typically the ones that can become a problem like strep or staph.

...

 

Please dispose of anti-biotics with care. Treat it like a hazardous chemical.

I fully agree, James! This antibiotic thing is something that's concerned me for quite sometime now!

 

It's also very important to take your medication as prescribed and to finish your prescription - even if you feel recovered. That help prevents further drug resistant mutations from occurring

 

This sounds similar to the urban myth about reusing plastic water bottles. In summary, I would take it with a huge dose of scepticism.

Actually I read these articles in both Newsweek and Reader's Digest (which are at least ostensibly serious, well-respected publications), and based on the methodology they said the researchers used I'm inclined to be concerned. Still, as I recall they also said it wasn't completely conclusive, but it was definitely enough so to make you think.

 

 

Take care all

-Kevin

[NickolasJames8]

I fully agree, James! This antibiotic thing is something that's concerned me for quite sometime now!

 

It's also very important to take your medication as prescribed and to finish your prescription - even if you feel recovered. That help prevents further drug resistant mutations from occurring

Especially if you're taking it for some sort of VD...not that I've ever had a VD and had to take cycles of anti-biotics before that were prescribed by a doctor at the free clinic Really, I never have.

 

 

Actually I read these articles in both Newsweek and Reader's Digest (which are at least ostensibly serious, well-respected publications), and based on the methodology they said the researchers used I'm inclined to be concerned. Still, as I recall they also said it wasn't completely conclusive, but it was definitely enough so to make you think.

 

Here's something gross to think about.....my dad was a manager at a dairy, and when they'd make the plastic bottles that the milk went into, they went straight from the machine to the room where they got filled up without being washed out. Sometimes bottles would fall on the floor and people would just put them back on the line, too. They always had a strong plastic smell and seeing how the milk was bottled made me stop drinking milk. Oh yeah, and the plant smelled like piss.

[TalonRider]

From the list of cities that I saw, Philadelphia was at the top of the list with 63 different things. Make me glad I don't get to the very often.