Health Effects of Pharmaceuticals in the Water Supply:

Many studies have confirmed the presence of pharmaceuticals in drinking water at trace levels in the range of nano- to micrograms per litre.1-4 Reviews to date indicate that more than 30 different pharmaceuticals have been detected in finished drinking waters worldwide.2 The detection of these compounds in drinking water is largely due to their presence in source water and the inability of treatme. [...] Occurrence of Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water and Associated Health Effects: Evidence Review The Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE) conducted a survey in 2006 to determine the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and endocrine disruptors in drinking water in Ontario, and the results of the survey were analyzed by Kleywegt and colleagues (2011). [...] A comparison of log normal distributions of the concentrations of the four common compounds in source water and in drinking water showed that measured concentrations in drinking water samples were observed to be 4 to 10 times less than those observed in source water. [...] A review by Uslu and colleagues (2013) examined the occurrence and potential risks of pharmaceuticals in drinking water treatment plants served by the Great Lakes Basin (Canada and the USA) between the years of 2007-2012. [...] Additionally, education 9    initiatives to educate the public on proper disposal of pharmaceuticals are crucial for reducing pharmaceuticals in our water supply.4,5 Conclusion Despite rising concerns about the presence of pharmaceuticals in our drinking water, more research is needed to determine the risks to human health from chronic low level exposures to individual and mixture of pharmaceutica.