Cotinine And Other Drug Contaminants In Tap Water

The Latest report by the associated press on the survey of metro-area water suppliers across the country states concerns over sixty-three pharmaceuticals or byproducts found in the city's watersheds. Medicines for pain, infection, high cholesterol, asthma, epilepsy, mental illness and heart problem drugs were found in tap water. The major focus of my article is Cotinine, one such major contaminant that was found. What exactly is Cotinine? Cotinine is a chemical that is made by the body from nicotine, which is found in cigarette smoke. Cotinine is also used simply to measure how much tobacco smoke has entered your body. It is a good marker of tobacco exposure because it can be measured non-invasively and has a half-life of more than 10 hours, compared to nicotine's half-life of just 2 hours. Cotinine a major toxicant is excreted by the kidneys into the urine, where it is concentrated about ten times more than it is in the circulation.

There are mixed messages sent about the advantages of tap water. Several articles on protecting the environment underscore the fact that drinking tap water is the best. They point to the fact that if fewer bottles are used the environment is better off without the use and throw of all that plastic. Also, advocates for 'fluoride', that protects teeth tout the fact that tap water with fluoride protects teeth from decay. As consumers we should take note that studies comparing different bottled water have shown varied amounts of fluoride and bacteria content. In some studies bottled water was found to contain ten times more bacteria than that of tap water. What is astonishing is that producers of bottled water are not required to meet the same standards that are applied to tap water.

On the other hand, research on tap water such as the one that raises concerns about contamination of medicines and their metabolites leaves many confused. Having considered all the advantages and disadvantages, I used tap water all through my pregnancy. I am a mother of two and have had two perfectly normal babies. Our bodies are amazing and even so when a woman is pregnant. Cotinine for example is one contaminant that is metabolized faster in pregnant women than in normal women. Low amounts from water can easily be removed. I thankfully have not had any major health problems, but I wonder what kind of stress toxicants exert on our bodies.

EPA has had to constantly come up with water purification methods and has been dealing with rising costs to do so. Their efforts at best have still left me concerned about the small doses of various medications my family has been exposed to. Now that we know of trace amounts of medicines finding their way into our drinking water, stricter measures should be put in place. Newer methods of water purification and quality control measures are absolutely necessary with time. Relying on bottled water is proving to be more and more expensive with no guarantee of standards they follow.