Prescription Drugs Pollute Our Water

Testing of U.S. waterways has identified nearly a hundred different pharmacological substances present according to the EPA (epa.gov/ppcp) Sufficiently sensitive technology that could detect subtherapeutic levels of these pollutants wasn't available until the late 1990s. A stew of common drugs can be found: Viagra, Prozac, steroids, nicotine, birth control pills and more. The term PPCP, Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products now describes this class of water pollutants. The chemicals are slow to dissolve and evaporation doesn't occur under normal temperatures. In 1999, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) stated their intention to proactively research the problem.

Their initial research has found no effect on human health. They caution that there has not been time to calculate the prolonged effect of low concentrations of these drugs. It is definite that PPCPs are causing ecological harm. Because pharmaceuticals are designed to affect cellular receptors at low dosages and cause specific physical effect they could be dangerous in low concentrations over time. These effects would be subtle and tests must be developed that will detect the results of accumulation.

Aquatic life is certainly being affected now. They are continually exposed over multiple generations. Low levels of hormones adversely affect fish and amphibians reproduction. Antimicrobial chemicals unbalance microbial plant and animal life important in the food chain.

Major sources of PPCPs come from people's personal care routines and swimming. Hospitals and veterinary offices dispose of pharmaceutical waste whose residue ends up in the waterways. Pesticides and fertilizers used in agribusiness are washed into nearby creeks, streams, rivers and lakes. Illicit drug activity plays a smaller role. Human activity and illicit drugs are thought to have the least effect.

Primary dangers are particular classes of prescription drugs. Antibiotics could increase the resistance of natural bacteria. Microbial life could be forever altered by antimicrobials. Steroids, especially estrogenic steroids throw sexual reproduction and gender numbers off balance. Antidepressants, musk fragrances from perfumes accumulate, and anti-epileptic compounds could have deleterious effects with prolonged exposure. Genotoxins need to be closely monitored. Used mainly by hospitals these genotoxic drugs have direct effects on DNA.

The EPA and FDA (Federal Drug Administration) agree that disposal of personal pharmaceuticals is not a major contributor to the levels in waterways. True, or not it is up to everyone to be aware of disposing of prescription drugs the same way they think about recycling plastics, glass and paper.

Federal guidelines (whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/drugfact/factsht/proper_disposal.html) for disposal of prescription drugs instruct that pills should be taken from their containers and then thrown out. Mixing them with inedible trash like kitty litter will deter people from trying to reclaim them. Flush pharmaceuticals down the toilet only if the label instructs. In some communities you can find Take Back Programs that will insure the drugs are properly disposed of.