What's in My Water? Cotinine and Other Drugs Found in Drinking Water

For years residents all across the United States have been aware that drinking water is no longer what it used to be. The use of water purifiers and an increase in bottled water purchases have shown that more and more Americans are starting to monitor their water intake, and for good reason. A 5-month study has shown that several drugs, including Cotinine, have been discovered in the water supplies in 24 major metropolitan areas. Studies were conducted in cities from east coast to west in some of the largest populated areas in the country.

Among the drugs found were antibiotics, mood stabilizers, sex hormones and anti-convulsants. All were in trace amounts, well below a normal dosage, and utilities insist that the water is safe, but do we want these drugs in our water? One drug prevalent in the water supplies of at least 41 million was Cotinine. Cotinine is a metabolite of nicotine. It is what's used as a measuring grade for nicotine found within the body. Measuring the amount of Cotinine in your blood stream helps to indicate how much nicotine intake an individual is experiencing. Scientists have also found links between Cotinine and cognitive function; studies have been conducted to see if Cotinine increases memory function. While Cotinine may have positive effects on the body, nicotine, the source of Cotinine, does not.

So where are these drugs coming from? Its common knowledge that the water we use on a daily basis is recycled. All water that goes down any drain (including toilets) is treated and then re-used. So we, ourselves, are essentially putting the drugs into our water. Any time we take medication, remnants of it can leave our bodies in the form of waste product. When the water containing these waste products gets treated and re-used, the drugs sometimes remain.

As of right now, the federal government does not require testing for drugs in the water supply therefore no safety limits have been set. The water utilities say that the water is safe, as only trace amounts of each drug have been found, but is it really safe to be drinking tap water? The Environmental Protection Agency is admitting that this situation is a growing concern, but what's being done about it? Water is essential for human survival. Not all people living in this country can afford to buy a bottle of water every time they are thirsty. The federal government needs to take action.

So what does this mean for everyday water drinkers? Taking precautions like putting a water purifier directly on your faucet or having a water purifying pitcher will help to clean and purify your water. Unfortunately, your best bet would be to purchase bottled water for your normal everyday drinking but this is not a viable option for a large number of people affected by this problem.

As for me, I'm a big fan of the Brita water purifier. Originally I bought a Brita pitcher because of the taste of the water in my area. Living in Buffalo, NY, the pipes are old and the water had a very metallic taste to it. Brita makes it taste clean and fresh. However now, knowing that there could be drugs in my water, it almost makes me think twice about drinking water from the faucet at all. Up until now, I have not been aware of any problems with drugs in our drinking water, but that may be just because I am not aware that there is.

I am definitely concerned about the problem of drugs in drinking water. While its 'trace' amounts now, without proper screening and safety testing, as water is continually recycled, more and more could be found in the future. I have to believe that the water authorities would not put Americans in danger by saying that the water is safe when it really isn't, but I hope to see something done about this problem before it gets worse.

Sources:

Associated Press. "Prescription Drugs Found in Drinking Water across U.S." CNN.com

"Cotinine." Wikipedia.org