By Sean Ruppert, The Packet Group
While the effect that prescription drugs in drinking water has on consumers’ health is not known, it is most likely not a threat, according to Clifford Weisel of the Environmental and Occupational Health Science Institute at Rutgers University.
”For the vast majority of people this is probably not a threat, but the elderly and pregnant women can be more sensitive,” Mr. Weisel said. “The question is whether or not there are areas where the concentrations are higher than just trace amounts.”
A five-month study by the Associated Press showed trace amounts of prescription drugs were in the drinking supply of at least 41 million Americans. The report was released March 10 and said that drugs detected include antibiotics, pain medications and heart treatments among others. None of the drinking water supplies cited in the study are used by Princeton area residents.
A spokeswoman from the New Jersey American Water Co., which services the Princeton area , said the water it provides meets DEP standards.
However, DEP regulations do not require water companies to test for the presence of prescription drugs.
DEP spokesman Karen Hershey said that the department is looking into the issue.
The DEP requires that water providers test for 26 volatile organic compounds such as benzene, 18 inorganics such as arsenic, 33 synthetic organic compounds like benzopryene, and all chemical characteristics like aluminum and chloride.
Testing for secondary characteristics like color, acidity, odor and taste also are required.
The AP study was conducted in the nation’s 50 largest cities and on smaller water providers in each state, according to the AP.
In northern New Jersey, trace amounts of metabolized angina medicine and the mood-stabilizer carbamazepine were detected in drinking water at the Passaic Valley water treatment plant, according to the AP.
The study also found that in Philadelphia, 56 pharmaceuticals and byproducts were found in the city’s drinking water, according to the AP.
Mr. Weisel said the prescription drugs get into water supply through people dumping unused drugs down the drain, as well as by medicine not being completely metabolized and leaving the body through human waste.
Mr. Weisel said that any water supply that uses surface water runoff as a source can contain trace prescription drugs. He also said that chemical treatments are not able to remove all the prescription drug traces.
He said the biggest source of concern for him would be a temporarily elevated level resulting from a large dump of chemicals from a hospital or manufacturing plant.
”If a large dump occurred it could result in higher doses for a time,” he said.
