Pharmaceuticals for Everyone!

The AP, astounded by its investigation in March of America's drinking water, recently decided to expand its study to more Metropolitan areas. In fact, many cities voluntarily tested their water after the initial statistics came out this past spring. The recent analysis found that over 46 million Americans are exposed to pharmaceuticals through their drinking water, and what's alarming is that some big cities, including New York City, declined to participate.

Seattle – you are safe. Lucky for us in the Northwest, most of our drinking water supply comes from snow melt in the mountains, including my well here at home. However for my brother in Huntsville, Alabama, he might start feeling a bit emotional with all the estrogen in the drinking supply, but it may be countered by the fluoxetine (Prozac) and other mood stabilizers found in Huntsville's water.

While I commend communities for being environmentally conscious by recycling their water, there needs to be a better way to eliminate the pharmaceuticals from the drinking water. While it's not going to affect you in one day, studies have not been done on the effects of constant exposure over time. Drugs metabolize differently and can build up in one's fat cells.

Scientists do not know if the pharmaceuticals are a result of drugs being metabolized by the kidneys and liver and excreted as number ones and twos in the potty, or if it's a result of the public directly disposing of drugs into the wastewater system (aka flushing). As a pharmacy technician, I feel it's probably a bit of both. Pharmacies do need to be more responsible in helping people dispose of drugs properly.

The Washington State Pharmacy Association recommends adding hot water to your unused pharmaceuticals and sealing them in a tight container which should then be thrown in the trash. However, when I do this at work, I always imagine a mangy dog digging through the trash, puncturing the vial and drinking all the old people medicine – ah yes, my guilty conscious at work. It would be interesting to see the volume of pharmaceuticals found in the fish and crustaceans off the coast of America's cities as well. Anyone want some shrimp?