Your water! Tests of Philadelphia's drinking water reveal the presence of 56 pharmaceuticals or byproducts
March 12, 2008
By JEFF DONN AP National Writer
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- A total of 56 pharmaceuticals or byproducts have been detected in this city's drinking water, largely in tests conducted last year, according to the Philadelphia Water Department.
The list of drugs is the longest among 62 major water providers surveyed by the Associated Press. However, this city's water officials say they probably found more drugs simply because they did more testing. They say their water is safe to drink.
Researchers found trace concentrations of drugs including antibiotics, pain relievers, heart and psychiatric drugs, and veterinary medicines. Here's the list of drugs and some of their uses:
ANTIBIOTICS Amoxicillin -- for pneumonia, stomach ulcers Azithromycin -- for pneumonia, sexually transmitted diseases Bacitracin -- prevents infection in cuts and burns Chloramphenicol -- for serious infections when other antibiotics can't be used Ciprofloxacin -- for anthrax, other infections Doxycycline -- for pneumonia, Lyme disease, acne Erythromycin -- for pneumonia, whooping cough, Legionnaires' disease Lincomycin -- for strep, staph, other serious infections Oxytetracycline -- for respiratory, urinary infections Penicillin G -- for anthrax, other infections Penicillin V -- for pneumonia, scarlet fever, infections of ear, skin, throat Roxithromycin -- for respiratory, skin infections Sulfadiazine -- for urinary infections, burns Sulfamethizole -- for urinary infections Sulfamethoxazole -- for traveler's diarrhea, pneumonia, urinary and ear infections Tetracycline -- for pneumonia, acne, stomach ulcers, Lyme disease Trimethoprim -- for urinary and ear infections, traveler's diarrhea, pneumonia
PAIN RELIEVERS Acetaminophen -- soothes arthritis, aches, colds; reduces fever Antipyrine -- for ear infections Aspirin -- for minor aches, pain; lowers risk of heart attack and stroke Diclofenac -- for arthritis, menstrual cramps, other pain Ibuprofen -- for arthritis, aches, menstrual cramps; reduces fever Naproxen -- for arthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, aches; reduces fever Prednisone -- for arthritis, allergic reactions, multiple sclerosis, some cancers
HEART DRUGS Atenolol -- for high blood pressure Bezafibrate -- for cholesterol problems Clofibric acid -- byproduct of various cholesterol medications Diltiazem -- for high blood pressure, chest pain Gemfibrozil -- regulates cholesterol Simvastatin -- slows production of cholesterol
MIND DRUGS Carbamazepine -- for seizures, mood regulating Diazepam -- for anxiety, seizures; eases alcohol withdrawal Fluoxetine -- for depression; relieves premenstrual mood swings Meprobamate -- for anxiety Phenytoin -- controls epileptic seizures Risperidone -- for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe behavior problems
OTHER HUMAN DRUGS Caffeine -- found in coffee; also used in pain relievers Cotinine -- byproduct of nicotine; drug in tobacco, also used in products to help smokers quit Iopromide -- given as contrast agent for medical imaging Nicotine -- found in tobacco, also in medicinal products to help smokers quit Paraxanthine -- a byproduct of caffeine Theophylline -- for asthma, bronchitis and emphysema
VETERINARY Carbadox -- for control of dysentery, bacterial enteritis in pigs; promotes growth Chlortetracycline -- for eye, joint, other animal ailments Enrofloxacin -- for infections in farm animals and pets; treats wounds Monensin -- for weight gain, prevention of severe diarrhea in farm animals Narasin -- for severe diarrhea in farm animals Oleandomycin -- for respiratory disease; promotes growth in farm animals Salinomycin -- promotes growth in livestock Sulfachloropyridazine -- for enteritis in farm animals Sulfadimethoxine -- for severe diarrhea, fowl cholera, other conditions in farm animals Sulfamerazine -- for a range of infections in cats, fowl Sulfamethazine -- for bacterial diseases in farm animals; promotes growth Sulfathiazole -- for diseases in aquarium fish Tylosin -- promotes growth, treats infections in farm animals, including bees Virginiamycin M1 -- prevents infection, promotes growth in farm animals
Posted by luvs2ride (Member # 8090) on :
Good grief! And they say the water is safe?
Safe for the superbugs.
Posted by pineapple (Member # 11904) on :
Oh my goodness!
Can't do anything about medication spill over inot our pee, but I hope that officials try to raise public awareness about the dangers of dumping medications down the drains or into toilets.
Just think of all the chemicals they don't even test for or report on. Yuck. And for some silly reason they can't figure out why we have an increase in developmental defects in America and more autoimmune diseases. hmm Doesn't take a rocket scientist.
Posted by Curiouser (Member # 14128) on :
There may be a bigger problem at hand than what consumers are causing.