Drugs in Drinking Water: New Report Explores Emerging Great Lakes Threat

[Mari333]

Recent testing of Lake Michigan water has found pharmaceutical byproducts in the water, raising concerns about the potential health threats to people and wildlife for anyone getting drinking water from the Great Lakes.

A new Alliance report calls for more research into the long-term effects of drugs in drinking water and points out the absence of tools available to limit their entrance into the lakes.

Low levels of cotinine -- a nicotine byproduct, and the cholesterol-modifying drug gemfibrozil are among the pharmaceutical compounds scientists have found in Lake Michigan water to date.

Although reports of drugs in drinking water date back to the 1970s, a 2002 U.S. Geological Survey report was the first national examination of emerging contaminants in U.S. streams. Testing revealed a broad range of chemicals, including human and veterinary drugs, hormones, plasticizers, insecticides and fire retardants.












http://www.greatlakes.org/Page.aspx?pid=1034


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