Is our water safe?
Mar 11, 2008
EDITOR—A recent investigation by Associated Press in the US shows that a vast array of pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilisers and sex hormones, have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans.
EDITOR—A recent investigation by Associated Press in the US shows that a vast array of pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilisers and sex hormones, have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans.
The explanation is that while people take drugs, their bodies absorb some of the medication, but the rest of it passes through and is flushed down the toilet. The wastewater is treated before it is discharged into reservoirs, rivers or lakes. Then, some of the water is cleansed again at drinking water treatment plants and piped to consumers.
But most treatments do not remove all drug residues. This problem is not confined to the US. a study in Ontario, Canada found nine different drugs in water samples. Japanese health officials in December called for human health impact studies after detecting prescription drugs in drinking water at seven different sites.
Yet, there is evidence that adding chlorine, a common process in conventional drinking water treatment plants, makes some pharmaceuticals more toxic! If these big cities with advanced water treatment facilities are affected by this problem, how about our own at Gaba? Is our drinking water safe? We need to know.
David N. Mushabe
Project Coordinator,
NatureUganda
The explanation is that while people take drugs, their bodies absorb some of the medication, but the rest of it passes through and is flushed down the toilet. The wastewater is treated before it is discharged into reservoirs, rivers or lakes. Then, some of the water is cleansed again at drinking water treatment plants and piped to consumers.
But most treatments do not remove all drug residues. This problem is not confined to the US. a study in Ontario, Canada found nine different drugs in water samples. Japanese health officials in December called for human health impact studies after detecting prescription drugs in drinking water at seven different sites.
Yet, there is evidence that adding chlorine, a common process in conventional drinking water treatment plants, makes some pharmaceuticals more toxic! If these big cities with advanced water treatment facilities are affected by this problem, how about our own at Gaba? Is our drinking water safe? We need to know.
David N. Mushabe
Project Coordinator,
NatureUganda