
What are the primary contaminants found in my water supply?
During the study conducted by the United States Geological Survey, there were several contaminants identified in the water supplies tested across the country. The primary contaminants included the following:- Bisphenol-A, otherwise known as BPA, is primarily used in consumer plastics such as water bottles, plastic drinking cups and Tupperware. BPA is considered an endocrine-disrupting chemical and is harmful to the body through long-term exposure.
- Methotrexate is an immunosuppressant commonly found in various cancer treatments. This drug is harmful if ingested improperly when prescribed for treatment purposes, though there is no direct evidence suggesting it can have the same effect when consumed in minute quantities through the water supply.
- Sulfamethoxazole is an antibiotic typically received through a doctor’s prescription.
- Acetaminophen is an active ingredient in leading pain killers and aspirins.
- Codeine, an opiate-based painkiller.
- Fluoxetine, otherwise known by the brand name Prozac.
- Chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate pesticide.
- Thiabendazole, a preservative, antifungal and antiparasitic agent.
Who is at risk of exposure to these contaminants?
For this study, the USGS primarily focused on the untreated water supplies. This refers to the level of contaminants contained in the drinking water source before it is cleaned and sent through to your faucet or tap. Before you consume your drinking water, the local aquifer must process the supply in a water treatment facility to remove any lingering contaminants and other hazardous appearing in the untreated source. Anyone who consumes water from a faucet in a major area has little risk of exposing himself or herself to these drug contaminants, as most are removed through the purification process. Any remaining traces are typically too small to cause any health issues. If you procure your water from a domestic well on your property, you are at a greater risk of becoming exposed to potential contaminants. This is because your water supply is not run through the same purification process as public and domestic water supplies. It is advisable in these situations to invest in a purification system for your well-water supply to ensure you are protecting yourself against exposure. It is also a good idea to routinely take samples of your well water for testing. Researchers state the consumption of fish and other aquatic life residing in these public water supplies can increase the exposure to contaminants in some cases. While there are cleaning methods used to prepare the fish prior to sale, there is not enough evidence to determine whether there are long-term effects of consuming fish exposed to pharmaceutical drugs. In Washington, certain mussels tested positive for the presence of oxycodone, which is considered an opioid. This is a troubling development, though one that has not been studied for a long enough period to determine the risk factor of continued consumption.What are the potential side effects of these contaminants?
The presence of these contaminants is a point of concern for citizens. This is because scientists still do not fully understand the effects of repeated exposure to pharmaceutical drugs through both the water supply and through consuming fish and mussels from tainted water supplies. Research conducted to determine the level and effect of drug contaminants in water is relatively new and cannot prove a direct tie to harmful side-effects through consumption. Exposure to drugs you have not received a prescription for is harmful, though the consensus indicates your level of exposure is minimal following the water purification process. Developments in the detection process help identify the contaminants present in water. This provides researchers with the ability to determine how improvements can be made during the purification stages. If you are concerned about the risk of contaminants in your water, invest in a water purification system for your home tap to eliminate your risk of exposure. This allows your drinking water to go through two separate methods of contaminant elimination before it is consumed by your family. Households drawing water from a well are encouraged to install a water purification system if one is not already used. Additionally, households with well water should also install a purification system on the tap. Water contamination is an ongoing issue and it is prevalent throughout the country. For now, the U.S. water supply is still considered safe, but consumers should be aware of the concerns and issues, as well as the ongoing efforts to provide cleaner water in the U.S. Related Article: 5 Preventative Care TipsBy Admin –