Drugs in drinking water affecting our fish?

Matt Rogers · Mar 10, 2008

I found a couple interesting thing in this article about all the pharmaceutical drugs that ending up in our tap water.

1) It's affecting fish.
2) RO/DI filters remove the drugs.

Another reason for ro/di!

A vast array of pharmaceuticals—including antibiotics, anti- convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones—have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans, an Associated Press investigation shows.

To be sure, the concentrations of these pharmaceuticals are tiny, measured in quantities of parts per billion or trillion, far below the levels of a medical dose. Also, utilities insist their water is safe.

But the presence of so many prescription drugs—and over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen and ibuprofen—in so much of our drinking water is heightening worries among scientists of long-term consequences to human health.

In the course of a five-month inquiry, the AP discovered that drugs have been detected in the drinking water supplies of 24 major metropolitan areas—from Southern California to Northern New Jersey, from Detroit to Louisville, Ky.
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Also, pharmaceuticals in waterways are damaging wildlife across the nation and around the globe, research shows. Notably, male fish are being feminized, creating egg yolk proteins, a process usually restricted to females. Pharmaceuticals also are affecting sentinel species at the foundation of the pyramid of life—such as earth worms in the wild and zooplankton in the laboratory, studies show.
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One technology, reverse osmosis, removes virtually all pharmaceutical contaminants but is very expensive for large-scale use and leaves several gallons of polluted water for every one that is made drinkable.
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AP Probe Finds Drugs in Drinking Water

onecansay · Mar 10, 2008

I live in the country, and use a sand point well. Water parameters are good for human health, but using FW tests kits from LFS shows a abnormal level of phosphates.
WOW, and I live in the country!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh well, at least I am not consuming chlorine, fluoride, and oh ya, whatever else your local government under the auspices of the provincial gover.......blah, bla.
We as keepers MUST do what is neccess..s.a..r...y..
GOT TWO CLOWNS TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
some call me frank;D

cuttingras · Mar 10, 2008

my fish say NO to drugs!!!! ;D

amcarrig · Mar 11, 2008

I'm gonna start drinking more water

Matt Rogers · Mar 11, 2008

amcarrig said: ↑

I'm gonna start drinking more water
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lol.

Here is another article with more details on drugs and fish and the adverse affects:

Drugs in water causing troubling problems to fish, wildlife - CNN.com

Deformities in fish

Pharmaceuticals in the water are being blamed for severe reproductive problems in many types of fish: The endangered razorback sucker and male fathead minnow have been found with lower sperm counts and damaged sperm; some walleyes and male carp have become what are called feminized fish, producing egg yolk proteins typically made only by females.

Meanwhile, female fish have developed male genital organs. Also, there are skewed sex ratios in some aquatic populations, and sexually abnormal bass that produce cells for both sperm and eggs.

There are problems with other wildlife as well: kidney failure in vultures, impaired reproduction in mussels, inhibited growth in algae.

"We have no reason to think that this is a unique situation," says Erik Orsak, an environmental contaminants specialist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, pulling off rubber gloves splattered with fish blood at Lake Mead. "We find pretty much anywhere we look, these compounds are ubiquitous."
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liegeofinveracity · May 28, 2008

amcarrig said: ↑

I'm gonna start drinking more water
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hahaha. that was good.
don't want to gross anyone out, but, get the water report for your town and check out the fecal matter in there! nothing like showering in crap!
i think the u.s government in coalition with some other countries should build an in sump skimmer for the ocean,40 miles high,9999999999999990 gallons an hour... we've been running skimmerless for 2 long!

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Drugs in drinking water affecting our fish?

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Drugs in drinking water affecting our fish?

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