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Last year, the Associate Press gave the U.S. water industry
and the people it serves quite a scare when it released an extensive exposé on
trace levels of pharmaceuticals in the nation's water. This week, the A.P.
followed up on some of that research, publishing an article in many outlets in
which it described findings of those same trace pharmaceuticals in fish.
The article used information gathered from fish caught near wastewater treatment plants for five major U.S. cities. Medicines found in the aquatic organisms included those used to treat high cholesterol, allergies, high blood pressure, bipolar disorder and depression, according to the A.P.
The A.P. noted the scientific opinions of Baylor University researcher Bryan Brooks, who pointed out that it is virtually impossible for one person to consume enough contaminated fish for the subject to receive even a single therapeutic dose. However, responding to last year's article, the EPA has commenced its own extensive study, which could result in future regulation.
The article used information gathered from fish caught near wastewater treatment plants for five major U.S. cities. Medicines found in the aquatic organisms included those used to treat high cholesterol, allergies, high blood pressure, bipolar disorder and depression, according to the A.P.
The A.P. noted the scientific opinions of Baylor University researcher Bryan Brooks, who pointed out that it is virtually impossible for one person to consume enough contaminated fish for the subject to receive even a single therapeutic dose. However, responding to last year's article, the EPA has commenced its own extensive study, which could result in future regulation.
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