Drugs found in Southern Ontario Drinking Water

The following article appeared in the Toronto Sun newspaper on March 25, 2008. Drugs have been found in the drinking water supplies of large cities in the US so it only makes sense that Canadian cities would have the same problem.

Here's the article:

Drugs found in Ont. drinking water

By SHARON LEM, SUN MEDIA

The Toronto Sun

Low concentrations of pharmaceutical drugs were found in drinking water across 15 southern Ontario cities, but the risk is "minimal," researchers say.

The study found that trace levels of eight drugs including Ibuprofen, cholesterol-lowering drugs and anti-inflammatories like Naproxen, along with cardiac drugs, and a common household antibacterial agent triclosan, were found in surface water exposed to sewage treatment.

"We cannot say there is no risk, but these are very low concentrations of compounds in common use. It represents a minimal amount of risk," said lead author Dr. Mark Servos, a University of Waterloo researcher.

"Science doesn't support that this is a big problem. We shouldn't panic about this and we shouldn't stop drinking water. This is an issue that has been known for five years," he said.

TRACE LEVELS

Most compounds were reduced to trace levels after passing through water treatment plants, but the researchers say the fact any chemicals were found is a sign of potential exposure to many more.

The presence of pharmaceutical and personal care products in the environment is a rapidly emerging international issue, and they have been found in sewage effluents and surface waters in Europe and the U.S.

The 15 southern Ontario cities where the traces of drugs were found in drinking water are not identified.

"This is a good example of researchers being proactive. We need to continue research to find effective innovative ways to further reduce exposure," Servos said, adding this study signals potential exposure to many more chemicals that haven't been studied yet.

Canada's drinking water is cheap, affordable, clean and safe and Canadians are fortunate to have access to clean water said the study published in the Water Quality Research Journal of Canada."

** End of Article **

If you live in one of these cities where trace amounts of drugs and pharmaceuticals have been identified in your drinking water - and it's a concern that your kids are consuming those trace amounts of drugs, what can you do about it?

There is a relatively inexpensive and simple solution and that is to install a reverse osmosis water filter system. Reverse osmosis water filters can remove the greatest amount of impurities from your drinking water including drugs. Under sink reverse osmosis water filters can be purchased for about $350. A whole home reverse osmosis water filter will cost about $2000.

Visit our website to compare water filtration systems.