Fourteen Drugs Found in New York City’s Drinking Water

Water samples taken from three upstate watersheds by New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) revealed 14 different drugs, and unspecified types personal care products in New York City’s drinking water.

The water samples were extracted between March and December of last year and analyzed for 72 compounds, including antibiotics and prescription drugs. DEP officials deny any risk, but Dr. Olga Naidenko, a scientist with a Washington, D.C. watchdog organization told CBS News “we cannot be assured that the final mix is safe.”

CBS news claims the study follows one done in 2009 that also detected pharmaceuticals and personal care products, including penicillin and the insect repellent DEET, in the city’s drinking water.

In 2008, Fox News reported that during a five-month inquiry, the AP discovered drugs were detected in the drinking water of 24 major metropolitan areas — from Southern California to Northern New Jersey, from Detroit to Louisville, Ky.

AP claimed researchers do not yet understand the exact risks from decades of persistent exposure to random combinations of low levels of pharmaceuticals, but recent studies unnoticed by the general public have found alarming effects on human cells and wildlife.

Here are some of the key test […]

Full article: Fourteen Drugs Found in New York City’s Drinking Water

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