Anya Ibasco

Mr. Parmar
Biology, Block B
5/18/18

Pharmaceuticals in the Water

Introduction

Pharmaceuticals are compounds created for use as a medicinal drug. Most

pharmaceuticals are intended to affect the consumer in positive ways. They are made with the

purpose to diagnose, prevent, or cure a disease whether it be minimal or fatal.

In recent years, American drug consumption is at a steady increase. According to Health

Day News, in 2017, a survey found that 55 percent of Americans take a prescribed medication.

In addition to this, many also consume vitamins, dietary supplements, and over-the-counter

drugs which they deem beneficial to themselves, although credible studies show otherwise. The

number of prescriptions for both adults and children has skyrocketed from 2.4 billion a year in

1997 to 4.5 billion a year in 2017.

Although the increased use of pharmaceuticals may prove their beneficial purpose,

researchers, especially over the last 20 years, have discovered how pharmaceuticals are

negatively impacting the environment. Water quality experts along with environmental

advocates are raising awareness for their concern of pharmaceuticals in our rivers, lakes, and

especially drinking water. This not only strongly impacts ocean life and the environment, but our

own personal health, too.

Natural Environment

In terms of fish and wildlife, before pharmaceuticals were impacting rivers and lakes,

they were not exposed to harsh chemicals and compounds as opposed to now. Estrogen levels of
fish were more controlled. Rivers, lakes, and the environment around it were not heavily polluted

by drugs resulting in a more natural environment.

In regards to humans, water treatment plants supply us with our drinking water to ensure

our safety. Before pharmaceuticals invaded our sources of water, we were able to treat out water

with lower levels of technology. The water treatment plant in Bloomington, Indiana, takes pride

in the high quality of its water. Built in the late 1950s, the water treatment plant receives its

water from the Lake Monroe reservoir. As opposed to current times, treating water did not take

an elaborate use of technology. The water from the Lake Monroe reservoir is transferred from

giant, outdoor pumps into smaller tanks inside where the water is treated. Alum is added to

attract clay particles and it continues to churn until the water is safe to drink. Now, due to

pharmaceuticals contaminating our water, more technological and meticulous measures must be

taken to ensure that the water we drink is clean.

Anthropogenic Impact

After pharmaceuticals are made, they eventually need to be disposed of. Humans put

pharmaceuticals into bodies of water in two main ways, excretion and disposal. These acts risk

the safety of our drinking water and fail to benefit ourselves.

During excretion, humans digest the drug and it is metabolized throughout the body. The

chemicals and compounds that are of value to the human body are absorbed and used for specific

purposes. However, the remainder of the drug, the waste or whatever cannot be broken down,

exits the body. They are either flushed down toilets or drained in showers.

Although excretion affects our water, most pharmaceuticals enter the water through direct

disposal of unused drugs. In the past, it was typical to dispose of unwanted drugs whether it be
through the toilet, in the garbage, or straight into the ocean. Recently, federal guidelines have

been changed. They advise people to either take these unused, over-prescribed, and expired

drugs to a specialized site, or blend them together with kitty litter or coffee grounds before

garbage disposal. Despite these recommendations, on an annual, more than 250 million pounds

of drugs continue to be disposed of in ways that harm the environment and ourselves.

Humans cannot completely eliminate the amount of pharmaceuticals in the water because

of excretion, but they can greatly reduce the number. There are many valid reasons as to why

humans continue to discard pharmaceuticals improperly. One reason may be that they are

unaware of the harms to the environment and themselves. These people may not have access to

sources that discuss this topic such as the news, social media, etc. Another possible reason is that

there are no specialized sites to discard these drugs. However, the alternative with kitty litter or

coffee grounds work well, too. Other people may be lazy or do not care enough to change their

ways and bodies of water are the easiest, most easy to access method of discarding drugs. These

people, along with all other Americans, should be educated with the hopes of getting them to

change their lifestyle in a minimal way.

Consequences

Since the consumption of pharmaceuticals has greatly increased over the past 20 years,

the amount of chemicals and compounds in the water due to pharmaceuticals, has increased, too.

There is much evidence on how pharmaceuticals are affecting aquatic life, especially fish.

Scientists have found that estrogen and chemicals are taking a feminizing effect of male fish.

This affects the ratio between female and male fish, therefore affecting their reproduction cycle.

Many intersex fish, or fish with both male and female parts, have been found in multiple rivers,
especially along the Potomac River. These rivers have been heavily polluted with drugs such as

birth control pills and hormone treatments which are packed with estrogen.

In addition to the effects that pharmaceuticals have on fish and their environment, a more

significant effect is taking place. The harsh chemicals and compounds which pharmaceuticals are

made up of, invade our drinking water sources through sewage systems and direct disposal.

Rivers and lakes are contaminated by these drugs and make their way into our drinking water.

Although water treatment plants are designed to keep our water safe to drink, they are not

currently able to remove all pharmaceuticals from water. Only 90% of chemicals are treated as

the water passes through the system while the rest is left for us to consume.

Many scientists, researchers, and specialists have been trying to determine the exact

consequences for humans in terms of drinking this contaminated water. Although many studies

have been conducted, there are no definite health problems that occur. However, after observing

how wildlife is affected, people are advised of the potential and very likely risks of consuming

this water. There are studies that the amount of chemicals over time may build up in people’s

bodies and have a fatal effect in the future, but there are not enough facts to support this study for

any guidelines to be made. Even so, people, especially vulnerable populations such as pregnant

women, children, elderly, and people with disabilities, are advised to take caution with the water

that they drink.

Restoration

As soon as this problem was presented, researchers have been looking for ways to reduce,

if not eliminate our consumption of pharmaceuticals. In efforts to limit the human impact in the

first place, more people should be educated on the effects that this topic has on both humans and
the environment. News like this not only needs to reach other researchers, but all pharmaceutical

consumers. A survey was taken of almost 2,000 adults and over half take vitamins, over-the-

counter drugs, and other dietary supplements in addition to any prescribed drugs. After being

seen by their health care provider, 71% were able to eliminate the intake of certain

pharmaceuticals due to their ineffectiveness and unnecessary consumption. If every single

American did this, the amount of pharmaceuticals used would plummet.

As for the intoxicated lakes and rivers, water treatment plants are evolving into more

technological treatments. The hope is that new technology will be able to filter out chemicals and

compounds, eliminating the risk of our drinking water.

In order to reduce anthropogenic effects in the future, research is being done to find

alternatives to pharmaceuticals with harsh chemicals and compounds. Doctor Ruhoy believes

that a lower prescription of drugs will limit the chemicals that contaminate the water through

excretion. Although this requires a personal dosage and plenty of additional work for doctors, it

may be worth safer drinking water in the long run.

Both doctors and researchers agree that production and use of necessary and beneficial

pharmaceuticals will continue to grow. However, these precautions will be taken into

consideration when creating new drugs. Scientists are in the process of creating drugs that are

still effective and efficient, but rather than being heavily packed with chemicals and compounds,

more organic and natural ingredients will be used.

Conclusion
 Most pharmaceuticals are created for beneficial causes and most often than not, they

serve their purpose. However, when these drugs are unused, disposed of, or passed through

excretion, they cause problems in our environment that affect both wildlife and people.

The chemicals and compounds that contaminate the rivers and lakes affect the fish that

live in them. Estrogen levels in certain pharmaceuticals have feminizing effects on male fish,

producing intersex fish. This causes problems in the reproductive systems and cycles of the fish.

On a more critical note, the pharmaceuticals affect our drinking water. Water treatment

plants are not able to completely eliminate all chemicals and compounds in the water. This

leaves us exposed to many risks that could potentially be fatal.

The solution to this anthropogenic impact is not to wipe out pharmaceuticals completely.

Solutions include further educating people, limiting unnecessary drugs, advancing water

treatment technology, and developing drugs with more natural and organic substances.

References

Boerner, L. K. (2014, May 14). The complicated question of drugs in the water.

Retrieved May 18, 2018, from PBS Socal Nova Next website:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/body/pharmaceuticals-in-the-water/

Drugs in the water. (2011, June). Retrieved May 18, 2018, from Harvard Health

Publishing website: https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/drugs-in-

the-water
Pharmaceuticals in the water supply. (n.d.). Retrieved May 18, 2018, from American

Rivers website: https://www.americanrivers.org/threats-solutions/clean-

water/pharmaceuticals-personal-care/

Powell, L. (2017, March). Are you drinking prescription drugs in your tap water?

Retrieved May 18, 2018, from Focus for Health website:

https://www.focusforhealth.org/drinking-prescription-drugs-tap-water/

Preidt, R. (2017, August 3). Americans taking more prescription drugs than ever.

Retrieved May 18, 2018, from Web MD website: https://www.webmd.com/drug-

medication/news/20170803/americans-taking-more-prescription-drugs-than-ever-

survey