A recent study by the University of Tennessee Center for Environmental Biotechnology reveals trace amounts of chemicals that could affect hormonal and immune systems at drinking water intakes of six of 11 facilities tested in the state. Anne Paine of The Tennessean reports the chemicals include insect repellent, ibuprofen, caffeine, detergents, hand-sanitizer antiseptic, hormones and chemical compounds found in plastic.
"Many parts of the country have found the same compounds in waterways, which is no surprise since people excrete pharmacueticals they use and caffeinated beverages they drink and send hair care and laundry products down toilets and drains," Paine writes.
Amounts found in Tennessee did not rise above existing hazard indexes, but only one of the standards, for the herbicide atrazine, is health-based. The study is the first step in a process that could establish standards to protect human health.
Little is known about the potential for drugs and personal-care products to contaminate water, and it is unclear what affect the trace amounts found will have on human health. The amounts were very small, but tiny amounts of certain chemicals can effect hormone and endocrine systems. The researchers found these traces in raw water; none of the few treated-water samples they took contained the chemicals. (Read more)
"Many parts of the country have found the same compounds in waterways, which is no surprise since people excrete pharmacueticals they use and caffeinated beverages they drink and send hair care and laundry products down toilets and drains," Paine writes.
Amounts found in Tennessee did not rise above existing hazard indexes, but only one of the standards, for the herbicide atrazine, is health-based. The study is the first step in a process that could establish standards to protect human health.
Little is known about the potential for drugs and personal-care products to contaminate water, and it is unclear what affect the trace amounts found will have on human health. The amounts were very small, but tiny amounts of certain chemicals can effect hormone and endocrine systems. The researchers found these traces in raw water; none of the few treated-water samples they took contained the chemicals. (Read more)
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