04/20/2009 02:46:57 PM EST
At least 271 million pounds of pharmaceutical-like compounds have been released into the nation's waterways over the last two decades
Prior posts have noted studies in Europe and the U.S. that show the release of pharmaceuticals (or their manufacturing components) into various waterways. Now, the results of an investigation by the Associated Press concludes that U.S. manufacturers, including major drug-makers, have legally released 271+ million pounds of pharmaceuticals or pharmaceutical-like compounds into streams and rivers over the last 20 years, waterways that are used in some cases as sources of drinking water. Hundreds of pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical-like ingredients are used in a variety of manufacturing, including drug-making. AP cites as examples lithium (used to make ceramics and treat bipolar disorder), nitroglycerin (a heart drug and also used in explosives), and copper (used in a wide variety of products, including pipes and contraceptives).
In interviews with AP, Federal and industry officials stated that they did not know the extent to which pharmaceuticals are released by U.S. manufacturers because no one tracks them as drugs. However, AP reviewed 20 years of federal records and found that, in fact, the government unintentionally keeps data on a few of these substances, from which they were able to note some parameters related to pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical-like compounds coming from factories. As part of its ongoing PharmaWater investigation about trace concentrations of pharmaceuticals in drinking water, AP identified 22 compounds that show up on two lists: the EPA monitors the substances as industrial chemicals that are released into rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water under federal pollution laws; the Food and Drug Administration monitors some substances as active pharmaceutical ingredients. The data does not show precisely how much of the 271 million pounds comes from drug-makers versus other manufacturers; also, the figure is deemed a "massive undercount" by AP because of the limited Federal government tracking of these substances. According to AP, drug-makers have dismissed the suggestion that their manufacturing contributes significantly to what is being detected in water, and Federal drug and water regulators agree with this conclusion.
However, even if correct, given recent research, such as that reported in prior posts, it would appear that the factual underpinning for a sweeping conclusion is ill-founded, especially since substances with drug-like effects are being discharged by other industrial sectors. Stay tuned. One can expect Congressional hearings to ramp up on the issue.