What Is Being Done About Prozac and Other Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water?
Prozac(r), with an active ingredient called fluoxetine, is one of a class of prescription medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs are used to treat depression. They are one of the most heavily prescribed medications in the U.S. As a group, chemicals from drugs, cosmetics, toiletries, and veterinary drugs are referred to as PPCPs (pharmaceuticals and personal care products). This article discusses the health and environmental concerns related to PPCPs.
Study of U.S. Streams Reveals Low Levels of PPCPs
In 2002, the U.S. Geological Survey released a study which found low levels of pharmaceuticals and hormones in U.S. streams. There is concern that the nation's filtration systems are not designed to filter out such chemicals. These chemicals enter streams and eventually make their way into the tap water in several manners. People frequently pour unused medications in the sink or flush them down the toilet. It is estimated that the body excretes at least half of the active ingredients in medications and the waste ends up in the sewage system. Also, farm animals excrete veterinary drugs into fields, and the run off ends up in streams.
Prozac(r) in Britain's Drinking Water
In August 2004, Britain's Environment Agency revealed that Prozac(r) had been found in groundwater and rivers that provide Britain's drinking water.
Experts think that Prozac(r) enters rivers and groundwater through treated sewage water. There is concern that the drugs might impact reproductive functions.
Prozac(r) Shows Up in Texas Fish
In October 2004, Baylor University released a study finding that the active ingredient in Prozac(r) was showing up in a Dallas lake and in the tissue of freshwater blue gill fish. The report speculated that Prozac(r) was being released into the lake from a wastewater treatment plan. While the levels of Prozac(r) appearing in the fish were low, there is concern about the effects of such exposure on fish.
Effects of SSRIs on Aquatic Life
Research has shown that SSRIs can affect reproductive behavior in certain shellfish. Scientists conclude that SSRIs are a class of drugs that are known to have the potential for long-term effects on aquatic life. Laboratory research has shown that tadpoles exposed to Prozac(r) failed to develop limbs during the same period of time in which tadpoles that had not been exposed to Prozac(r) did.
Role of FDA and EPA in Regulation Effects of SSRIs in Water Supply
Neither the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nor the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has direct responsibility for regulating the effects of SSRIs in water. The EPA does not currently require monitoring of the water supply for SSRIs. The FDA is required by law to consider the environmental impact of approving new drug applications. However, in 1995, the FDA reduced the number of environmental assessments required by pharmaceutical companies as part of the President's Reinventing Government initiatives.
Copyright 2010 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc.
