BCWA: Water safe from contaminants

EAST BAY – Testing for pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in drinking water is optional for U.S. water providers, but that may soon change. Some U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) studies and a recent Associated Press (AP) investigation show consumers of water untested for pharmaceuticals, like that provided by the Bristol County Water Authority (BCWA), may be at risk of unhealthy effects.

BCWA executive director Pasquale DeLise said he doubts there are anything like PPCPs in the water BCWA provides.

"They're usually found in more farm and wooded areas, not in very populated locations," he said. "But if there were statewide requirements about testing, we'd certainly follow them."

"Tests are costly. As the water manager, I'm not going to test for something that seems meaningless," he added.

An AP investigation reported in early March found pharmaceuticals, including "antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones," in drinking water supplied to at least 41 million Americans. The BCWA was one of the 52 "small water providers" surveyed by the AP and was the only Rhode Island authority surveyed. All but one of those 52 surveyed fail to screen for PPCPs. However, the BCWA, and the overall drinking water quality in Rhode Island, were not discussed among the problem areas highlighted in the AP's March report.

Mr. DeLise, who said he vaguely remembered talking to a woman from the AP about six weeks ago, said even if there are pharmaceuticals in BCWA's water it would be too minimal to be a concern.

In light of the AP's investigation and several years of its own studies, the EPA said it is "concerned about the detection of a growing number of pharmaceuticals and other personal care products in water."

Mr. DeLise said he does not think there is anything to substantiate testing, unless the EPA or local board of health give reasons.

"If people get one pill's worth of pharmaceuticals per year in their drinking water, I don't see how it could hurt. It's like fluoride," he said.

The AP reported that experts said PPCPs are different than pollutants because they "were crafted to act on the human body" and can "produce side effects and interact with other drugs" people may be taking.

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How do they get there?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified the following sources of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PCPPs) in drinking water:

n Wastewater from septic systems or industrial plants that ends up as surface or ground water, eventually ending up in drinking water

n Biosolids

n Human activity

n Residues from pharmaceutical manufacturing (well defined and controlled)

n Residues from hospitals

n Illicit drugs

n Veterinary drug use: antibiotics and steroids

n Agribusiness

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For the past several years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been conducting human and environmental studies on the effects of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) consumed in drinking water. It said more than 100 PPCPs have been identified as of 2007, in classes such as:

n antibiotics

n antimicrobals

n estrogenic steroids

n antidepressants

n calcium

n antiepileptic drugs (like phenytoin, valproate, carbamazepine) have potential as human neuroteratogens, triggering extensive apoptosis in the developing brain, leading to neurodegeneration

n multi-drug transporters

n musk fragrances are bioaccumulative and persistent

n genotoxic drugs (primarily used at hospitals)

PPCPs include:

n Prescription and over-the counter therapeutic drugs

n Veterinary drugs

n Fragrances

n Cosmetics

n Sun-screen products

n Diagnostic agents

n Vitamins

By Jeremy Rosen

jrosen@eastbaynewspapers.com

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