(I keed, I keed)

Recycling is a good idea and I have recently heard that some pharmacies are offering the service. Not really sure what to do about what gets flushed do to human waste. Is it because we are taking too much?

The disturbing part is always how it will cost too much money to fix it… Hmm, could be a job for -wait for it- some sort of summit meeting by scientists to innovate some cost effective system to filter out the “left overs” after all if we know they are there isn’t that half the battle?

If we do not have time and money to do it right, when will we have time and money to fix it?

Just a thought..

You can take unused meds to local pharmacies, as Bob Freeman pointed out in the comment below mine. Presumably, your local pharmacist will be happy to oblige. My thought was to make such recycling mandatory for proper disposal.

Hope this helps,
ed

You responded, “Perhaps, one small step would be a recycling policy, for lack of a better term. Much like we’re told paint must be disposed of in a certain way, maybe medications should get the same treatment.”

According to the AP story, trace meds are in drinking water, because they’re being flushed down the toilet in the stool and urine of users (sorry, there’s no nice way to describe it). Where should I “go” if I’m taking a prescription medication? In my backyard? At a newly designated toilet with a separate sewer system for prescription med users? (Sorry to be snide, but you get my point.)

I agree we’ve known that traces of prescription meds have been found in drinking water previously. As I understand it, the point of this story was to inform the average person - who may not keep up with scientific or environmental developments as much as professionals others with professionals - of the magnitude of the problem. At the same time, it’s entirely possible a wide range of people haven’t kept up with the issue.

For those reasons, I chose to run the AP story. Does the AP have an agenda? I don’t know. I hope not. My experience is that AP is reliable and objective. But if you’re aware of an agenda or a notable failure in the reporting, please be specific. I’d like to know. There were a few sidebar stories that ran with this one, which was the main piece, so I’ll have to go through them to see if they offer advice on how to go about learning of test results in treatment facilities.

That’s about all I can do right now.

ed

The real story is that news reporting has gone down the drain, and its that journalism has been contaminated. We’re supposed to believe that AP is an independent scientific body?

I don’t doubt the results, at all. What I call into question is the motive for printing this article without the inclusion of sources and diverse points of view from all sides - not just AP’s.

Does AP have an agenda to instill fear and mistrust in people? Will AP follow up on this story as evidence becomes available - even if it goes against the implications in this article? Does AP offer any suggestions on how to find out test results in water treatment facilities in your local area, or how to reach out to any public advocacy tool?

I’m not trying to shoot the messenger here. But when the “messenger” is whispering fear and mistrust into your ear day after day, what’s the deal? Who can you trust?

The levels found are in parts per billion/trillion. We seem to have no problem drinking water with lead, arsenic and other toxins at these levels, why should we care about pharmaceuticals?

Thanks for the information. I had no idea that Pharmacies recycled meds.