Mar 10, 2008 10:00 pm US/Eastern
Test Of Philly Water Reveals 56 Pharmaceuticals
PHILADELPHIA (AP) ―
A total of 56 pharmaceuticals or byproducts have been
detected in this city's drinking water, largely in tests conducted last year,
according to the Philadelphia Water Department.
The list of drugs is
the longest among 62 major water providers surveyed by the Associated Press.
However, this city's water officials say they probably found more drugs simply
because they did more testing. They say their water is safe to drink.
Officials have maintained the concentration of these drugs
is very low and the public is not at risk.
"You would have to drink eight, eight ounce glasses of water
everyday for about 11,000 years to reach a single does that is given to an
infant," said Jason Hunt of the Philadelphia Water Department.
Researchers found trace
concentrations of drugs including antibiotics, pain relievers, heart and psychiatric
drugs, and veterinary medicines. Here's the list of drugs and some of their uses:
ANTIBIOTICS
Amoxicillin—for
pneumonia, stomach ulcers
Azithromycin—for
pneumonia, sexually transmitted diseases
Bacitracin—prevents
infection in cuts and burns
Chloramphenicol—for
serious infections when other antibiotics can't be used
Ciprofloxacin—for anthrax,
other infections
Doxycycline—for pneumonia,
Lyme disease, acne
Erythromycin—for pneumonia,
whooping cough, Legionnaires' disease
Lincomycin—for strep, staph,
other serious infections
Oxytetracycline—for
respiratory, urinary infections
Penicillin G—for anthrax,
other infections
Penicillin V—for pneumonia,
scarlet fever, infections of ear, skin, throat
Roxithromycin—for respiratory,
skin infections
Sulfadiazine—for urinary
infections, burns
Sulfamethizole—for urinary
infections
Sulfamethoxazole—for traveler's
diarrhea, pneumonia, urinary and ear infections
Tetracycline—for pneumonia,
acne, stomach ulcers, Lyme disease
Trimethoprim—for urinary and
ear infections, traveler's diarrhea, pneumonia
PAIN RELIEVERS
Acetaminophen—soothes
arthritis, aches, colds; reduces fever
Antipyrine—for ear
infections
Aspirin—for minor
aches, pain; lowers risk of heart attack and stroke
Diclofenac—for arthritis,
menstrual cramps, other pain
Ibuprofen—for arthritis,
aches, menstrual cramps; reduces fever
Naproxen—for arthritis,
bursitis, tendinitis, aches; reduces fever
Prednisone—for arthritis,
allergic reactions, multiple sclerosis, some cancers
HEART DRUGS
Atenolol—for high blood
pressure
Bezafibrate—for
cholesterol problems
Clofibric acid—byproduct
of various cholesterol medications
Diltiazem—for high
blood pressure, chest pain
Gemfibrozil—regulates
cholesterol
Simvastatin—slows
production of cholesterol
MIND DRUGS
Carbamazepine—for
seizures, mood regulating
Diazepam—for anxiety,
seizures; eases alcohol withdrawal
Fluoxetine—for
depression; relieves premenstrual mood swings
Meprobamate—for anxiety
Phenytoin—controls
epileptic seizures
Risperidone—for
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe behavior problems
OTHER HUMAN DRUGS
Caffeine—found in
coffee; also used in pain relievers
Cotinine—byproduct of
nicotine; drug in tobacco, also used in products to help smokers quit
Iopromide—given as contrast
agent for medical imaging
Nicotine—found in tobacco,
also in medicinal products to help smokers quit
Paraxanthine—a byproduct of caffeine
Theophylline—for
asthma, bronchitis and emphysema
VETERINARY
Carbadox—for control of
dysentery, bacterial enteritis in pigs; promotes growth
Chlortetracycline—for eye,
joint, other animal ailments
Enrofloxacin—for infections in
farm animals and pets; treats wounds
Monensin—for weight gain,
prevention of severe diarrhea in farm animals
Narasin—for severe diarrhea in
farm animals
Oleandomycin—for
respiratory disease; promotes growth in farm animals
Salinomycin—promotes growth in
livestock
Sulfachloropyridazine—for
enteritis in farm animals
Sulfadimethoxine—for severe
diarrhea, fowl cholera, other conditions in farm animals
Sulfamerazine—for a range of
infections in cats, fowl Sulfamethazine—for bacterial diseases in farm animals;
promotes growth
Sulfathiazole—for diseases in aquarium fish
Tylosin—promotes
growth, treats infections in farm animals, including bees
Virginiamycin M1 -- prevents
infection, promotes growth in farm animals
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
