PennEnvironment, a statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy
organization, released a statement on Monday about the findings of an
Associated Press investigative report on trace pharmaceuticals in water
supplies and suggested a solution to the challenges faced by medicines,
hormones and prescription drugs found in our tap water.
The organization says the pharmaceutical industry should first
prevent the unnecessary flow of its products into our nation’s rivers
and bays. Where feasible, drug makers ought to re-engineer their
products for more efficient human intake, so there are less excess
active ingredients flushed into water systems.
PennEnvironment is also calling upon sewage treatment facilities to
move quickly and proactively to upgrade the technology, for Congress
and the Bush administration to dramatically increase the funding for
programs to address water upgrades and to have drug companies and
pharmaceutical manufacturers pay for the increased cost of upgrades to
sewage treatment plants and drinking water facilities.
“It is critical that our elected officials, chemical manufacturers,
pharmaceutical companies and local utility and sewage treatment
facility managers take the necessary steps to protect public health and
ensure clean drinking water for all Americans,” the group said.
