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.
