New frig water-dispenser filters out pharmaceuticals
In 2010, 10 percent of all community water systems serving more than 23 million people sold water to consumers that violated at least one health-based EPA standard, according to a product announcement I received from GE today. And, the announcement continued, an Associated Press investigation of tests conducted by water suppliers all over the country found low concentrations of dozens of pharmaceuticals in drinking water, including antibiotics, aspirin, blood pressure medications and antidepressants.
You used to have to unwrap an Alka-Seltzer to get that pop, pop, fizz, fizz. No more! Hey, who wouldn’t want free drugs in their drinking water? What a time-saver!
GE’s product announcement about its new refrigerator water filter that now filters out pharmaceuticals prompted an odd combination of relief and dismay—relief that the capability to screen out meds from drinking water exists, but also dismay at the realization that drinking water has become so contaminated that such a contraption is needed to ensure that water-drinkers don’t swallow someone else’s discarded medications with their dinner glass of water.
According to a 2010 study conducted by The Stevenson Co. on behalf of GE, the press release said, consumers rated the protection of their water supply as their number-one environmental concern.
That this first-of-its-kind water filtration system has been tested and verified by an independent third party to remove 98 percent of five trace pharmaceuticals, including ibuprofen, atenolol, fluoxetine, progesterone and trimethoprim, from water and ice is a marvel. Glad the technology exists.
However, wouldn’t it be better if people just stopped polluting water?
Got thoughts? I’d love to hear from you.
About the Author: Kate Bachman
