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Prescription drugs found in irrigation water By Zafrir Rinat Scientists are concerned that pharmaceuticals - including anti-depressants - could seep into the groundwater that is used for drinking water after a variety of medications have been found in the country's treated waste water for irrigation. The disturbing findings came to light in tests conducted over the past year by researchers from Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University. The treated waste water was tested by Dr Benny Chefetz of Hebrew University's Faculty of Agriculture in Rehovot and Tel Aviv University's Dr Dror Avisar. They took samples from a number of sources of treated water in various regions and were able to identify several kinds of medication, including prescription drugs, in the water. Advertisement Chefetz's findings indicated anti-depression medication, painkillers and anti-cholesterol drugs, as well as medication to treat epilepsy and heart medication. "I found a variety of drugs and I am sure that further testing will reveal more types of pharmaceuticals," Chefetz stated. "We have not tested groundwater, but we have found that some of these medications are not held back by soil but move through it rapidly. I have almost no doubt that some could get into the drinking water." Avisar noted that his research found traces of antibiotics and hormones and said his team is now testing groundwater for pharmaceutical substances. It has already been proven that pharmaceuticals reach drinking water in other countries. This month, researchers published findings regarding drinking water in dozens of U.S. cities, most of which contained concentrations of medications. Chefetz found Carbamazepine, an anti-seizure medication, in Israeli treated waste water slated for irrigation. That was one of the medications that appeared in drinking water in the U.S. News reports in the U.S. also indicated that bottled-water consumers may also be exposed to the dangers, as water producers do not test for pharmaceuticals or take any action to filter them out of bottled water. There are currently no regulations governing acceptable quantities of medical material in water. The levels of the pharmaceuticals found both in the U.S. and in Israel were low, but this does not negate the possibility of health and environmental effects. News network CNN quoted a senior pharmaceutical executive who estimated that even exposure to low concentrations of the drugs could have an adverse affect on health. "No one wants to be exposed to materials that are not supposed to be in water and are slated for medicinal purposes," Avisar notes. "The concentrations are low, but healthy it is not. There are other concerns such as the proliferation of remnants of antibiotics will increase the stamina of bacteria against them." Medications in water can be treated though the use of better filtering techniques and membranes similar to those used in desalination. However, installing such mechanisms involves substantial investment. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Terror online Israel posts clips on YouTube of J'lem yeshiva terror attack. Remembering Gaza Knesset approves bill to commemorate the Jewish settlements of Gush Katif.

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