Calif. warns people not to flush pharmaceuticals

[CMF Newsman]

LOS ANGELES - The state of California has a warning for its 36 million residents: Do not flush pharmaceuticals down the toilet or drain, or they may end up in a river near you.

Or, it turns out, even in the drinking water.

State and local officials are teaming with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a "No Drugs Down the Drain Week," starting with events Oct. 2. The program recommends that drugs be dropped at special collection sites or tossed in the trash.

The event comes less than two weeks after The Associated Press published an investigative report about the dangers of flushing millions of pounds of unused pharmaceuticals annually by the American health care industry and consumers. The ongoing AP investigation has revealed that tests show the drinking water supplies of at least 46 million Americans contain minute concentrations of pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics, anti-convulsants and mood stabilizers.

news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080926/ap_on_re_us/pharmawater_california;_ylt=AluYcvqTCIEsEtPgSOvfLccDW7oF

[Warkitty]

So nice. So very, very nice.

[Babs]

You're not supposed to flush dental floss either. It can mess up treatment plants.

[Bob]

We need the photo of the guy standing on the corner with a shopping cart and a cardboard sign that reads

"pharmaceutical collection site"

[gridbug]

Just say NO to water.

[el Gusano]

I was reading a report a while back that some places were having problems with drugs in their water from people passing them through their system. Mostly... I can't remember the name of the anti-depressant that was the biggest problem, but that was number one, with several others in the public drinking water.