March 29, 2024
Pharmaceuticals found in some state aquifers
SACRAMENTO - Scientists detected low concentrations of pharmaceutical compounds in groundwater samples from 2.3 percent of tested aquifers used for drinking water in California.

Pharmaceuticals were detected more frequently in urban areas according to results of a U.S. Geological Survey study.

The most frequently detected pharmaceutical was carbamazepine. That is a mood stabilizer or anti-seizure medication. Carbamazepine’s chemical properties make it very unlikely to degrade in the environment.

This study was designed to characterize the occurrence and distribution of pharmaceuticals in untreated groundwater, not in water delivered to consumers. (INT)
Story Date: July 8, 2011
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