Pharmaceuticals in Our Waterways - Resource Library

For more information about the effects of pharmaceuticals in rivers and streams, call 217-344-2371, or explore the many online resources listed below.

• School and Community Assistance for Recycling & Composting Education (SCARCE), 630.545.9710

• Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Waste Reduction Unit, (217) 785-8604: click here for information on applying for an IEPA collection day in your area.

• United States Geological Survey: Click here for information, headlines and links to studies on the presence and impacts of pharmaceuticals in water sources.

• Tulane and Xavier Universities: e.hormone: your gateway to hormones and the environment.

• United States Environmental Protection Agency, click here for information on EPA research and studies and bibliography of non-agency studies)

• United States Fish and Wildlife Servic: click here for information on endocrine disruptors.

• USGS, 2002.  Pharmaceuticals, Hormones, and Other Organic Wastewater Contaminants in US Streams. USGS Fact Sheet FS-027-02.

• Natural Resources Defense Council website has a section which explains endocrine disruptors and their health impacts.

Studies on Pharmaceutical Effects

2007.  Effects of Pharmaceuticals on Aquatic Invertebrates. Part II: The Antidepressant Drug Fluoxetine. Journal Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, v. 52, no. 2; p. 163-170. 

Barber, L.B., Lee, K.E., Swackhammer, D.L. Schoenfuss, H.L. 2007. Reproductive responses of male fat minnows exposed to wastewater treatment plant effluent, effluent treated with XAD8 resin, and an environmentally relevant mixture of alkylphenol compounds. Aquatic Toxicology, v. 82, no. 1 (16 October 2007); p. 36-46.

Barber, L.B., Murphy, S.F., Verplanck, P.L., Sandstrom, M.W., Taylor, H.E., and Furlong, E.T., 2006. Chemical loading into surface water along a hydrological, biogeochemical, and land use gradient – A holistic watershed approach. Environmental Science and Technology, v. 40, no. 2; p. 475-486.

C., J., Lee, K.E., and Schoenfuss. 2006. Larval exposure to environmentally relevant mixtures of alkylphenolethoxylates reduces reproductive competence in male fathead minnows. Aquatic Toxicology, v. 79; p. 268-277.

Daughton, C.G., Ternes, T.A. 1999. Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the environment: agents of subtle change? Environmental Health Perspectives,v. 107 Suppl
6; p. 907-938.

Daughton, C.G. 2003b. Cradle to cradle stewardship of drugs for minimizing their environmental disposition while promoting human health – Part 2: Drug disposal, waste reduction and future direction. Environmental Health Perspectives, v. 11(5); p. 775-785.

Folmar, L.C., Denslow, N.D., Rao, V., Chow, M.., Crain, D.A.,  Enblom, J., Marcino, J., and L J Guillette, L.J., Jr. 1996. Vitellogenin induction and reduced serum testosterone concentrations in feral male carp (Cyprinus carpio) captured near a major metropolitan sewage treatment plant. Environ Health Perspect. v 104(10); p. 1096–1101.

-Henry, Theodore B., Kwon, Jeong-Wook, Armbrust, Kevin L., and Black, Marsha C.  2004. Acute and Chronic Toxicity of Five Selective Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitors in Ceriodaphnia Dubia. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v 23, issue 9; p. 2229-2233.

Koplin et al. 2002. Pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other organic wastewater contaminants in U.S. streams, 1999-2000: A national reconnaissance. Environmental Science & Technology, v. 36, no. 6, pages 1202-1211.

National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Centers for Disease Control, 2004. Health, United States, 2004; p. 38-39.

United States Geological Survey, 2002.  Pharmaceuticals, Hormones, and Other Organic Wastewater Contaminants in US Streams. USGS Fact Sheet FS-027-02 (PDF [372k]) http://toxics.usgs.gov/pubs/FS-027-02/

United State Geological Survey, 2002. Water-quality data for pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other organic wastewater contaminants in U.S. streams, 1999-2000. USGS Open-File Report 02-94.

Woodling, J.D., Lopez, E.M., Maldonado, T.A., Norris, D.O., Vajda, A.M. 2006.  Intersex and other reproductive disruption of fish in wastewater effluent dominated Colorado streams. (???)Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology C, Toxicology and Pharamcology 144: 10-15, 2006.

Recent Newspaper Articles on Pharmaceuticals

Bohlander, B. “Colorado State study fids antibiotics used for growth, prevention of diseases in food animals can make their way into waterways. 2004 press release.

Dean, Cornelia. “Contaminants, contaminants everywhere.” Chicago Tribune, 4 April, 2007.

Deardoff, Julie. “Medicines and household chemicals pollute U.S. streams, study finds.”  Chicago Tribune, 14 March, 2002.

Deardorff, Julie. “Discarded drugs take a bad trip to the environment.” Chicago Tribune, 28 May, 2006.

Donn, Jeff, Martha Mendoza, Justin Pritchard. “Drugs in Water Hurt Fish and Wildlife.” Associated Press, 10 March 2008.

Donn, Jeff, Martha Mendoza, Justin Pritchard. “AP Probe Finds Drugs in Drinking Water. Associated Press, 9 March, 2008.

Downing, Bob. “Medicines, household chemicals flow into creeks.” Akron (Ohio)Beacon Journal, 5 February, 2006.

Fahrenthold, David A. “Male bass Across Region Found to Be Bearing Eggs: Pollution Concerns Arise In Drinking-Water Source.” Washington Post, 6 September 2006; p A1.

“Governor Blagojevich announces Illinois Environmental Protect(sic) Agency to strengthen drinking water protections.” Press Release from the Office of the Governor, 12 March 2008.

Harper, Steven and Parikhit. “Tackling emerging contaminants at POTWS.” Pollution Engineering, 1 November, 2006.

Human, Katy. “Chemical traces taint rivers in Colorado.” Denver Post, 27 June, 2007.

Kreisberg, Joel. “Greener pharmacy: Proper Medicine Disposal Protects the Environment.” Integrative Medicine, Volume 6, No. 4, (Aug/Sept 2007); p.50-52.

Mendoza, Martha. “More Testing for Drugs in Water Sought.” Associated Press, 16 March 2008.

Mendoza, Martha. “Water Tests Ordered after AP series.” Associated Press, 12 March 2008.

Mendoza, Martha. “AP Water Probe Prompts Senate Hearing.” Associated Press, 11 March 2008.

Neerguard, Lauren. “Leftover medicine? Toss it out with cat litter.” Associated Press,  The (Bloomington, IL) Pantagraph, 6 November, 2007.

Pritchard, Justin. “Water Cleaning Presents Challenges.” Associated Press, 11 March 2008.

Rademaekers, Brian. “Drinking water gets a drug test.” Philadelphia Inquirer, 27 February, 2006.

Reynolds, Kelly A. “Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water Supplies.” Water Conditioning and Purification Magazine, Volume 45, Number 6 (June 2003).

Salamone, Debbie. “As antibiotics, hormones taint water, Florida uses new purifying techniques.” Orlando Sentinel, 28 July, 2002.

Underwood, Anne. “Rivers of Doubt; Minute quantities of everyday contaminants in our drinking supply could add up to big trouble.” Newsweek, 4 June, 2007.