| If you are considering installing a reverse osmosis | | | | be sent to customers, then the answer to "does |
| water filtration system in your home, think about the | | | | reverse osmosis remove pharmaceuticals from |
| following question: Does reverse osmosis remove | | | | water" is clear. A simple "no" will do. |
| pharmaceuticals from water supplies? According to a | | | | Many water treatment facilities add chlorine to |
| recent Associated Press article, there are trace | | | | disinfect and remove harmful bacteria. Research as |
| amounts of pharmaceuticals in water supply systems | | | | shown though that water treated with chlorine, when |
| across the nation and into Canada, so this is an | | | | combined with certain pharmaceuticals in water |
| important question to research. | | | | supply systems can actually increase the toxicity of |
| To answer the question, does reverse osmosis | | | | both. Chlorine causes enough health problems and |
| remove pharmaceuticals from water supplies; let us | | | | now we have to deal with drugs, too. |
| first consider what an RO water filtration system | | | | In trying to determine does reverse osmosis remove |
| does. Reverse osmosis pushes water through a | | | | pharmaceuticals from water supplies and is it the right |
| membrane that allows H2O molecules to pass | | | | solution for my family, keep in mind that RO filtration |
| through, but traps particles larger than that, delivering | | | | systems do not remove chlorine. Plus, they are |
| water that is stripped of some contaminants and all | | | | expensive and have to be continually maintained. |
| minerals. | | | | Also, RO water purifiers create several gallons of |
| So does reverse osmosis remove pharmaceuticals | | | | polluted, waste water for every gallon that is |
| from water supplies? Possibly, there may be some | | | | drinkable. So even though an RO filtration system |
| degree of reduction. But there is a filtration solution | | | | may remove some pharmaceuticals in water supply |
| that will remove more of the potentially dangerous | | | | systems, it won't remove them all and in the |
| pharmaceuticals in water supply faucets. At most, a | | | | meantime, you are flushing many gallons of |
| consumer can hope to significantly reduce, by as | | | | undrinkable water back into the system. |
| much as 99%, the amount of prescription and | | | | Pharmaceuticals in our water supply systems is |
| over-the-counter drugs that have been found. | | | | problematic. Though drug studies are done to |
| Any pharmaceutical particle that is smaller than an | | | | determine side effects, those studies do not examine |
| H2O molecule will pass through a reverse osmosis | | | | ingesting life-long trace amounts. Research is only |
| membrane and into your cup for drinking or pot for | | | | now being done which shows the effects on |
| cooking. | | | | developing cells. These trace levels seem to reduce |
| Pharmaceuticals in water supply systems are | | | | their growth. |
| introduced as a result of our bodies not metabolizing | | | | Several nationwide studies have attempted to |
| all of the medications we take. The leftovers pass | | | | answer the question of does reverse osmosis |
| through us and are flushed down into our sewer | | | | remove pharmaceuticals from water supplies, since |
| system. That waste water enters the municipal | | | | treatment facilities use them. With the knowledge |
| storage plant to be filtered and directed back to our | | | | that the answer is "no, not completely", you can |
| homes. By the time that it gets there, it has run | | | | definitely find a more reasonably priced system that |
| through at least two RO stages, but since they have | | | | is even more effective. |
| found pharmaceuticals in water supply tanks ready to | | | | |