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Cities that tested positive for pharmaceuticals in drinking water

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Below is a list of the 24 cities that have tested positive for pharmaceuticals in their drinking water. At least one pharmaceutical was detected in tests of treated drinking water supplies in each of these areas.*

Arlington, Texas: 1 (unspecified pharmaceutical)
Atlanta: 3 (acetaminophen, caffeine and cotinine)
Cincinnati: 1 (caffeine)
Columbus, Ohio: 5 (azithromycin, roxithromycin, tylosin, virginiamycin and caffeine)
Concord, Calif.: 2 (meprobamate and sulfamethoxazole)
Denver: (unspecified antibiotics)
Detroit: (unspecified drugs)
Indianapolis: 1 (caffeine)
Las Vegas: 3 (carbamazepine, meprobamate and phenytoin)
Long Beach, Calif.: 2 (meprobamate and phenytoin)
Los Angeles: 2 (meprobamate and phenytoin)
Louisville, Ky.: 3 (caffeine, carbamazepine and phenytoin)
Milwaukee: 1 (cotinine)
Minneapolis: 1 (caffeine)
New Orleans: 3 (clofibric acid, estrone and naproxen)
Northern New Jersey: 7 (caffeine, carbamazepine, codeine, cotinine, dehydronifedipine, diphenhydramine and sulfathiazole)
Philadelphia: 56 (including amoxicillin, azithromycin, carbamazepine, diclofenac, prednisone and tetracycline)
Portland, Ore.: 4 (acetaminophen, caffeine, ibuprofen and sulfamethoxazole)
Riverside County, Calif.: 2 (meprobamate and phenytoin)
San Diego: 3 (ibuprofen, meprobamate and phenytoin)
San Francisco: 1 (estradiol)
Southern California: 2 (meprobamate and phenytoin)
Tucson, Ariz.: 3 (carbamazepine, dehydronifedipine and sulfamethoxazole)
Washington, D.C.: 6 (carbamazepine, caffeine, ibuprofen, monensin, naproxen and sulfamethoxazole)

*Source for survey and list: Associated Press

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This is interesting - potentially horrifying - but need to know the (1) likelhood of false positives (2) whether independent retests confirmed results (3) concentrations - and what is the propability of the drugs being pharmacologically active?

They did mention that this was parts per million in the AP article.

They are saying that it would take years for a person to get a regular dose of medication from the drinking water. BUT, how would it affect a person who is allergic to any of the drugs found in the water? Even an extremely small dose could potentially affect someone who is allergice to any of these chemicals, couldn't it?

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