When you drink water, you expect it to have gone through a wastewater treatment system to filter out all contaminants that would otherwise make water undrinkable. Professor Swackhamer, at The University of Minnesota, decided to conduct a study testing the composition of the nearby Zumbro River. As a result, there were a wide variety of chemicals in the water such as caffeine, antibiotics, carbamazepine and acetaminophen. It is well known that acetaminophen consumed in large amounts can lead to liver damage but it is unknown how it effects marine life. Most of the contaminants that find their way into these water systems are indicative of what is being consumed in by individuals in the area as well as what is being dumped accidentally into these natural water sources.
According to researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey, there have been other contaminants such as steroid hormones, triclosan, Prozac, birth control and detergents found in waterways, landfills, and sewage systems. Besides these compounds living freely in the environment they may also be altered into even more dangerous toxins that have unknown effects. The Environmental Protection Agency is required to keep a registry of all known toxic compounds which was mandated in the Toxic Substances Control Act (1976); but with the old compounds being altered into new compounds they are not required to test its toxicity. This act has not been updated since and it is important that it should be revised to move along with the times to increase public safety.
Source:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/09/25/a-rising-tide-of-contaminants/?_php=true&_type=blogs&ref=science&_r=0
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