Drug Residue in Your Water and How to Get Rid of It.
Yes, BOROUX filters pharmaceuticals. See the test results!
What are pharmaceutical drugs?
Substances formulated to diagnose, treat, alleviate, or prevent medical conditions in humans and animals. Pharmaceutical drugs can be derived from various sources, including chemical synthesis, natural compounds, or biotechnological processes. Medications are available in a multitude of forms, such as tablets, capsules, syrups, and injections, and are prescribed or obtained over-the-counter to manage a wide range of health issues, from pain relief and infections to chronic diseases and mental health disorders. The pharmaceutical industry plays a vital role in developing, producing, and distributing these drugs to improve health outcomes and enhance overall well-being.
Common Pharmaceuticals
- Pain relievers (e.g., ibuprofen)
- Antibiotics (e.g., trimethoprim)
- Hormones (e.g., estrone)
- Antiepileptics (AEDs) are also known as anticonvulsants (e.g., carbamazepine, phenytoin)
- Beta-blockers (e.g., atenolol)
- Tranquilizers (e.g., meprobamate)
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (e.g., naproxen)
How Pharmaceutical Drugs Get into Tap Water
Pharmaceuticals enter tap water primarily through human consumption and subsequent excretion. When people take medications, their bodies metabolize and absorb a portion of the drugs. However, a fraction is excreted through urine, ultimately entering the wastewater system. Some people may also flush pills down the toilet, which would then introduce those substances to the water system. Conventional wastewater treatment plants may not completely remove these compounds, allowing trace amounts to end up in rivers, lakes, groundwater, and eventually, tap water sources.
Why Pharmaceutical Drugs Should Be Filtered
The presence of pharmaceuticals in tap water is a concern due to the potential health risks. Unknown consumption can cause injurious side effects. Even at trace levels, cumulative exposure to various drugs over time can pose health risks. This is especially concerning for vulnerable populations like pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions. Filtering medications from tap water is a prudent approach to mitigate these potential health concerns.
Health Risks
- Hormonal Imbalance: Exposure to hormones from pharmaceuticals can disrupt the endocrine system, leading to hormonal imbalances with adverse effects on health and development.
- Antibiotic Resistance: Prolonged exposure to low levels of antibiotics in water may contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, making infections more challenging to treat.
- Allergic Reactions: Some individuals may experience allergic reactions or sensitivities to certain pharmaceutical compounds present in the water supply.
- Unknown Synergistic Effects: The combined exposure to multiple pharmaceuticals may result in synergistic effects that are not yet fully understood, potentially amplifying health risks.
How BOROUX Filters Pharmaceuticals
BOROUX water filtration systems are equipped with state-of-the-art filtration technologies designed to significantly reduce the presence of many contaminants, including pharmaceuticals in tap water. The filtration process consists of multiple stages, each tailored to target a broad spectrum of contaminants effectively. Activated carbon is used to adsorb and capture a diverse range of organic compounds. Additionally, microfiltration physically strains out particles, providing an extra layer to combat the drug's presence. Ion exchange resins within BOROUX filters attract and remove medication molecules from the water. Adsorption selectively targets and adsorbs drug compounds. All these processes combined strengthen the filtration process and ensure better drinking water.
Tested Drug Compounds
Our testing included checking for these specific compounds. We are continuing to test for more contaminants. If you think we should test for something else, please contact us.
Atenolol
Used alone or in combination with other medications to treat high blood pressure.
Carbamazepine
Used to treat certain types of seizures (e.g., partial seizures, tonic-clonic seizures) and bipolar disorder. It is also used to relieve pain caused by trigeminal neuralgia (tic douloureux).
Estrone
A female sex hormone. The weakest type of estrogen, it's typically higher after menopause.
Meprobamate
A sedative used for anxiety and insomnia first made available in the 1950s when it became very popular, but it is now rarely used.
Naproxen
A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to relieve symptoms of arthritis (e.g., osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or juvenile arthritis) such as inflammation, swelling, stiffness, and joint pain.
Phenytoin
A medication used in the management and treatment of epilepsy, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and complex partial seizures. It is in the anticonvulsants class of drugs.
Trichloroacetic acid
Can be used as a caustic agent on the skin or mucous membranes to treat local lesions and for the treatment of various dermatological diseases. There are reports of its use in removing tattoos, treating genital warts, and in dermal peeling.
Trimethoprim
An antibiotic. It's used to treat and prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs), such as cystitis. Occasionally, trimethoprim is used to treat other types of infections, such as chest infections and acne.
BOROUX water filtration systems use a combination of proven filtration techniques to effectively reduce the presence of pharmaceutical drugs in tap water. While no system can guarantee complete removal of all pharmaceuticals, BOROUX filters significantly enhance water safety by mitigating potential health risks associated with drug exposure through drinking water. Investing in a reliable filtration system like BOROUX contributes to the assurance of better drinking water.
