another reason for a water bottle

The most comprehensive survey so far has found a slew of drugs, personal care products, pesticides and other contaminants in drinking water being delivered to millions of people across the United States. None of the compounds appeared at levels thought to be immediately harmful to human health. But the researchers were surprised to find widespread traces of a pesticide, used largely in corn (maize) growing, that has, at higher levels, been linked to cancer and other problems.

Released by Environmental Science and Technology, the team tested 19 utility companies, servicing 28 million people. Pharmaceuticals were found in the water, but they didn’t feel anything was at a harmful level.

Of course, I find it interesting that the number one toxin found in the water was a pesticide used in the farming of corn. Corn is the number one commodity crop of this country, and is more often than not, genetically modified. The most interesting finding about this, however, is what the scientists have concluded: Atrazine could be getting into water through food and drink, the researchers suggest, with, for example, many soft drinks containing corn syrup helping the pesticide to spread through the water-treatment system.

The final conclusion of the study was that if the source water was clean… guess what? The tap water was clean.

“We should be going toward protecting water resources,” says Obolensky. She believes preventing pollutants getting into the water supply in the first place is the most efficient way of tackling contamination — rather than putting money into advanced treatment at drinking water plants.

This week I posted about EcoUsable’s water bottles. I highly recommend these bottles, for many reasons. One reason is their new filtration bottles. You fill the bottle with normal tap water, and because of the tap water in the cap, the water is purified. Based on a reader question, I contacted the company and found out that the company has done some studies to ensure the filter removes pharmaceuticals from the water.

Give your family the gift of good health this season. I did!!

The article can be found HERE.

another one bite the dust

While you all were getting your fill of High Fructose Corn Syrup disguised as a tasty treat, George W. Bush was poisoning your water supply.

Thousands of factory farms will be exempt from needing permits that limit water pollution thanks to a new Bush Administration rule signed today. In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency did not adopt improved controls for bacteria and other pathogens that can pose risks to human health and wildlife.

The new rule:

– Creates a loophole allowing facility operators to avoid permits by claiming they won’t have a discharge.
– Adopts a scheme that allows facilities to avoid certain environmental enforcement. For instance, if an operator certifies that the facility won’t have a discharge, environmental authorities will ignore enforcement action, even if the facility discharges to the nation’s waters.
– Rejects improvements in technology that would reduce harmful bacteria and other pathogens contained in animal waste, missing an opportunity to prevent water pollution and threats to public health.

Look… the Bush Administration is not stupid. They understand that by signing these policies into law it is going to take a lot of effort by the next administration to overturn them, assuming they will care. He just allowed for your water to be polluted for years and years.

Human rights violation? anyone?

you can read the whole press release from the NRDC, HERE.