CHICAGO, Apr 18, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Chicago water officials said they're
testing Lake Michigan drinking water for the presence of pharmaceutical drugs
and other unregulated chemicals.
The announcement Thursday came on the heels of a Chicago Tribune report that
found trace amounts of prescription drugs and other chemicals in local drinking
water, the newspaper reported.
The Tribune, which hired an independent lab to test tap water, found very small
amounts of a prescription anti-seizure drug, a common painkiller, a nicotine
byproduct, caffeine and two chemicals used to make Teflon and Scotchgard.
Following publication of the story, Water Department Commissioner John Spatz
said the city decided last month to conduct its own studies.
"This is an important environmental issue that has been brought to light," Spatz
said. "We should be monitoring and making sure it isn't getting in the water.
And we need the health agencies to figure out if there is anything to be worried
about."
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