RESTON, Va., June 7 (UPI) -- U.S. Geological Survey scientists say they've identified pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities as significant sources of surface water pollution.
A study, conducted in cooperation with New York state officials, focused on outflow from two wastewater treatment plants that receive more than 20 percent of their wastewater from pharmaceutical facilities. Researchers found concentrations of pharmaceuticals up to 1,000 times higher than from outflows at 24 wastewater plants nationwide that do not receive wastewater from pharmaceutical manufacturers.
"This is the first study in the U.S. to identify pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities as a significant source of pharmaceuticals to the environment," said Matthew Larsen, USGS associate director for water. "The USGS is working with water utilities to evaluate alternative water treatment technologies with the goal of reducing the release of pharmaceuticals and other emerging contaminants to the environment."
Officials said the study is part of a long-term effort to determine the fate and effects of chemicals of emerging environmental concern and to provide water-resource managers with objective information that assists in the development of effective water management practices.
The findings are reported in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.
