Drinking water from wells in rural north central Pennsylvania had low levels of pharmaceuticals, according to a study led by Penn State researchers.
Partnering with volunteers in the University’s Pennsylvania Master Well Owner Network, researchers tested water samples from 26 households with private wells in nine counties in the basin of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. All samples were analyzed for seven over-the-counter and prescription pharmaceuticals: acetaminophen, ampicillin, caffeine, naproxen, ofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim.
At least one compound was detected at all sites. Ofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole—antibiotics prescribed for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections—were the most frequently detected compounds. Caffeine was detected in approximately half of the samples, while naproxen—an anti-inflammatory drug used for the management of pain, fever and inflammation—was not detected in any samples.
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