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Hey, you know how a lot of people complain that medicine costs too much due to our health care structure, and can’t afford the drugs they need? Well, many companies are trying to help out, by simply dumping active pharmaceuticals into the waterways. Well, it may not actually be to help out, but many companies are dumping pharmaceutical ingredients into the water. Fun!

U.S. manufacturers, including major drugmakers, have legally released at least 271 million pounds of pharmaceuticals into waterways that often provide drinking water , according to an Associated Press investigation…Federal and industry officials say they don’t know the extent to which pharmaceuticals are released by U.S. manufacturers because no one tracks them — as drugs. [Associated Press via KansasCity.com]

So, pharmaceuticals aren’t drugs? Interesting. But the Associated Press, by doing a little digging, did figure out how many of the pharmaceuticals count as contaminants. The government, by means of the EPA (tracking industrial chemicals) and FDA (tracking active pharmaceutical ingredients), does look for these things, and the AP found 22 active ingredients on those lists (key: Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration, Associated Press).

It’s unclear exactly where and how the chemicals get into the water, but I’m sure that’s not important. But, you might want to get a Brita. Or takepart with Conservation International to learn how to safeguard our freshwater supplies.