Prozac Found in U.K. Drinking Water Supply

Traces of the anti-depressant Prozac (fluoxitine) have been found in the United Kingdom's water supply. London's Observer Sunday newspaper reported that a report from the Environment Agency warned that the drug is accumulating in rivers and groundwater used for drinking supplies. Scientists believe that Prozac finds its way into the water table from treated sewage and some speculate that it may affect human fertility.

The Environment Agency has reportedly held a series of meetings with the pharmaceutical industry to determine whether there are any risks from Prozac to the environment or to human health.

A spokesman for Britain's Drinking Water Inspectorate tried to calm fears, reporting that the traces found were unlikely to be a danger to health. Several sources report this spokesman as saying that "It is extremely unlikely that there is a risk, as such drugs are excreted in very low concentrations. Advanced treatment processes installed for pesticide removal are effective in removing drug residues." Britain's Liberal Democrats have already criticized the Inspectorate's statement. Environment spokesman Norman Baker is quotes as saying that it looked "like a case of hidden mass medication upon the unsuspecting public".

According to the Observer article, 24 million prescriptions for Prozac are written in Great Britain every year a country with a population of 60 million. SSRIs such as Prozac have become somewhat controversial in recent years. These medications are increasingly prescribed to children, sometimes without proof of their effectiveness. Some have been linked to increases in suicides. Prozac itself has been found to be helpful for some children and teenagers.

Source:
http://mentalhealth.about.com/od/psychopharmacology/a/prozacuk804.htm