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Written question asked by Cat Smith (Labour) on Thursday, 29 June 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 3 July 2023. It was answered by Rebecca Pow (Conservative) on Monday, 3 July 2023 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Water: Drugs

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of (a) testing for levels of (i) tranquillisers, antidepressants and other psychotropic drugs in drinking water and (ii) psychotropic drugs in UK rivers and seawater; and (b) the potential impact of those levels on (i) persons consuming that water and (ii) the wider environment.

Answer

The Drinking Water Inspectorate commissioned research into pharmaceuticals in drinking water in 2007 (Desk based review of current knowledge on pharmaceuticals in drinking water and estimation of potential levels), which was followed up by a small-scale survey in 2011. Benzoylecogonine, carbamazepine (CBZ), arbamazepine-10,11-epoxide (carbamazepine epoxide; CBZ-EP), ibuprofen and naproxen were detected in drinking water. The Inspectorate commissioned further research in 2014 (Toxicological evaluation of pharmaceuticals in drinking water) which carried out a risk assessment of the pharmaceuticals measured in the previous study. Both concluded that the levels detected in drinking water are not anticipated to pose an appreciable risk to public health.

The Environment Agency does not assess impact of substances grouped by their intended use but considers either the risk of individual substances to the environment or groups of substances with similar environmental impacts, for example endocrine disrupting properties. Data can be found at: Defra Data Services Platform(opens in a new tab).

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
191817
Session
2022-23
Subjects
Contamination Health hazards Drugs Water Testing
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk