This is an interesting article about water testing in the Great Lakes that found the presence of nicotine byproducts and cholesterol drugs. The people urging addtional reserch are not left wing eco-radicals. The water sampling was done on the intake pipes of water utilities by the States surrounding the Great Lakes as well as the USGS. A link to the full report is available at the end.

After testing of water in the Great Lakes revealed the presence of nicotine byproducts and cholesterol drugs, a group advocating for the protection of the inland seas is calling for more research into the long-term effects of drugs in drinking water.

The Alliance for The Great Lakes said a recent sampling of Lake Michigan revealed low levels of cotinine, a nicotine byproduct, and the cholesterol-modifying drug gemfibrozil, distributed throughout the water. Also found were substances including heart medications, herbicides, estrogen, antibiotics and pain anti-inflammatory agents.

“Broader use of pharmaceuticals and growing knowledge of the health effects from their chemical byproducts make drug pollution an emerging concern,” said Lyman Welch, Alliance Water Quality Program manager and lead author of the report, Protecting the Great Lakes from Pharmaceutical Pollution. “As we learn more about what dangers these drugs pose, we have to be ready to take precautionary steps to limit the amount that passes into the Great Lakes every day.”

While some experts say the levels are too low to impact human health, Welch said it could take up to 100 years to flush the pollutants out of the Great Lakes waterways. The report points out that some researchers worry human health could be threatened by long-term, low-level exposure to some of the chemicals found in the water, such as hormones and cell-change agents. These compounds are designed to work in the body at low concentrations, the Alliance said.

The U.S. Geological Survey indicated some aquatic wildlife were suffering endocrine changes due to exposure to the pharmaceuticals.

Great-Lakes.pdf

If this was a bottled water company instead of a public utility, the letter would make the front page of papers across the country!

Apparently 3 x the permissible EPA level of radon in the water is a "negligible risk" and the water is "safe to drink." I am not aware of a point of use filter that's going to take out radium so the Environmental Working Group, the National Resources Defense Council and Corporate Accountability International are going to have to come up with a different solution for those folks seeking to avoid the use of "environmentally irresponsible bottled water."

The FDA has zero tolerance for this type of stuff from bottled water companies. Tap water is regulated to a higher degree than bottled water?! Give me a break...

Click here to view this document in PDF.

The National Geographic Daily News tips their hat to the environmental "antis" in the first section of a recent article, but the headline, the picture, and the bulk of the article are winners for bottled water!

Read more on this interesting series by Eliza Barclay that explores the global water crisis, lead contaminated fountain water, and bottled water.

National Geographic Daily News

Watch Mountain Valley Spring Water CEO, Breck Speed, talk about what makes our spring water special.

Even though this is "today's news", Mountain Valley Spring Water has been certified Kosher for many, many years!

Food and water quality is an important factor in determining foods to eat and serve to your family. Nonetheless, this article published by The New York Times and written by Kim Severson highlights the growing demand for Kosher foods.

For Some, "Kosher" Equals Pure

By Kim Severson

THIS year, for the first time, glatt kosher food will be sold at the Super Bowl. Certainly, faith will prompt some of the fans at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., to line up at one of two carts selling grilled salami sliders and garlicky knoblewurst. But for others, the appeal of a kosher hot dog will have nothing to do with religion.

In an era of heightened concern over food contamination, allergies and the provenance of ingredients, the market for kosher food among non-Jews is setting records.

Click here to read the entire article.