Reporters from the Associated Press’ National Investigative Team reviewed hundreds of scientific reports, federal databases and environmental studies and interviewed more than 230 officials, academics and scientists and private water suppliers in all 50 states. Following this exhaustive project, it was concluded that a disturbing array of pharmaceuticals have been found in water supplies.

Following is a partial list of what the Investigative Team uncovered:

Researchers do not yet understand the exact risks associated with persistent exposure to random combinations of low levels of pharmaceuticals, however, some studies uncovered dangerous effects on humans and animals.

To nobody’s surprise, the Pharmaceutical Industry had initially gone on record to state that: "Based on what we now know, I would say we find there’s little or no risk from pharmaceuticals in the environment to human health," said microbiologist Thomas White, a consultant for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.

But at a conference last summer, Mary Buzby — Director of Environmental Technology for drug maker Merck & Co. Inc. — said: "There’s no doubt about it, pharmaceuticals are being detected in the environment and there is genuine concern that these compounds, in the small concentrations that they’re at, could be causing impacts to human health or to aquatic organisms."

The reaction from the Federal Government is: "We recognize it is a growing concern and we’re taking it very seriously," said Benjamin H. Grumbles, assistant administrator for water at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Some time will be needed to determine the optimal solution for removal of pharmaceuticals in drinking water due to the need for extensive testing. However, as with removal of other contaminants in water, the more barriers to treatment that are installed, the greater the particulate removal.

Initial studies indicate that some reduction in pharmaceuticals is achieved from Granular Activated Carbon (GAC). Emco Tech Ionizers employ the 9-stage Biostone Filter System which utilize GAC as the primary filtration media. GAC has been used for decades in water treatment to adsorb many dangerous compounds.

Reverse Osmosis (R/O) treatment was specifically designed to provide a way to remove up to 98% of all dissolved and suspended materials in water. The disadvantage of R/O is the fact that water produced is virtually mineral free and typically highly acidic on the pH scale. Both of those properties in R/O water are not natural for the body. IonWays has a system that incorporates R/O and remineralization before the ionizer. Furthermore, R/O systems can waste between 5 to 20 gallons of water for each gallon of drinking water produced.

Some consumers may see Bottled Water as an alternative, but bottled water in many cases comes from sources that are contaminated, and is typically treated with R/O. Bottled water also has disadvantages due to leaching of plasticides into the water inside and environmental damage created by manufacturing and disposal of the plastic bottle itself.

We will continue to monitor the situation, share our findings and offer the necessary products to work in conjunction with your ionizer if required.