Mr. Ambien Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 Cocaine, other illicit drugs found in Ontario water, McGill study says Trace amounts of illicit and prescription drugs found in drinking water in southern Ontario pose little threat to humans but could harm the environment, McGill University study finds Trace amounts of cocaine, oxycodonee and morphine, among other illicit and prescription drugs, have been detected in surface water in southern Ontario rivers, a new study says. The drugs originate in wastewater discharged into the Grand River watershed, according to a McGill University report published last week in the journal Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Limited quantities of certain drugs also remained in Ontario’s drinking water, even after passing through a drinking water treatment plant, researchers said. “If the wastewater treatment plant, which is kind of an intense treatment that we do to remove these contaminants, is not able to remove fully the compound, we shouldn’t expect the environment to remove it fully,” said Viviane Yargeau, a chemical engineering professor at McGill and one of the study’s authors. “That’s what we observed; we do detect (the drugs) in the drinking water.” A total of 17 substances were observed in small quantities in the wastewater, including cocaine, amphetamines, opioid drugs and metabolites. Researchers said cocaine, ephedrine and prescription opioids were also not effectively removed at the drinking water treatment plant. Yargeau told the Star that while the drugs do not pose a serious health risk to humans, they could have a negative impact on the environment. “I do drink tap water even though I’ve measured these concentrations in tap water,” she said. “It’s a bit more of a concern that we discharge them in the river knowing that the river might accumulate some of these drugs, that the fish will be exposed to it.” The study did not measure the drugs’ impact on the ecosystem. Yargeau said that based on previous studies that detailed the effects of pharmaceuticals on aquatic life, however, the drugs could potentially alter fish behaviour and even threaten some species’ survival. “We can assume that the fish might have a different behaviour when exposed to the drug, and maybe that would have a decline on the survival rate of a fish population,” she said. The Grand River begins in Dufferin County and ends 300 kilometres later at Lake Erie. Its watershed covers several municipalities, including Waterloo, Kitchener, Guelph, Brantford and parts of Hamilton. Yargeau said the study was unique in that it followed the flow of water from the wastewater treatment plant, through the river, and after it was processed at a drinking water plant. She said she could not specify where exactly the water samples were taken, but that she hoped the study would put pressure on decision makers to invest in better wastewater treatment facilities. “If we improve the wastewater treatment plant, then we will protect the environment at the same time and protect the source of drinking water.” http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/07/24/cocaine-other-illicit-drugs-found-in-ontario-water-mcgill-study-says.html Now that we know, it's time to shift to being a little more understanding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Champagnepapi Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 that explains how this came about Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riffraff Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 The problem starts with Toronto and goes from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nucklehead Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 They are an enigma that's for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twilight Sparkle Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 cocaine isn't their problem, more than they think it's their solution Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aeromotacanucks Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 hmmmm. that might explain why my brother-in-law became even more "doucher" and stupid after he came from Toronto. travelled there for a congress and returned as a Leafs fan... something on that water made him more arrogant than the usual... I´m wondering what kind of "ingredient" they pun in Jamaica to keep people so calm there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMapleLaughs Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 that explains how this came about Cocaine is a hell of a drug, but their real addiction problem is the team itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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