Updated November 6, 2005.
August 8, 2004
Traces of the antidepressant Prozac (fluoxetine) were found in the water supply in the UK. The Sunday Observer in London reported that a report by the Environment Agency warned that the drug accumulates in rivers used for drinking water and groundwater. Scientists believe that Prozac finds its way into groundwater from treated wastewater and some believe that it will affect human fertility.
The Environment Agency have a series of meetings with the pharmaceutical industry in order to determine whether there are risks of Prozac for the environment or human health.
A spokesman for the Drinking Water Inspectorate Britain tries to calm fears, reported that the traces were found, a health hazard were hardly present. Several sources report that a spokesman said: "It is very unlikely that there is a risk, because these medicines in very low concentrations excreted processes extended treatment for pesticide removal installed effective in removing drug residues are .." British Liberal Democrats have criticized the tax authority. Spokesman Norman Baker, the ambience was quoted as saying that he felt "like a case of hidden mass medication upon the unsuspecting public."
According to the Observer article, written in the UK 24 million prescriptions per year Prozac with a population of 60 million, a country. SSRIs, such as fluoxetine have been controversial in recent years. These drugs are increasingly prescribed to children, sometimes without evidence of its effectiveness. Some have been linked to increased suicides combined. Prozac has been proven helpful for some children and young people.
Last updated 05/11/05
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