Geological survey shows antibiotics found in river

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

A recently released study shows trace amounts of a dozen antibiotics in Ohio’s Scioto River system.

The report issued by the U.S. Geological Survey last week also found three antibiotics in treating drinking water in Columbus.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that the amount of the drugs was 1,000 to 10,000 times lower than more commonly detected pollutants.

A scientist who helped review the report says the fact that the drugs were detected in small quantities doesn’t rule out the potential for harmful side effects in people or the environment.

The Dispatch reports that these antibiotics are part of a new class of water pollutants. There aren’t government limits on these pollutants in streams or drinking water and scientists studying them say they don’t know whether there should be.

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