Writes Roger Highfield "Along with human sewage contaminated with medicines and their by-products, there are rising levels of cosmetic products such as shower gels and musk perfumes..."

The Royal Society of Chemistry reports that even sophisticated processes to treat water are unable to remove all traces of chemicals and therefore, contaminants remain in the water supply.

Dr. Jeff Hardy, Environment and Energy Manager of the Society reports "many medicines that pass through the body are being seen in the environment", a finding that has caused many experts to demand better and more effective treatment options for water.

What exactly is being found? Anti-depressants, anti-biotics, painkillers and a host of other prescription drugs, as well as possible residue from gel cleansers, soap, fragrances, body lotions and cremes. According to Hardy "(these drugs) are designed so they do not degrade in the human body so they can fulfill their function. It seems they are not degrading once they get into the environment".

Chemists are struggling to answer these questions and understand this newest threat to the environment by studying how medicines degrade, what is the residue left behind once they do breakdown and the base chemical reactions that occur once these substances enter the water chain. Dr. Hardy stresses that in spite of the dire nature of the findings, the outlook "is positive". In addition, Hardy points out that such findings enable a greater demand and opportunity for the introduction of green products which will hopefully not negatively impact the environment.

To get to a point where medicines and cosmetics harmlessly breakdown in the environment will mean "a complete understanding of the fate of environmental contaminants" and, Hardy says "it is possible to design chemicals and products that are highly effective, are reusable and/or recyclable or degrade quickly in the environment (in) to products with minimal risk to human and environmental health".

The Royal Society of Chemistry report is considered by many industry experts as a vital first step in tacking the water contamination issue. Dr. Hardy points out that the report "tackles all of the big issues and makes 57 recommendations to those with the authority to act upon them..." Industry insiders and chemists involved in the project are hoping the RSC report will bring quick progress to the initiative.

The urgency with which the issue must be tackled is at the forefront of both the scientific and consumer world, making these initiatives both timely and necessary.