Prescription Drugs in Drinking Water! Should I Get a Water Purification Device?

Worried about prescription drugs in drinking water? There's really no need for anyone to worry about drugs in the drinking water. We can remove that threat and many others with the right home purification device.

If the treatment facilities were not so old and outdated, if they cared less about cost and more about safety, there wouldn't be any prescription drugs in drinking water. But, because they don't take the necessary steps, we have lead, pesticides, herbicides and thousands of chemical contaminants that they don't even test for.

One of the common drugs in the drinking water is called perchlorate. It is used to treat hypothyroidism. Independent tests showed that it was present in 400 different supplies around the United States. These tests were conducted more recently than the tests that the AP reported about in February.

It was done to support California's effort to have the compound added to the Environmental Protection Agency's list of contaminants that must be tested for at every public facility. In healthy people, the drug causes dysfunction of the thyroid gland, which impairs neurological development in children.

In adults, thyroid dysfunction negatively affects natural metabolism, leading to weight gain, fatigue and other health problems. The reason perchlorate is one of the most common prescription drugs in drinking water has little to do with its use as a medication.

Besides being a drug, it is a volatile organic compound (VOC). In other words, it exists in nature and it is explosive. It is commonly used in rocket fuel, airbags and fireworks. It was a common ingredient in fertilizer, before its use for this purpose was restricted.

It is such a common environmental pollutant that it has been found in samples of human breast milk, cow's milk and lettuce. It's presence in public water supplies is unregulated in most states. Only Massachusetts and California regularly test for it.

While most of the traces of drugs in the drinking water samples were relatively low, levels of perchlorate are relatively high and since we can be exposed in many other ways, it becomes particularly important to remove it.

Researchers are as yet unsure about what the traces of prescription drugs in drinking water can do to human health. But, researchers have been studying the affects or perchlorate for years. At levels commonly found in just one glass of milk or water, it disrupts the function of the thyroid gland.

Perhaps this is one of the underlying reasons for the obesity problem in America. Don't think that buying bottled is safer. Even springs contain VOCs. The only safe solution is a point-of-use filtration device that removes VOCs and those drugs in the drinking water. But, be sure to compare performance data.

Many "purifiers" that you see in department stores and on TV, are nothing more than chlorine filters. While chlorine is a problem, it is certainly not the only one. If you buy the right device, you will never have to worry about prescription drugs in drinking water or any other type of contaminant.

Why UK Residents Should Invest in Home Solar Panels

It is a fact that solar power is the future and today thousands of UK homeowners and businesses are installing homemade solar panels to switch to free source of power. There are many reason on why solar power can be best for your home, your family, your bank balance and of course, our planet.

As solar energy is produced using solar panels that are hassle free, it is much more efficient and convenient than other renewable methods (e.g. wind, etc). With liberal grants available now to UK residents, it is beneficial to install home solar panels. Many studies have indicated that by 2016, the cost of solar electricity will fall much below the retail cost of electricity in the UK, so investing in solar panels now is a shrewd investment for future.

Electricity companies now charge more for electricity consumed during peak usage hours (daylight hours). This means, with Feed in Tariff, you will be able to save more money during daytime, when your home solar panels are working and electricity prices are highest.

Currently, only limited companies are producing panels in the UK, but with increased demand, more and more manufacturers will join the race and we will see prices of panels falling to a considerable extent.

Many experts feel that if solar panels are used to their full potential in the UK, then 35 percent of its energy needs can be met this way. This is a unique opportunity for us where we can generate our own electricity, help our country, and do a bit to save our fragile environment.

Most of the home solar panel kits are highly efficient and can be installed with ease on your roof and the costs are reasonable. With grants from the UK government, you can greatly reduce the cost of home solar panels increasing the return on investment. The demand for solar energy is growing not only in UK, but around the world, and is an ample indicator that this form of energy is sustainable and affordable.

Once installed, the panels can last for decades and will generate free electricity day after day, thereby repaying their costs many times over.

You have many choices and a good installation company will guide you in the process and assist you in choosing the best and most efficient solar PV system as per your budget and location.

With years of hands on experience, these companies can install the right systems in the right way to give you the best results.

Some solar energy systems are grid-tied and owners can even sell excess electricity to utility companies if excess energy is generated by their systems. Other home solar systems are grid-independent. There will be an inverter installed inside the building for converting DC current from home solar panels into AC current an is used for running household appliances. Many businesses in the UK are also installing such systems on their office roofs.

Most of the panels are installed on the roofs while few are also installed in the garden or on the walls. Panels can be chosen depending upon your electricity needs and budget.