Toxic Japan II: Antibiotics in rivers

Kyodo reports that rivers in Japan are contaminated with ingredients of antibiotics and medicines for humans and animals that flowed into them via sewage systems. This is raising concern that drug-resistant strains of bacteria might be produced:

A team of researchers from the state-run Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology and the governmental Public Works Research Institute made the findings in a nationwide check of 19 key rivers across the country in 2004 and 2005.

The team took water samples at river mouths to measure concentrations of ingredients of 11 antibiotics and 14 non-antibiotic medical drugs, all of which are widely used in Japan.

Ingredients of antibiotics, particularly of anti-inflammation sulfa drugs, were detected in all the rivers checked.

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