Study: Fox River mostly free of pharmaceuticals

A recent test of the Fox River found only "extremely low levels" of several pharmaceutical drugs in the water.

The U.S. Geological Survey and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency performed the tests at various sites along the river, including areas in Aurora and Elgin.

"The levels detected were far below levels at which human health is affected," reads a Kane County staff memo on the testing. The chemical with the highest concentration level found at any test sites was a byproduct of nicotine at an Elgin test site. The nicotine rated only at 0.003 on the Hazard Index. Anything registering less than 1.0 is considered an acceptable level by the Illinois EPA.

Proper disposal of expired, unused or unwanted pharmaceutical drugs is an ongoing problem for Kane County residents. There are only a handful of collection outlets in Kane County to dispose of drugs in ways that won't eventually leach into the water system.

"The effect of exposure to multiple chemicals for humans, or the effect of these chemicals on aquatic ecosystems is not yet known," according to the county memo. Exactly how even the low level concentrations of pharmaceutical drugs in the Fox River got in there is also somewhat of a mystery.

The most likely culprits are simply through human waste products and the improper flushing of pharmaceutical drugs down toilets or sinks.

Such drugs should be taken to collection outlets whenever possible or thrown in the trash as a last resort.

Kane County residents may take outdated or unwanted prescriptions to the Fox Metro Water Reclamation District office at 682 Route 31, Oswego, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. They can also dispose of them from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays at a hazardous waste collection station at Naperville Fire Station 4, Route 59 and Brookdale Drive.