A River Runs Through It

By Compiled by David Bjerklie

What goes down the drain eventually bubbles up in rivers and streams, according to a U.S. Geological Survey report on 140 waterways in 30 states. The stuff comes from farms and factories, as well as toilets, sinks and medicine chests. Environmentalists fear that even trace amounts of some pollutants might increase resistance to antibiotics, disrupt reproductive cycles or act as carcinogens. But in most cases, scientists don't know enough about exposure to contaminants at minute quantities to say what dangers, if any, they pose. Among the 95 chemicals tracked:

Insect repellents Found in 74% of samples; 1.1 p.p.b.*

Caffeine Found in 70% of samples; 6.0 p.p.b.

Antibiotics Found in 48% of samples; 3.6 p.p.b.

Reproductive hormones Found in 40% of samples; 2.0 p.p.b.

Prescription drugs Found in 32% of samples; 1.8 p.p.b.

Fragrances Found in 27% of samples; 4.3 p.p.b.

*parts per billion

--Compiled by David Bjerklie