Question

many pharmaceuticals and hormones have been found in streams. why is this concerning? a. most do not have drinking water standards. b. they are not removed by wastewater treatment plants. c. aquatic organisms are being exposed to these pharamaceuticals. d. all of these are concerning

Answer 1

The presence of pharmaceuticals in streams is concerning because they often lack drinking water standards, are not removed by wastewater treatment plants, and can adversely affect aquatic organisms.

Step-by-step explanation:

The presence of pharmaceuticals and hormones in streams is highly concerning for several reasons. Most pharmaceutical compounds do not have specific drinking water standards, meaning there's a lack of regulation regarding acceptable levels of these substances in our water. Additionally, these chemicals are generally not fully removed by wastewater treatment plants, as the plants are not designed to handle the variety of compounds found in pharmaceutical products. Consequently, aquatic organisms are exposed to pharmaceuticals, which can have various harmful effects including disrupted hormonal processes leading to the feminization or masculinization of fish species and other aquatic life forms.