Crops take up drugs from recycled water

Researchers disagree on the potential threat to human health of tiny quantities of compounds including pharmaceuticals

Agricultural fields

WORRISOME WATERING  Recycled water sprayed onto agricultural fields, like the one shown, can deliver small amounts of drugs and personal care chemicals to the edible portions of crops, a new study finds.

USDA/Flickr (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Irrigating crops with recycled water can leave dinner salads laced with small amounts of drugs and personal care chemicals.