Residents of Nairobi and Kisumu counties in Kenya are drinking water contaminated with antiretrovirals (ARVs) and pain killers, a study has revealed, according to reports.
The study conducted by the University of Eldoret and Ghent University, Belgium, established water in these two counties contained compounds used in ARVs, antibiotics, hormones and anti-depressants. Although 24 pharmaceuticals were found in rivers, waste and ground water, their concentrations were far below the levels of a medical dose.
While speaking to Daily Nation, however, Kenneth K’oreje, who is one of the report authors, said that such water still exposed Kenyans to greater risks of developing resistance to certain drugs.