Arlington officials identify drug found in drinking water
Associated Press - June 9, 2008 7:05 PM ET

Drinking water in Arlington, Texas, tested positive for trace concentrations of the anti-anxiety medication meprobamate. That's what city officials revealed today in response to a series of public records requests.

In a February interview with The Associated Press, Mayor Robert Cluck said trace concentrations of 1 pharmaceutical had been found in treated drinking water, but he declined to name it. He said terrorists armed with such information might release more of the drug and harm residents.

Cluck, who is also a medical doctor, said today he would have the same concern about any pharmaceutical.

He says that Meprobamate used to be a fairly major tranquilizer for people who had anxiety problems.

He said "I suppose there could be enough exposure to it to cause a medical problem, but that would be a lot, and we're seeing trace amounts."

The city's disclosure follows a ruling by the Texas attorney general that such information is public.

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