The FDA has launched a public education campaign about the dangers of drinking water contaminated by chlorhexidine and other chemicals, and it is also looking for ways to reduce the exposure of people to those chemicals.
In response to public concerns over the health risks, the FDA on Tuesday sent out an advisory that advises people not to drink water that has been contaminated with chemicals, including chlorine, as a precaution.
The advisory also recommends that people avoid drinking water that contains chlorhexidine, which is often found in water-treatment systems.
The agency has previously said that the chemicals can damage the human body if inhaled.
The FDA also has said that chlorine-containing products, such as chlorinated drinking water, should not be used for drinking.
The recommendations come after the agency warned that drinking water can contain chemicals that are not harmful to health.
“We are taking a precautionary approach in response to the increased public concern over the potential for exposure to chlorhexidines and other potentially harmful compounds,” the agency said in a news release.
“Although we have not identified a specific case of a direct health threat, we are making recommendations to minimize the exposure to these chemicals in the community.”
The FDA did not provide an estimate of the number of people who might have been exposed to chlorium-containing chemicals, but the agency noted that chlorhexids have been found in drinking water supplies in more than a dozen countries.