Readers want to know about water, children killed in 9/11

Let's say an inspection turned up traces of medications in the water you drink - something that's happened in several U.S. cities, according to a recent series of stories by The Associated Press.

Surely you could avoid the drug residue by sticking to bottled water.

Or could you?

That's one of the four questions being answered in this installment of "Ask AP," a weekly Q&A column where AP journalists respond to readers' questions about the news.


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Q: I've assumed that all those killed in the collapse of the twin towers on 9/11 were adults. Were any children killed in the buildings during the attacks or collapse?

Aaron Merriman

Columbia, Mo.


A: Eight children died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. They were all airline passengers, traveling on two of the four hijacked planes that crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field.

The youngest, 2-year-old Christine Lee Hanson, was traveling aboard United Flight 175, which hit the trade center's south tower. Two other children flying with their families were on the same flight. The other five children - including three 11-year-old students taking a school trip to California - were on board the American Airlines flight that crashed into the Pentagon.

Amy Westfeldt

Associated Press Writer, New York

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Q: I read your story on pharmaceuticals in drinking water, and quite frankly I'm shocked.

I have a 1-year-old daughter and I buy nursery water that is enhanced with fluoride and is supposed to be distilled or purified. I heard that those bottled waters come from the same places where the tap water comes from. Does that mean there are pharmaceuticals in that water as well?

Rebecca Butler

Stafford, Texas



A: Different brands of bottled water come from different sources - sometimes bottlers draw water from remote springs, sometimes from city supplies.

Bottlers insist they rigorously clean their water, and many do use advanced treatments that likely do a good job reducing or removing any pharmaceutical residue. But whether trace amounts survive remains an unknown - as a rule, bottlers don't test. They're not required to.

If you're really concerned, consider brands that are cleaned with a process called reverse osmosis. While there's no guarantee that would remove everything, it's considered to be most effective.

Justin Pritchard

Associated Press Writer, Los Angeles

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Q: So many of my friends and co-workers have noticed that AP as well as other news media almost always refer to Hillary as Hillary RODHAM Clinton. However Obama is never Barack HUSSEIN Obama. What is your explanation?

Robert Stafford

Luray, Va.



A: It is AP's policy to refer to the candidates the way they choose to be listed as U.S. senators - Barack Obama, John McCain, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Donna Cassata

AP Political Editor, Washington

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Q: Why does The Associated Press say in stories that someone "did not immediately return a call seeking comment"? Why must someone respond to the AP "immediately"? No one has an obligation to make statements to the press.

Paul T Ferrer

Minot, N.D.


A: It is an interesting question and I must say I can appreciate, to a degree, the impression you have about the wording.

Actually, the wording is intended to be a concession. It is meant to indicate that the person or institution we called did not refuse to comment but rather was not "immediately" available. And it allows that comment might be forthcoming, if or when the person (or institution) agrees to be interviewed.

Brian Toolan

AP National Editor

If you have your own news-related question that you'd like to see answered by an AP reporter or editor, send it to newsquestions(at)ap.org, with "Ask AP" in the subject line. And please include your full name and hometown so they can be published with your question.
 

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