How Ultrapure Water Can Be Used in Pharmaceuticals For Improved Healthcare

25 February 2026

Toby Patrick

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Ultrapure Water (UPW) is a very important part of the pharmaceutical industry, as it has such a high purity level of around 18.2 MΩ cm resistivity, which is perfect for removing ions, organic matter, bacteria and particulate matter. All of this can reduce the quality of medication and turn it into something that can be potentially catastrophic to patients' health.

Hand holding assorted colorful pills on a bright blue background, creating a vibrant and health-focused visual.

It’s mainly used for drug manufacturing, as it can sanitise materials and equipment so everything is kept clean and away from any danger. This improves healthcare and makes it safer for patients by reducing contamination risks. It also improves the stability of therapeutic products for patients who need them to function properly.

This guide will explore how ultrapure water is used in pharmaceuticals and why it’s essential for keeping patients protected while improving their healthcare. Continue reading to learn more.

How Pharmaceutical Industries Improve Healthcare

Safety of Injectables

UPW is used to produce water for injection, the required solvent for injectable medications like vaccines for infectious diseases. These types of medications are used across the world, so it’s crucial that they’re made to be safe to use since they get injected into the skin and blood flow of patients. This ensures that they are free from endotoxins, microbes and chemical impurities that could cause sepsis or fatal adverse reactions.

Product Efficacy and Stability

When UPW is used, it can remove ionic and organic contaminants as it prevents chemical interactions that could degrade Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). This ensures medications remain stable and effective throughout their existence to prevent wasted medication, all while ensuring patient treatment is always safe to administer.

Preventing Contamination

Small contaminants are dangerous for medications, as they can interfere with how cells grow or cause a patient's body to have a bad reaction. Those within the industry can use UPW to help scientists make sure the environment stays clean and steady so that nothing ruins the medicine. This step is crucial for keeping the treatment safe and making sure it works exactly the way it should for the person taking it.

Sterilisation of Medical Devices

The integration of UPW in the pharmaceutical industry helps to generate clean steam for autoclaving. This ensures that surgical instruments and complex medical equipment are stripped of microscopic bio-burden without the risk of chemical residue. This minimises the transmission of pathogens and significantly reduces hospital infections that can occur from using products that have been contaminated. You can improve the integrity of the medical tools and the lives of the patients they serve.

Accurate Diagnostics

When new medicines are created and tested, scientists must use UPW to ensure their experiments are perfect in order for them to function as intended. This water is so clean that it has been stripped of every impurity that could interfere with testing equipment, making sure that the whole process is carefully constructed. When researchers prepare liquid samples for analysis, even the smallest change can create fake results called ghost peaks on their digital charts. This can ruin the final product of medication, leading to adverse effects on patients.

Formulation of Sensitive Topical Products

When companies make sensitive products like face creams or eye drops, they must use UPW to ensure it’s as safe as possible. Regular water contains tiny minerals and invisible bacteria that can easily irritate your skin or cause painful infections in your eyes. Manufacturers can remove those hidden impurities so the final product is gentle and effective. This high standard of purity protects your health and helps the medicine work exactly as it should without any nasty side effects.

What Technology is Used for UPW?

Continuous Electrodeionization (CEDI)

CEDI is the leading technology for UPW production. Used by water management companies like Xylem, it can replace chemical-based ion exchange with an electrochemical process. This can help to remove any impurities, including carbon dioxide, that can ruin medication. CEDI is a continuous, low-energy-consuming process and avoids the need for chemical regenerants, perfect for cost savings.

Ultraviolet (UV)

UV light can disrupt the DNA of microorganisms to prevent them from growing any bigger, while specific UV wavelengths can break down trace organisms. It helps manufacturers get more protection when making medication, as the water can stay at a consistent quality that will support regulatory compliance.

The pharmaceutical industry couldn’t survive without UPW. It’s the necessary component needed to ensure that all medication is safe to use, as it helps to sterilise machinery used by manufacturers and prevent any contamination from occurring. Without UPW, patients will receive inadequate care, as the medication they take could harm them or give them adverse effects. It’s crucial that companies within the industry keep their patients safe at all times to avoid any legal action from being taken against them.

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The Cultural Stigma Around Cosmetic Surgery: Why Are We Still Judging?

Toby Patrick
Jul 23, 2025
3 min read

Gloved hands holding a translucent breast implant in a surgical setting. The person wears a blue gown with the text "Mölnlycke" visible.

Cosmetic surgery is popular all over the world, but it still comes with a stigma. While some see it as empowering, others view it as harmful, vain and against religious or cultural beliefs. Most people have come to accept cosmetic surgery and realise the benefits that it can bring to their lives. But throughout this article, we will answer the question of why we are still judging those who choose to go under the knife.

Where did the stigma come from?

The most obvious impact of cosmetic surgery comes from cultural and religious beliefs. Going back in time, you would find that many religions believe altering our appearance goes against the God responsible for creating us.

Islam is arguably the religion most against the use of cosmetic surgery. Although the beliefs of some are becoming slightly more relaxed, most radical Muslims would view cosmetic surgery as tampering with something which Allah has created.

This differs from Islam’s stance on plastic surgery or any procedure that is designed to correct functional issues with the body.

The media also plays a key role in stigmas, and this isn’t exclusive to cosmetic surgery. Over the years, mainstream media and social media have portrayed plastic surgery to be a way of achieving a fake look.

Woman in white lab coat and purple cap, wearing blue gloves, holds a syringe. Focused expression in a clinical setting.

Social Expectations and Cosmetic Surgery

The increasing pressure to look a certain way, driven by what we see in Hollywood and online, has played a part in our changing beliefs towards cosmetic surgery. Women, especially, are put under pressure to look younger, have bigger breasts, skinnier waists and so on. Celebrities who don’t follow the standard are often unfairly criticised in the media.

This has caused a conflict with the stigma towards cosmetic surgery. As a society, we have come to accept that we cannot criticise appearances and also look down on those who are simply trying to keep up with aesthetic trends.

While the stigma has become more relaxed, men also still face backlash for turning to cosmetic surgery. Altering appearances in artificial ways is generally seen as a feminine act by many, despite the fact that men face the same pressures as women to look a certain way.

Breaking The Stigma Fully

Going forward, there is still some work to be done in terms of breaking the stigma around cosmetic surgery. After all, why should someone be judged for what they choose to do with their own body? Especially when we consider that these choices often come from the pressures created by society.

Fortunately, the tide is turning. In South Korea, for example, cosmetic and plastic surgery are viewed as normal with no stigma attached. As a result, 1 in 5 South Koreans have undergone plastic surgery.

This demonstrates the need for continued education in the Western world about surgery. Cosmetic surgery in Manchester or New York will likely still be presented negatively by certain areas of the media.

Final Thoughts

There is no doubt that there is still a stigma attached to cosmetic surgery, but we do appear to be making steps towards breaking this stigma. Going forward, education will be key to this shift, and it’s imperative that future generations are educated around issues such as confidence and empowerment. At the same time, it’s important that we aren’t creating or promoting unsafe surgical trends. When it comes to striking the right balance, the world can look to South Korea, where surgery is used to boost confidence, with trends focusing on safe, minimally invasive procedures. Time will tell whether or not the Western world can reach the same point in terms of attitudes towards surgery.