[Pharmwaste] USGS tests Arkansas streams

Tenace, Laurie Laurie.Tenace@dep.state.fl.us
Fri, 2 Sep 2005 11:56:39 -0400


Allen Gilliam, this one's for you!
http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2005/09/02/front/03azwatertests.txt


Water Tests Reveal Antibiotics, Other Organics In Area Streams

By John L. Moore
The Morning News

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SPRINGDALE -- Researches found a lot more than just phosphorus recently =
in
Northwest Arkansas streams and rivers.

While excess nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen have been hot =
topics
in Northwest Arkansas watersheds for years, modern technology and =
research
methods are allowing researchers to look at numerous organic chemicals =
that
could not be detected at low level concentrations in past years, =
scientists
said.

A study of area water released by the United States Geological Survey on
Thursday found 42 different organic chemicals in area streams and =
rivers,
including some antibiotics.

The study tested for 108 different compounds, including a wide variety =
of
antibiotics, said Brian Haggard, a hydrologist with the United States
Department of Agriculture who worked on the research with USGS =
scientists.

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Researchers are increasingly concerned with how bacteria become =
resistant to
antibiotics.

One concern is that low but chronic levels of antibiotics in the water =
and
sediment of streams may make bacteria resistant to antibiotics, Haggard =
said.

People infected with antibiotic resistant strains can be harder to cure.

Some of the organic compounds, particularly plasticizers used in =
cosmetics
and pharmaceuticals, can also disrupt endocrine systems in fish and =
other
wildlife. =20
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The endocrine disrupters can lead to reproductive and maturational =
problems
in the fish, Haggard said.

But the report released Thursday from samples collected in 2004 is =
really
just the first step, explained Joel Galloway, the lead researcher with =
USGS
on the project.

"At this time, we don't know exactly what these results mean from a =
human
health or stream health perspective," Galloway said. "The jury is still =
out
on what low levels of organic compounds might do."

The study tested 17 different spots on streams in Benton and Washington
County in March and April of 2004. An area along Mud Creek was also =
tested in
August 2004.

Galloway said the USGS is conducting similar tests around the country.

One area was chosen in North Central Arkansas along a stream with almost =
no
urban development as a reference point, Galloway said.

Sites were chosen above and below wastewater treatment plants on the =
streams
to see if more organic compounds showed up below the plants after the =
treated
wastewater was released into the streams.

Galloway said the research found that more organic chemicals were =
present
downstream of the treatment plants, indicating some of the chemicals =
were
probably coming from the treated wastewater.

Luanne Diffin, environmental services coordinator for Rogers Water =
Utilities,
said the study was a good initial survey of organic compounds in =
Northwest
Arkansas streams.

"We're very interested in looking at this more in the future and hope =
the
USGS takes steps to secure funding along with other groups for further
research," Diffin said.

The report found the most common organic compounds of the ones tested =
for
were caffeine, phenol (found in disinfectants and some industrial =
processes),
para-Cresol (disinfectant and wood preservative), and acetyl hexamethyl
tetrahydro naphthalene (musk fragrance).


Laurie J. Tenace
Environmental Specialist
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 4555
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400
PH: (850) 245-8759
FAX: (850) 245-8811
Laurie.Tenace@dep.state.fl.us
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view our mercury web pages at:=20
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/mercury/default.htm
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