[Pharmwaste] USGS tests Arkansas streams

[Gilliam, Allen]

What, with all the chicken ops in that part of the state and the "aroma"
associated, the musk cologne is a MUST!  And, I think was deer season
during the usgs sampling period.

Thanx for the local update, Laurie.  ADEQ, a couple other sister
agencies and associations are, to a degree, keeping a finger on the
pulse of these emerging POCs, but mainly focusing on pharmas at this
time.

That gal in Rogers, Luanne Diffin, is truly a city environmental mgr
that'll push this issue to the hilt!  She's been on at least one of the
pharmawaste conference calls and will be a true asset to this state's
info data base.

Y'all have a safe 3 day weekend,

Allen Gilliam
ADEQ State Pretreatment Coordinator =20

-----Original Message-----
From: pharmwaste-admin@lists.dep.state.fl.us
[mailto:pharmwaste-admin@lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Tenace,
Laurie
Sent: Friday, September 02, 2005 10:57 AM
To: pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: [Pharmwaste] USGS tests Arkansas streams


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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