[Pharmwaste] RE: question on wastewater characterization ofpharmaceuticals

[gressitt at uninets.net]

Bewar iun mnind as well that there are clearly "body burden more friendly
choices" and a single SSRI manufactured by one company comes to mind. Both
Celexa and Lexapro are manufactured by one company but one is racemic and
the other is isomeric, resultin in a dose of 1/2 the other and hence 50%
less body burden and 50% less excretion and 50% less.... 'course I haven't
seen any ads yet pointing to this advantage. Most of the "press" on the
contrary has been to criticize the isomeric version as a "me too" drug.
Ill advisedly in my opinion.

Stevan Gressitt, M.D.

> "Reformulation" is not only possible but the pharmaceutical companies are
> working on it. It is in their best interest - one reason for side effects
> and
> bad drug reactions is that, in many cases, we have to take what amounts to
> an
> overdose of a drug for it to circulate throughout our whole body and have
> the
> desired effect on one particular organ system. A good example of this is
> chemotherapy drugs - the hair loss, nausea, etc. is caused from the
> systemic
> introduction of a poison that only needs to target one particular part of
> the
> body. This new way of developing drugs is called a targeted delivery
> system.
>
> Just don't ask me for more detail than that, it would take a
> pharmacokinetic
> specialist or researcher to describe in more detail.
> Laurie
>
> 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 at dep.state.fl.us 
>
> view our mercury web pages at:
> http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/mercury/default.htm
>
> Please Note:  Florida has a very broad public records law.  Most written
> communications to or from state officials regarding state business are
> public
> records available to the public and media upon request.  Your e-mail is
> communications and may therefore be subject to public disclosure.
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us
> [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Jackson,
> Jennifer
> Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 6:01 PM
> To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
> Subject: [Pharmwaste] RE: question on wastewater characterization
> ofpharmaceuticals
>
> Hi Matthew,
>
> Your observation is a good one and there is a plethora of studies done
> on what pharmaceuticals are entering waterways through wastewater
> effluent. Check out the USGS 2002 Reconnaissance on Pharmaceuticals and
> Personal Care Products. Boulder Creek, Potomac and San Francisco Bay
> have some studies as well. Google Scholar will give you lots of hits. To
> begin, look at: http://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/DM_top100.html as well
> as the archives of this listserv.
>
> Lots of pharmaceuticals are coming to our treatment plants, and yes,
> many wastewater agencies are concerned. Some pharms are broken down,
> some adsorb to biosolids and some come out the end pipe. Every treatment
> plant is different, with various kinds of technology. Reverse osmosis,
> UV, ozonation, carbon filtration and now ultrasound are all possible
> treatments that may break down or remove the pharmaceuticals.
> Unfortunately, some pharms respond better to certain treatments than
> others, meaning that a mix of treatments would be necessary to get 'em
> all. Also unfortunately, the burden of bringing this technology to our
> plants falls on our ratepayers -- real people, rather than the true
> culprits: over-prescription, formulations that don't break down and a
> lack of EPA and FDA collaboration in ensuring pharmaceuticals are tested
> for their environmental impacts.
>
> So pollution prevention is key for the portion of pharmaceuticals that
> are unused by hospitals, hospice, or residents, because that's much less
> expensive than, say reverse osmosis. Some people on this list are
> working toward a solution for disposal that will comply with DEA
> regulations as well as state and other federal law. The red tape is
> unbelievable.
>
> For pharms that we take and pass through our bodies, I believe some
> folks are looking at whether reformulation may be possible.
>
> Best,
> Jen Jackson
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