[Pharmwaste] USGS studies offer nat'l emerging contaminants data

DeBiasi,Deborah dldebiasi at deq.virginia.gov
Wed Oct 29 17:01:43 EDT 2008


Go to the site to see the links:


http://www.watertechonline.com/news.asp?N_ID=70863

USGS studies offer nat'l emerging contaminants data 
10/29/2008 4:00:36 PM 
 
RESTON, VA - The US Geological Survey (USGS) has published online data
from two of its national-scale reconnaissance studies on the
environmental occurrence of organic wastewater contaminants, such as
pharmaceuticals, personal care products and other emerging contaminants,
in groundwater and untreated sources of drinking water in the United
States.



According to the USGS, water samples were collected from a network of 47
groundwater sites across 18 states in 2000 for the groundwater study.
The sample wells, which typically were not used for drinking water, were
analyzed for 65 chemicals.



The most frequently detected chemicals include N,N-diethyltoluamide
(insect repellant), bisphenol A (BPA, a plastic- and epoxy-manufacturing
ingredient), tri(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (fire retardant),
sulfamethoxazole (veterinary and human antibiotic), and 4-octylphenol
monoethoxylate (detergent metabolite). The concentrations of chemicals
detected were low, the USGS said.


In the 2001 source water study, a network of 25 groundwater and 49
surface water sources of public drinking water supply in 25 states and
Puerto Rico were sampled and analyzed for 124 emerging contaminants.
This study looked at water sources for populations ranging from one
family to more than 8 million people, according to the USGS.


All samples in the source water study were collected at surface-water
intakes or wellheads prior to water treatment. At least one emerging
contaminant - including some naturally occurring compounds such as plant
and animal steroids - was detected in about 96 percent of the samples,
the USGS reported. The most frequently detected chemicals in surface
water were cotinine (nicotine metabolite) and 1,7-dimethylxanthine
(caffeine metabolite); and in groundwater were carbamazepine
(pharmaceutical), BPA, 1,7-dimethylxanthine and the fire retardant
tri(2-chloroethyl) phosphate.



According to the USGS, the two reconnaissance studies are considered the
first to collect baseline information on the environmental occurrence of
pharmaceuticals, personal care products, detergents, flame retardants,
naturally occurring sterols and other organic contaminants in US
groundwater and untreated sources of drinking water. Although The
Associated Press(AP) released in March its investigative report on
pharmaceuticals in drinking water sources, the USGS' Michael J. Focazio
told WaterTech Online(tm) on October 28 that the USGS data was not yet
available to the public when the AP report was released.



"They were aware of our pending study results and they were also
informed that it would be published soon. Unfortunately, they put
together a story without our data and therefore missed an important
opportunity," he said, noting that the USGS projects require rigorous
quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC).



According to Focazio, who was the lead researcher on the sources of
drinking water study and paper, the USGS emerging contaminant project is
ongoing, and has many facets and studies associated with it. However,
this is the first time data from the sources of drinking water study
have been released. Focazio also helped coordinate the USGS Toxic
Substances Hydrology Program under which the emerging contaminant
project is supported.



"The contaminants we detected represent a wide range of medicines,
personal care products, and other compounds excreted or disposed of by
typical homeowners in our daily lives," said Focazio. Although not part
of the study, some of these compounds are likely found in food and food
ingredients, such as preservatives and chemicals used in food packaging
as well as feed additives and medicines given to livestock.



"These results highlight the fact that products used and choices made by
homeowners and consumers living in our watersheds are impacting the
quality of our own drinking water," said Focazio.



Although there is an increasing number of stewardship programs designed
to handle disposal of unused pharmaceuticals, the programs do not
address the "potentially larger source of pharmaceuticals to the
environment caused by excretion from our bodies and into our
wastewaters," added Focazio, who noted the connections between consumers
and drinking water quality.



According to the USGS Web site, data from these surveys will help
scientists, regulators, water-resource managers and health professionals
to determine if the concentrations and mixtures of chemicals measured in
the sampled waters pose a threat to human or environmental health, and
will help with the development of mitigating strategies where needed.


These studies follow a previous baseline survey of US streams for
emerging contaminants.


To access the USGS reconnaissance studies, click here.


To view USGS images of its emerging contaminants studies, click here.


For related information, click here. 
  

Deborah L. DeBiasi
Email:   dldebiasi at deq.virginia.gov
WEB site address:  www.deq.virginia.gov
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Office of Water Permit Programs
Industrial Pretreatment/Toxics Management Program
PPCPs, EDCs, and Microconstituents
Mail:          P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA  23218 (NEW!)
Location:  629 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA  23219
PH:         804-698-4028
FAX:      804-698-4032



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