[Pharmwaste] FW: Chemicals in water altering genders offish(*LakePepin, Peedee and Potomac Rivers)

[Reibstein, Rick (EEA)]

Septic systems allow for the discharge into the leach field of anything that floats, so what gets sent to the WWTP is only what settles.  I don't know what percentage of excreted pharmaceuticals is going into the leach field.  My understanding is that if it's a leach field close to the surface where there's high biological activity there might be a lot of biodegradation before it reaches anyone's wellhead.  But if it's deeper it could travel with less degradation.

From: Sue Dayton [mailto:sdayton at swcp.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 10:59 AM
To: 'Reibstein, Rick (EEA)'; 'Howard Anderson'; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] FW: Chemicals in water altering genders offish(*LakePepin, Peedee and Potomac Rivers)

Rick:

I live in a rural community, and have a septic system in my yard. When it gets Floyd's Septic takes it to the regional WWTP - along with the leachate from the county landfill. And from there it gets spread on farmlands.

Sue Dayton
Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League
North Carolina Healthy Communities Program
PO BOX 44
Saxapahaw, NC 27340
(336) 525-2003
sdayton at swcp.com<mailto:sdayton at swcp.com>



Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.   -  Martin Luther King Jr.



________________________________
From: Reibstein, Rick (EEA) [mailto:Rick.Reibstein at state.ma.us]
Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 8:23 AM
To: Sue Dayton; 'Howard Anderson'; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] FW: Chemicals in water altering genders offish(*LakePepin, Peedee and Potomac Rivers)

Don't forget septic discharges.  Not everything goes to sewer.

From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Sue Dayton
Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 6:04 PM
To: 'Howard Anderson'; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] FW: Chemicals in water altering genders of fish(*LakePepin, Peedee and Potomac Rivers)

Howard:

This is more complex than you think. I work on sludge issues here in NC - the spreading of sewage sludge on farmlands (where this stuff concentrates) that's being given to farmers to use as a fertilizer free of charge from WWTPs. Our sewage systems aren't going to do a .... thing unless they are TOLD to do so by state and/or federal regulators. They aren't being told nor will they acknowledge that there's a problem.

Sue Dayton
Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League
North Carolina Healthy Communities Program
PO BOX 44
Saxapahaw, NC 27340
(336) 525-2003
sdayton at swcp.com<mailto:sdayton at swcp.com>



Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.   -  Martin Luther King Jr.



________________________________
From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Howard Anderson
Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 5:55 PM
To: 'Sue Dayton'; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] FW: Chemicals in water altering genders of fish(*LakePepin, Peedee and Potomac Rivers)

Dear Pharmwaste List:

Remember that over  99% of these drugs come from excretions by those of us who take the drugs and excrete metabolites, or in many cases largely unchanged drug. We should concentrate our efforts on teaching our sewage systems to render the chemicals benign. Sometimes we spend a lot of time and money trying to solve 1 percent of the problem, when we should be better served solving the 99 percent. Then the extra 1 percent would come along, as a matter of course.

Sincerely,

Howard

Howard C. Anderson, Jr.,R.Ph.
Executive Director
North Dakota Board of Pharmacy
1906 E. Broadway Ave.
P.O. Box 1354
Bismarck, ND  58502-1354
Phone (701) 328-9535
Fax (701) 328-9536
Web site www.nodakpharmacy.com
________________________________
From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Sue Dayton
Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 1:22 PM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: [Pharmwaste] FW: Chemicals in water altering genders of fish (*LakePepin, Peedee and Potomac Rivers)

The "generating source" for these hormone-disrupting chemicals found in rivers and streams is PEOPLE as part of the never-ending waste stream from homes, businesses, restaurants, hospitals, research labs, veterinary clinics, funeral homes, nursing homes, and industry which takes a brief stop at the local wastewater treatment plant before these unregulated and untested and unremoved hormone disrupting chemicals are discharged as effluent into surface waters and onto farmlands via sewage sludge (aka, biosolids) where the chemicals are found to concentrate. The problem may not just be affecting smallmouth bass, carp, catfish and sturgeon, but humans as well seen through research studies showing decreasing sperm counts in men. A video is also available for viewing at this link. Thoughts, anyone? -- Sue
.........................................................


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/25/eveningnews/main5778106.shtml

COLUMBIA, Mo., Nov. 25, 2009
Chemicals in Water Alter Gender of Fish
Pollution Brings Worrying Signs for Fish Populations; Worse, Most U.S. Drinking Water Comes from the Same Sources

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