[Pharmwaste] FW: Chemicals in water altering genders offish(*LakePepin,

Thu Feb 4 11:29:01 EST 2010

Tom:

It's a societal problem. I used to be married to an ER doctor. He said his
patients would get mad at him for not prescribing drugs when they thought
they needed them. Some patients would go as far as to write the hospital CEO
demanding that he be fired for not giving them what they felt they needed!
Pharm companies advertise on TV, radio and in magazines about which drugs
they should be taking for their medical problems. Pharm reps wine and dine
docs to order and prescribe their pills. Children and adults are prescribed
antidepressants for hyperactivity and depression. Today there is a pill for
everyone, for anything. Physicians don't even know why certain medications
work, but they do. This has been my own personal experience with statin
drugs.

I believe we need a multi-pronged approach to this which might include doing
more research/independent studies on health risks from toxic substances
(including pharms) currently not regulated; regulations that require testing
and removal of toxic substances (including pharms) by WWTPs; removal of
protections for certain chemicals classified as trade secrets; increased
public education about the risks of toxics substances and pharms in the
environment; a publicly-funded program to support green chemistry ...... an
incentive program for pharm co's to conduct green chemistry research?
Others?

Sue

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

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
TBadrick at aol.com
Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 8:52 AM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: Re: [Pharmwaste] FW: Chemicals in water altering genders
offish(*LakePepin, 

According to the EPA web site there are more than 700+ cities with combined
sewer systems.  What that means is a significant rain event can send
sanitary sewer discharges into the "untreated" pathway.  Where I live that
means the Willamette River (then the Columbia, then the Pacific Ocean).

I don't think any solution will be as effective as weaning people off all
the products.  It would be interesting to know what percentage of
"pharmaceuticals" were medically necessary.  

Tom Badrick

Badrick Consulting

In a message dated 2/4/2010 5:23:56 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,
Rick.Reibstein at state.ma.us writes:

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

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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