[Pharmwaste] Chemicals, drugs found in Ohio River

[Gigi Davidson]

Ask the veterinarian at The Wilds in Cumberland, OH if it matters.   
Apparently there is enough fluoxetine in the Ohio River to disrupt the 
serotonin-mediated reproduction in fresh water mussels.  Their 
populations have been significantly reduced in this river, affecting 
water quality and other animals such as salamanders.


HACKEL, RICHARD wrote:
>
> http://www.indystar.com/article/20100713/NEWS/7130356/1001/NEWS/Chemicals-drugs-found-in-Ohio-River
>
>  
>
>
>   *Chemicals, drugs found in Ohio River*
>
>
>     *Experts say levels seen in study may not need to be reduced*
>
> Associated Press  July 13, 2010
>
> LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Researchers have detected low concentrations of 
> dozens of chemicals and pharmaceuticals in the Ohio River upstream and 
> downstream from Louisville.
>
> Among the substances found were antidepressants, veterinary hormones 
> and cocaine, The Courier-Journal reported. But the researchers who 
> conducted the study say the contaminants are in extremely low 
> concentrations.
>
> The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission study, which cost 
> $85,000, looked for 158 contaminants, including 118 pharmaceuticals, 
> hormones and personal care products.
>
> Samples were taken at 22 locations from Pittsburgh to Paducah. The 
> Ohio River forms Indiana's southern border with Kentucky, and several 
> Hoosier cities, including Evansville, draw drinking water from it.
>
> "Just because you find it doesn't mean it's a problem," said Erich 
> Emery, a biologist who worked on the study for the commission, 
> commonly known as ORSANCO.
>
> The 279-page screening survey is made up almost entirely of raw data. 
> ORSANCO, which partnered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
> on the survey, is working on a final report to be completed early next 
> year.
>
> Peter Tennant, deputy director of the commission, said researchers are 
> not sure that the levels of what they found need to be reduced.
>
> "It would be nice if we had a better sense of which chemicals to worry 
> about," Tennant said.
>
> A scientist who was not involved in the study but reviewed the data 
> said some of the pollutants have been tied to feminization of male fish.
>
> "When we see something this basic being altered in fish, we should be 
> concerned about what it's doing to our own health," said biologist 
> Peter DeFur, a research associate professor at Virginia Commonwealth 
> University.
>
> The drugs detected in the river water include some commonly prescribed 
> medications, said Dr. George Bosse, medical director of the Kentucky 
> Regional Poison Center in Louisville. The study found medications used 
> to fight depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart 
> disease and infection.
>
> Also frequently detected were caffeine, cocaine and nicotine from 
> tobacco products.
>
> Officials in Louisville, which draws its drinking water from the Ohio 
> River, said their current treatment already removes some contaminants 
> identified by the survey.
>
> Water and sewer officials say the contaminants could be reduced 
> further as they upgrade their plants to meet new standards for 
> unrelated pollutants.
>
>  
>
>  
>
>  
>
> Live with Rights, Reason, and Responsibility.
>           Respectfully,
>           *Richard D Hackel*, On Scene Coordinator
>
> Indiana Department of Environmental Management
>
> Office of Land, Compliance & Response Branch
>
> /*/_Emergency Response Section_/*//*/__/*/
>
> /*/__/*/
>
> /*/_ _/*/
>
> Northern Regional Office
>
> 300 North Michigan Street, Suite 450
>
> South Bend, Indiana  46601-1295
>
>  
>
> **SPILL LINE 888 / 233-7745**
>
> pager 888 / 501-­9117
>
> 574 / 245-­4876   fx 245-­4877
> rhackel at idem.in.gov <mailto:rhackel at idem.in.gov>
>
>           **
>
>  
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> ---
> Note: As a courtesy to other listserv subscribers, please post messages to the listserv in plain text format to avoid the garbling of messages received by digest recipients.
> ---
> TO SUBSCRIBE, go to:   http://lists.dep.state.fl.us/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/pharmwaste 
> TO UNSUBSCRIBE, DO NOT REPLY TO THE LISTSERV. Please send an e-mail to pharmwaste-unsubscribe at lists.dep.state.fl.us -- the subject line and body of the e-mail should be blank.
> If you believe you may be subscribed with a different email address, please visit the subscriber listing at http://lists.dep.state.fl.us/cgi-bin/mailman/roster/pharmwaste 
> FOR PROBLEMS:  Contact List Administrator Laurie.Tenace at dep.state.fl.us 
> SEND MAIL to the list server at:  pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
>   

-- 





  
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Treat the Earth well.  It was not given to you by your parents.  It was loaned to you by your children."


Gigi Anne Davidson, RPh, DICVP
Director of Clinical Pharmacy Services
North Carolina State University
College of Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary Teaching Hospital Pharmacy
4700 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, NC 27606

Phone: 919-513-6575
FAX: 919-513-6571
email:  gigi_davidson at ncsu.edu

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is 
for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential 
and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or 
distribution is prohibited. 


-------------- next part --------------
Skipped content of type multipart/related