[Pharmwaste] Osorb

Catherine Zimmer zenllc at usfamily.net
Mon Oct 7 11:15:41 EDT 2013


Hi everyone,

I am always skeptical of any technology that claims to capture or destroy pharmaceuticals and other pollutants in water.  Most articles I’ve read indicate it would take a multitude of technologies, at an extraordinary cost, everything from settling tanks and flocculation to carbon filtration and air stripping to remove all the pollutants from wastewater.  The treatment technologies work based on the chemical structure of the drug.  For example, carbmazepine and diclofenac can be broken down by ozone.  However, iron flocculation has no appreciable effect on removing either drug.  Another issue that is not often addressed is what do the breakdown products look like, they are likely still pollutants and are they biologically active? With activated carbon, some pollutants/rx are removed, but the sites on the filter are easily filled and often break through occurs.  For something like “Obsorb”, it may work for some pollutants, but won’t work for all, and there is the cost issue, this is essentially a silica filtration system that would have to manage millions of gallons of water per day.  And, as we all know, any treatment technology is basically moving the pollutant to another media, e.g. the land or air.  It’s the on-going crap shoot of treatment.  

So, as you all know, I go back to beating the drum of prevention.  I know its not as financially attractive as selling the gizmo that does magic, but it does magic without much cost.  Prevention of long term chronic illness is a good place to start.  In the UK, where they passed legislation calling on the healthcare sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2030, they are doing a complete overhaul of their system and starting with prevention.  By reducing the patients progressing to chronic disease they minimize resource consumption and by extension, GHG.  (Studies indicate 60% of GHG produced in HC are due to products used and disposed.)

With the advent of our new healthcare system, I have hope that we will be focusing more on prevention, rather than treatment.  As a matter of fact, the UK has a “sustainability division” in their NationaL Health Service—let’s lobby for something similar at CMS.  And maybe we will finally start to seriously consider non-pharmaceutical treatments rather than just piling on the pharmaceuticals.  It can be done.  I know a number of people who are refusing pharmaceuticals in lieu of alternative medicine, even things so boring as exercise, and they are doing well.  

Very truly yours,

Catherine Zimmer, MS, BSMT
Principal
Zimmer Environmental Improvement LLC
Ph: 651.645.7509



From: Ed Gottlieb 
Sent: Monday, October 07, 2013 9:24 AM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us ; Brian Stenz 
Subject: Re: [Pharmwaste] Osorb

The correct link is:
http://www.absmaterials.com/stormwater

Ed

>>> Brian Stenz <brian at returnlogistics.com> 10/7/2013 10:19 AM >>>
I'd be curious to learn what others think of this new technology for capturing pharmaceuticals and other chemicals in water.

http://www.absmaterials.com/stormwater---
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