[Pharmwaste] Fish lesions, other problems are cause for worry - PA article

[Buxbaum, Diane]

How about figuring out how to pay for and implement a form of tertiary treatment that will render these chemicals inert. Or am I being naïve?


Diane D. Buxbaum, MPH
Environmental Scientist
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 2
Division of Enforcement and Compliance Assistance
290 Broadway (21 East)
New York, NY 10007
buxbaum.diane at epa.gov
Phone 212-637-3919
Fax 212-637-4086

From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Price, John L. "Jack"
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2014 9:26 AM
To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Fish lesions, other problems are cause for worry - PA article

As "something" we can do immediately, I suggest that at least some of us filter through that brainwashing and take more responsibility for our own health care. We do not have to salivate a la Pavlov's dogs at the brainwashing of prime time TV sponsors and rush out for the latest meds.  Admittedly, that's not a complete fix, for example, hard to choose not to take cytotoxics when battling cancer. I swallow those repeat messages myself on some things. But let's not wait for a government or other "fix" to get started when we can engage personal responsibility right now.

Passing the soap box along to someone else, Jack

John L. (Jack) Price
Environmental Consultant
Waste Reduction MS 4555
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
2600 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, FL  32399-2400
Phone:850.245.8751
Fax: 850.245.8803
john.l.price at dep.state.fl.us<mailto:john.l.price at dep.state.fl.us>
www.dep.state.fl.us/waste<http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste>
Please Note:  Florida has a very broad public records law.  Most written communications to or from state officials regarding state business are public records available to the public and media upon request.  Your e-mail is communications and may therefore be subject to public disclosure.

From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us<mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us> [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Nancy Busen
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2014 9:08 AM
To: Jim Mullowney; 'Catherine Zimmer'; Tenace, Laurie; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us<mailto:pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us>
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Fish lesions, other problems are cause for worry - PA article

Absolutely!
Until something is done about brainwashing the American public with 1.5 hours of prescription and OTC drug ads during prime time TV, people will still be trudging to the doctor for a pill to fix something that may not even be broken; and the doctor will send them on their way with a prescription 9 out of 10 times. The oil lobby isn't the only one with a total disregard for the environment; the pharmaceutical lobby is running right beside them.

I will now disembark from my soap box and thank you for listening.

Nancy Busen, Lab/Pretreatment Supervisor
City of Bentonville, Wastewater Utilities
1901 N.E. "A" Street
Bentonville, AR 72712
Phone: 479-271-3160
Fax: 479-271-3163
Email: nbusen at bentonvillear.com<mailto:nbusen at bentonvillear.com>

Forget that this task of planet saving is not possible in the time required. Don't be put off by people who know what is not possible. Do what needs to be done and check to see if it was impossible only after you are done. ....Paul Hawkins





From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us<mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us> [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Jim Mullowney
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2014 2:29 PM
To: 'Catherine Zimmer'; 'Tenace, Laurie'; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us<mailto:pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us>
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Fish lesions, other problems are cause for worry - PA article

I agree totally Catharine that we need a simple solution to a seemingly complex problem and I have been watching this for over seven years. I think we need a someone to digest the following

1.        Daughton's latest publication

2.       The Study on the environmental risks of medicinal products (done by Deloitte for the European Commission)

3.       The World Health Organization Blue Book on healthcare waste management

4.       The NIOSH alert on Hazardous drugs

5.       The 2011 letter to every hospital in the country from OSHA, NIOSH and the Joint commission on Healthcare warning  on hazardous drugs (all three on one letterhead)

6.       OSHA technical Manual on Hazardous Drugs (Zero exposure for Cytotoxic Drugs)

7.       Cytotoxic Drug Contamination in Hospital and Municipal Waste Water and its Transfer to Surface Water ( Dr. Theresa O'Keefe 2011)

8.       Guideline  on Safe Handling of Cytotoxic Drugs and related Wastes for South Australian Health Services 2012
I have made an attempt and came to the conclusion that for some drugs such as cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs that pass through a patient un-altered in high concentrations that we need to collect, transport and destroy the drugs contained in the urine and feces long before the waste enters the toilet (urine sample, stool sample for two days).

Check out www.cytotoxicsafety.org<http://www.cytotoxicsafety.org> and all of these studies are on the first page, just scroll down a bit and we welcome feedback.
Any questions please send me a note jmullowney at pharma-cycle.com<mailto:jmullowney at pharma-cycle.com> or call me at 617-755-0883

Thanks

Jim Mullowney

From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us<mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us> [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Catherine Zimmer
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2014 10:29 AM
To: 'Tenace, Laurie'; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us<mailto:pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us>
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Fish lesions, other problems are cause for worry - PA article

How about more focus on preventing?  I had hoped this article would literally move the discussion upstream, but instead its still waste management. We need someone to take Christian Daughton's last publication, disseminate it widely to physicians and synthesize it to colloquial terms for use with the general public.  Collection programs then need to hand this information out to participants.

Very truly yours,

Catherine Zimmer, MS, BSMT
Zimmer Environmental Improvement, LLC
St. Paul, MN
Ph:  651.645.7509
zenllc at usfamily.net<mailto:zenllc at usfamily.net>

From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us<mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us> [mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Tenace, Laurie
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2014 8:54 AM
To: 'pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us'
Subject: [Pharmwaste] Fish lesions, other problems are cause for worry - PA article

Fish lesions, other problems are cause for worry
http://www.goerie.com/article/20140923/NIE04/309239998/Fish-lesions-other-problems-are-cause-for-worry
By ANNA McCARTNEY, Erie Times-News
Contributing writer

Something is very out of sync in aquatic ecosystems around the world.

Evidence can be found in the unusually widespread frequency of fish lesions, excessive mortality and intersex fish. Male fish containing eggs in their testes have been found nationwide, including Pennsylvania's major watersheds, according to U.S. Geological Survey research. These problems plaguing fish and other aquatic life should be signs the water we rely on for drinking is also in trouble.
The likely culprits are endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that upset the endocrine system, which regulates hormones and the reproductive system. The sources of these chemicals are complex mixtures from agricultural animal wastes, pesticides and herbicides, and human sources from wastewater treatment plant effluent and other sewage discharges, according to Vicki Blazer, fish biologist and lead Pennsylvania study author. Low-dose exposure to EDCs at sensitive life stages can have long-term effects, including reproductive impairment, reduced disease resistance and early mortality.
These chemicals found in pharmaceuticals (human and veterinary) and personal care products (PPCPs), flame retardants, antibacterial products, plastics, pesticides and fertilizers are not currently regulated or commonly monitored. Since exposure to these EDCs has also been linked to conditions such as low sperm counts and testicular cancer in men, as well as breast cancer, obesity and autism, what's happening to aquatic animals should alert us to keep these chemicals out of the environment.
In 2008, Pennsylvania Sea Grant began tackling the problem of disposal and education. Before its first PPCP collection, funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in April 2008, the only choices locally were to flush unused meds, put them in the trash or keep them indefinitely in home medicine chests. All these options create serious public health issues, from drug abuse to water contamination.
In 2010, with an EPA Great Lakes Restoration grant and with Great Lakes Sea Grant partners in New York, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, Pennsylvania Sea Grant expanded its campaign to prevent unnecessary PPCPs from entering the environment. Sea Grant has educated and involved the public, elected officials, health-care professionals and others in solutions. Its campaign has reached 1,227,057 people and safely disposed of 21,765 pounds of unused meds.
Pa Sea Grant's collection events, data and the partnerships formed with groups locally, throughout the Great Lakes and nationally picked up the steam needed to address PPCP use and disposal. Groups include the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy and UPMC Hamot, health departments, police departments, the American Veterinary Medical Association, universities and others. Sea Grant staff members are currently working with the National Sea Grant Network to reach and teach more people nationwide.
Pennsylvania and other states now have collection boxes at police departments that accept prescription and over-the-counter and pet medications. And during the past four years, upward of 4 million pounds have been collected in just 32 hours during eight National Prescription Drug Take-Back days sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and law enforcement agencies.
However, even these are not enough to keep drugs from every home, hospital, doctor's office, and long-term care facility out of the environment or the hands of abusers. The U.S. Department of Justice recently announced plans to authorize pharmacies and hospitals to serve as drop-off sites for unused meds and an option to mail them directly to an authorized collector. Until these rules go into effect, you can use the collection boxes or participate in the next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit www.paseagrant.org<http://www.paseagrant.org/> for sites or call (800) 882-9539.
Join us next week to learn more about PPCP problems and solutions.


Laurie Tenace
Environmental Specialist
Waste Reduction Section
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 4555
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400
850.245.8759
Laurie.Tenace at dep.state.fl.us<mailto:Laurie.Tenace at dep.state.fl.us>

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