<HTML dir=ltr><HEAD><TITLE>CNN story on AP Investigation on Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water</TITLE>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=unicode">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.6000.16608" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY>
<DIV id=idOWAReplyText8088 dir=ltr>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>Recall that the ONDCP and the DEA are most concerned with diversion and abuse potential; they are not in the business of environmental regulating or research. Flushing medications does render them "unrecoverable", which is the main goal of those enforcement agencies. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2>The research is still quite new on the exact effects of specific drugs when flushed (do they survive the wastewater treatment process, etc etc?). But the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (a wastewater group that my agency belongs to) has written a response letter to the ONDCP, objecting to the flushing advice. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2>The answer, listed even on the ONDCP website as an option, is to have legitimate, safe community collection events (that involve law enforcement officers if controlled substances are involved) for residents to get rid of their medications. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2>Gina Temple-Rhodes</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2>Environmental Program Coordinator</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2>Western Lake Superior Sanitary District</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2>Duluth, MN </FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2>218-740-4784</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><BR>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> pharmwaste-bounces@lists.dep.state.fl.us on behalf of Boadway, Debra<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tue 3/11/2008 11:21 AM<BR><B>To:</B> pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us<BR><B>Subject:</B> [Pharmwaste] CNN story on AP Investigation on Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>CNN's giving coverage to the story on AP Investigation on Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water, but is their coverage accurate? This article has gained much attention. However, misinformation still abounds. CNN (Dr. Sanjay Gupta) stated Drugs listed on the Office of National Drug Control Policy web site to be flushed (such as oxycodone, entecavir, Actiq & Daytrana Trandermal Patch) should be flushed because once they dissolve, they are harmless. I don't believe this is accurate. Can anybody shed light on the Office of National Drug Control Policy? I think these drugs still cause environmental harm and misinforming the public may only make things worse.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>thank you</FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Deborah Boadway</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>Project Engineer</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>Industrial Waste Section</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>Phone (562) 908-4288, ext 2914</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>Fax (562) 908-4224</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>dboadway@lacsd.org</FONT> </P></DIV></BODY></HTML>