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<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Sent:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Monday, August 11,
2008 2:14 PM<br>
<b>Subject:</b> EPA Continues Work to Understand Potential Impacts of
Pharmaceuticals in Water<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p>EPA Continues Work to Understand Potential Impacts of Pharmaceuticals in
Water EPA is seeking comment on an Information Collection Request (ICR) that
will be used in a detailed study of unused pharmaceutical disposal methods by
hospitals, long-term care facilities, hospices and veterinary hospitals. EPA is
seeking more information on the practices of the health care industry to inform
future potential regulatory actions, and identify best management and proper
disposal practices. This is one of several actions the agency is taking to
strengthen its understanding of disposal practices and potential risks from
pharmaceuticals in water. <span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p>"The agency's work to increase industry stewardship and scientific
understanding of pharmaceuticals in water continues," said Benjamin H.
Grumbles, EPA's assistant administrator for water. "By reaching out to the
National Academy of Sciences and requesting information from the health care
industry, EPA is taking important steps to enhance its efforts." <span
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p>The agency is also commissioning the National Academy of Sciences to provide
scientific advice on the potential risk to human health from low levels of
pharmaceutical residues in drinking water. The National Academy of Sciences
will convene a workshop of scientific experts Dec. 11-12, to advise the agency
on methods for screening and prioritizing pharmaceuticals to determine
potential risk.<span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p>Other actions the agency is taking include: expanding a recent fish tissue
pilot study to sample nationally to determine whether residues from
pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) may be present in fish and
waterways; developing a methodology to establish water quality criteria to
protect aquatic life; and conducting studies to examine the potential
occurrence of PPCPs in sewage sludge and wastewater. To facilitate these
efforts, the agency has developed state-of-the-art analytical methods capable
of detecting various pharmaceuticals, steroids and hormones at very low levels.<span
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p>EPA also is participating in an international effort with the World Health
Organization to study appropriate risk assessment methods for pharmaceuticals
as environmental contaminants. All these actions reflect advice the agency sought
from a broad range of stakeholders including environmental and public health
groups, drinking water and wastewater utilities, state water and public health
agencies, and the agricultural community.<span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p>EPA?s four-pronged approach for PPCPs in water is aimed at strengthening
scientific knowledge; improving public understanding; building partnerships for
stewardship; and taking regulatory action when appropriate. <span
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p>EPA will accept public comments on the Health Care Industry ICR for 90 days
after it is published in the Federal Register.<span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p>More information on EPA?s research and response to PPCPs in the environment:
<a href="http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/ppcp/">http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/ppcp/</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>_____________________________<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>Sierra E. Fletcher</span></i></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>Associate – Policy and Programs<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>Product Stewardship Institute, Inc.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>137 Newbury Street, 7th Floor<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>Boston, MA 02116<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>617-236-4886 (phone)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:black'>617-859-9889 (fax)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><a href="mailto:scott@productstewardship.us">sierra@productstewardship.us</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><a href="http://www.productstewardship.us/">www.productstewardship.us</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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