WP: Pharmaceuticals in Waterways Raise Concern

[Pirate Smile]

Pharmaceuticals in Waterways Raise Concern
Effect on Wildlife, Humans Questioned

By Juliet Eilperin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, June 23, 2005; Page A03

Academics, state officials and environmental advocates are starting to question whether massive amounts of discarded pharmaceuticals, which are often flushed down the drain, pose a threat to the nation's aquatic life and possibly to people.

In waterways from the Potomac to the Brazos River in Texas, researchers have found fish laden with estrogen and antidepressants, and many show evidence of major neurological or physiological changes.

No one has seen evidence of effects on human health, but a number are asking publicly why the federal government is not taking a more aggressive approach to what they see as a looming problem.

In October 2002, Maine's Department of Environmental Protection asked federal scientists to analyze water samples to determine to what extent prescription drugs had seeped into the state's waterways. Worried that discarded birth-control pills, antidepressants and other drugs could affect the state's fishing industry and public health, the department's Ann Pistell hoped the federal Environmental Protection Agency's Northeast office could give her a speedy answer.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/22/AR2005062201988.html

[Cassandra]

1. This is not just about discarded pills but also...

drugs that are not fully metabolized and are pissed away. Sorry to be gross about it.

[burrowowl]

2. Pharmaceuticals gotta

make money! Water purification plants don't take the cillians and mycins out of the water, bugs get more and more resistant, gotta develop more drugs. But bugs evolve or mutate faster than pharmas come up with new drugs. KEPT GIVING TO CORPORATISTS TO SOLVE PROBLEMS THEY CREATE AT A SLOWER RATE THAN THEY CREATE THEM!

[Moderator]

3. This is a duplicate

but this got moved instead of locked. :-)

[salin]

4. is anyone surprised that scientists at the EPA would not

be seriously pursuing this, or if they are that there reports would be sliced and diced til it read like a prozac induced happy paper/report and a big smooch to Pharma?