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Are Your Bugs on Drugs ?
A Cooperative Pharmaceutical Control Program in
Petoskey, Michigan
MWEA Wastewater Operators Fall Seminar
September 16 and 30, 2009
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(Photo Credit: Robert Morris, Harbor Springs Sewer Authority)
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John Porter, P.E.
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Over the last 70 years, we have benefited
from new drugs and other products in
our quest for “better living through
chemistry.”
A Water Environment Federation paper
estimate: 80,000 different
chemicals were released into
the environment over this time.
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Some entry routes to surface and
groundwater - treated domestic/industrial
wastewater, combined sewer overflows,
septic tanks, concentrated animal feeding
operations.
As of 2006, nearly
28 million organic and
inorganic substances
have been inventoried.
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“Emerging Contaminant”
(a.k.a., “micro constituent”)
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Biological material or chemical substance
synthetic or naturally occurring.
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Not routinely monitored in the environment.
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May already be present in the environment.
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Pollutants which may be candidates for future
regulation, depending on potential human health
effects and toxicity.
Presence and effects becoming known or “emerging.”
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Pharmaceuticals and personal care products:
◦ pharmaceuticals: antibiotics, hormones, statins,
anti-cancer drugs, veterinary drugs.
◦ personal care: sunscreens, colognes, antibacterial
soap, hair spray.
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Endocrine disruptors.
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Disinfection by-products.
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Brighteners in detergents.
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Anti-bacterial nano materials.
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“Endocrine Disruptors” are: Substances that
mimic a hormone in the endocrine system
and disrupt the function of the hormone.
◦ Linked to biological effects in animals.
◦ May stimulate growth or cause underproduction
of hormones.
◦ Concern: low-level exposure may
cause similar effects in humans.
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DDT.
Bisphenol A (BPA) – plastic water bottles,
white vegetable can liners.
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Estrogenic substances - birth control pills.
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Pthalates - in toys and air fresheners.
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Fire retardants.
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Fish
Upstream WWTP
Effluent,
(%)
Downstream WWTP
Effluent
(%)
Male
50
10
Female
50
80
Intersex
0
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Antibacterial agent invented by Ciba in
the1960s.
In 2006, was found to interfere with
endocrines in animals at levels in streams.
Bacteria develop resistance to triclosan
(Levy, 2001) and multiple antibiotics.
Interferes with bullfrog thyroid function.
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The American Medical Association cautioned
against household use in 2002.
Found in fish tissue, human breast milk,
blood, streamwater/sediment, biosolids
application sites, and wastewater.
Contained in a large number
of products.
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11 Liquid Soaps
Dial® Liquid Soap
7 deodorants
Right Guard Sport
3 Dental Care Products
Colgate Total® Tooth Paste
Reach® Antibacterial Tooth Brush
Colgate Breeze™ Mouthwash
5 Kitchenware Products
Faberware® Microban Steak Knife Set and Cutting Boards
Franklin Machine Products FMP Ice Cream Scoop with
Microban SZ 20
10 PLAYSKOOL® Children’sToys
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(source: www.wikipedia.org)
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(source: www.wikipedia.org)
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Acinetobacter baumanni—also called Iraqibacter
because of its high incidence in American
soldiers wounded in Iraq.
Resistant to a large number of antibiotics.
Acquired in the hospital.
Treatment is quite difficult and expensive.
It involves a new generation of antibiotics, which
fortunately act on the bacterium.
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