Sorry everybody (Marty) for the big 'cut-and-paste.' I get EPA water news emails. This one came yesterday and I thought some of you might find it interesting.
New for Release: Wednesday, August 06, 2008
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA Continues Work to Understand Potential Impacts of Pharmaceuticals
in
Water
Contact Information: Enesta Jones, (202) 564-4355/
jones.enesta@epa.gov
(Washington, D.C. * August 6, 2008) Today, 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.
"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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
EPA will accept public comments on the Health Care Industry ICR for 90
days after it is published in the Federal Register.
More information on EPA*s research and response to PPCPs in the
environment:
PPCPs in Water | US EPA
Note: If a link above doesn't work, please copy and paste the URL into
a
browser.
And Dorothy all the dogs came running in here to see why I was ROFL. 
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