Green Options » water safety

Study Finds Fish Are Tainted With Array of Drugs

John Chappell — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 22:12:45 +0000

A recent study funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found fish caught downstream of wastewater treatment plants in five US cities had detectable amounts of pharmaceutical drug residues in their bodies.

Fish caught downstream from wastewater treatment plans in Chicago, Dallas, Phoenix, Philadelphia, and Orlando were found to have residues from drugs designed to treat allergies, high blood pressure, bipolar disorder, and depression. The fish were compared to others caught in unpolluted waters in the Gila River Wilderness Area in New Mexico which were found to have no detectable amounts of the same pharmaceuticals.

Researchers conducting the study noted that it would take many thousands of meals of these tainted fish to actually equal a single recommended dose of any of the drugs, but when combined with mounting concern about traces of pharmaceuticals in drinking water, it raises the question of the amount of medications Americans are unknowingly ingesting through contaminated food and drink. This may not affect you unless you regularly eat fish caught from major rivers and streams, but remember that any fish you eat has the potential to be contaminated with pharmaceuticals, mercury, lead, or other chemicals.

Bush Gets Schooled by the Senate On Environmental Policy

Jerry James Stone — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 23:21:29 +0000

The Senate met today to review Bush’s environmental record. It was sparked by the EPA’s denial of a California waiver to regulate automotive greenhouse gases.

The committee entitled, “Bush Administration Environmental Record at Department of Interior and Environmental Protection Agency,” met today. Senator Barbara Boxer called the hearing to explore how the administration has held up with respect to environmental integrity. A driving force behind the committee was the denial of California’s petition to curb greenhouse emissions by allowing the state to regulate vehicular fuel efficiency. The hearing was also looking into a proposal to loosen rules protecting endangered species. You can watch a full video of the hearing here.

Boxer, who is chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, wasn’t too happy when two high-level officials at the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Interior failed to show up for the hearing.

“They’re cowardly and they have been a danger to the people of this country,” Boxer said.

Below is just a taste of what Bush and Co have been up to since taking office.

A History of Bush’s Environmental Record

Proposed drilling of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - October 2000, this was a campaign trail proposition!
Blocks safeguards on arsenic in drinking water, sulfur in diesel, and releases of raw sewage - January 2001, Inauguration Day
Bush repudiates the Kyoto Protocol - March, 2001
178 Countries agree to Kyoto, Bush does not - June 2001
Bush kills more of Clinton’s safeguards on drinking water - July 2001
Bush cuts funds for renewables - February 2002
Introduces “Clear Skies” initiative which allows for more air pollution - February 2002
Bush denies EPA findings on Global Warming - June 2002
Proposes removing wetland protections - January 2003
EPA silences effects of global warming in environmental report - June 2003
Creates “Healthy Forrest” initiative which allows more logging - December 2003
Bush delays mercury reduction for 18 years - January 2004
NASA scientists censored by Administration on global warming effects - October 2004
Promises more funding for renewables in State of the Union, breaks the promise five days later - February 2005
Bush supports House bill allowing more smog - October 2005
Wants to lower the price of gas at the expense of air quality - April 2006
Cuts funds for wind and geothermal energy - February 2007
Bush blocks G8 plans to reduce global warming pollution - June 2007
Bush opposes incentives for renewables - February 2008
Bush censors reports on climate change, again - April 2008

Oh, and that image was specifically chosen for the “Dance of the Dwarfs” title. Made me think of our little “Decider.”

Image source: umjanedoan on Flickr

French Uranium Leak Fouls Drinking Water and Two Rivers

Max Lindberg — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 02:14:47 +0000

No Fishing Allowed and Drinking Well Water is Banned

In what was reported earlier as a minor situation, comes news that a uranium leak from one of France’s nuclear power plants has tainted well water and two rivers 30 miles from the tourist city of Avignon, which is currently hosting an arts festival.

According to published reports, the amount of untreated liquid uranium released amounted to 75kg, and was rated as a one on the one-to-seven scale of nuclear accidents. Interesting, just a one, and you can’t drink the water, cannot fish or swim in the two rivers.

The local government is said to have immediately banned the drinking of well water, told residents in Vaucluse not to fish, or eat fish caught from the rivers, ended all swimming and water sports and the irrigation of crops in nearby fields.

Iowa Flood Waters Contaminated

Sarah Pressman Lovinger — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:21:07 +0000

I am still waiting to hear back from a spokeswoman at the USDA to find out the answer to the question I posed last week: who is in charge of protecting us from crops affected by flood water? In the meantime, I got an alert from the Centers for Disease Control about contaminated water in Iowa. I can tell you, dear reader, that while you may not want to eat food grown along flooded riverbeds, you most definitely do not want to walk in that water, particularly if you have open sores or cuts on your feet and legs. Exposing a sore on your skin to contaminated water puts you at risk for a nasty infection.