Government study finds waterways contaminated

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Please share this very important information anywhere you think it might do

some good!! This is not news to " us " but for those who require the

governmental studies as " credible evidence " this can have major impact.

Thanks go to the various subscribers to MCS-CI-Exile who helped gather the

various webpages and articles.

Maggie MacRaven

America's waterways contaminated by medications, personal care products

" A government analysis shows the nation's waterways are awash in traces of

chemicals

used in beauty aids, medications, cleaners, and foods. Among the

substances: caffeine,

contraceptives, painkillers, insect repellent, perfumes, and nicotine. "

http://enn.com/news/wire-stories/2002/03/03132002/ap_46656.asp

From AP:

" In 1999-2000, USGS scientists collected samples downstream from cities, farms

and factories. Many of the waterways contribute to municipal water supplies.

They included the Sacramento River at Freeport, Calif.; the South Platte

River in Denver; the Mississippi River above Minneapolis/St. ; and the

River in Boston. Seven or more chemicals were found in half of the

streams sampled.

In addition to caffeine, the USGS reported the most frequently detected

compounds were coprostanol and cholesterol, which are by-products of

digestion. Also found frequently was DEET, a common insect repellent. Among

the medications found were the blood thinner warfarin, antidepressants and

blood-pressure medicine. "

On the Net:

USGS data at http://toxics.usgs.gov

EPA: www.epa.gov/esd/chemistry/anal-env-chem.htm

or there:

" The stream tests are described today in the online version of

Environmental Science and Technology, a peer-reviewed journal published by

the American Chemical Society. "

" But others said it revealed the persistence, reach and

possible threat posed by common chemicals and drugs that

increasingly pervade daily life.

The study clearly shows that many of these substances,

excreted in urine and feces, are not removed by water

treatment plants and end up - in trace amounts - in

sensitive ecosystems or water supplies.

The study could have significant ramifications, if only by

confirming that chemicals that elude conventional treatment

systems have a long reach downstream, experts said. "

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/13/health/13POLL.html

http:www.cnn.com

to to ScienceTech and click on the article

http://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/whatsin.html

http://toxics.usgs.gov/regional/emc.html

http://toxics.usgs.gov/regional/contaminants.html