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August 06, 2008
EPA Continues to Investigate the Impact of Drugs in the Water Supply
The EPA is looking for comments on an Information Collection Request (ICR) which will be used in a detailed study of unused pharmaceutical disposal methods by hospitals, long-term care facilities, hospices and veterinary hospitals.
"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 National Academy of Sciences has been asked to provide scientific advice on the potential risk to human health from low levels of pharmaceutical residues in drinking water.
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.
The EPA is also participating in an international effort with the World Health Organization to study appropriate risk assessment methods for pharmaceuticals as environmental contaminants, as reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Posted by Stephen Betheil at August 6, 2008 12:52 PM
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