Someone spiked the reservoir

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  • NotRob
    Honorary DSA
    • May 2007
    • 43

    Someone spiked the reservoir

    Most vitamins and dietary supplements pass through your body and end up only being partially absorbed. This, as some have argued, have made American the land of the people with the most expensive piss in the world.

    That in itself isn't all that interesting, however when you take into account that all this piss ends up (for the most part) back into our watersheds, and so our reservoirs, trace amounts of these vitamins and dietary supplements show up in our drinking water.

    Now, forget about vitamins and dietary supplements and replace that with "prescription drugs" and do a test for their appropriate levels in tap-water. Even though filtering processes remove almost everything (down to the parts-per-billion or trillion level) we can identify their presence.

    Run tests for different reservoirs and what drugs show up in the water will roughly reflect what drugs those area-people take.

    (This is from a much larger (also alarmist) FoxNews article. Link at the bottom of the post)

    _Officials in Philadelphia said testing there discovered 56 pharmaceuticals or byproducts in treated drinking water, including medicines for pain, infection, high cholesterol, asthma, epilepsy, mental illness and heart problems. Sixty-three pharmaceuticals or byproducts were found in the city's watersheds.

    _Anti-epileptic and anti-anxiety medications were detected in a portion of the treated drinking water for 18.5 million people in Southern California.

    _Researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey analyzed a Passaic Valley Water Commission drinking water treatment plant, which serves 850,000 people in Northern New Jersey, and found a metabolized angina medicine and the mood-stabilizing carbamazepine in drinking water.

    _A sex hormone was detected in San Francisco's drinking water.

    _The drinking water for Washington, D.C., and surrounding areas tested positive for six pharmaceuticals.

    _Three medications, including an antibiotic, were found in drinking water supplied to Tucson, Ariz.


    Now, I certainly don't think I'm above the level of a good gay joke when the opportunity presents itself and so I'd like to point out that "A sex hormone was detected in San Francisco's drinking water."

    ......

    Of all places, of all drugs.... Sex Hormones in San Fransisco. Because the two most prescribed sex hormones are Testosterone and Estrogen, and because Estrogen is much more widely prescribed than Testosterone, we can safely assume that this is what they were referring to when saying"A sex hormone."

    Why would enough Estrogen show up in the water to be detectable? Why would enough people in San Fransisco take Estrogen for it show up in tests?

    Maybe San Fransisco is a city with a large population of menopausal women, who take Estrogen to relieve their symptoms?

    Or maybe San Fransisco is a city with a large population of people like the guy on the left in blue:



    Link to FoxNews article
  • #2
    Inlimbo
    Honorary DSA
    • Oct 2004
    • 377
    • InLimbo

    It's funny you bring this up, i just read an article today in the daily news about this. It stated that NYC water was tested and was drug free. Although officials admitted that they havent tested for pharmacueticals. ??? It looks like they were trying to downplay the AP report on the country's water supply. Wanna really get scared? It also says that a Suny Stony Brook scientist found a male fish in Jamaica Bay developed female characteristics from exposure to estrogens in the waterway. I'm sure glad i use a brita filter lol (**** i really hope it takes out the estrogenl lol).
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    • #3
      Rdaug27
      Civilian
      • Jun 2006
      • 1448

      Originally posted by Inlimbo
      I'm sure glad i use a brita filter lol (**** i really hope it takes out the estrogenl lol).
      Is that why my boobs are getting bigger as I get older? ROFL OMG thats a sweet pic lol.

      The story I read yesterday didn't say anything about estrogen, but did about pain killers and antibiotics. I will try and find it and post here.
      Last edited by Rdaug27; 03-11-2008, 02:13 PM.
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      • #4
        NotRob
        Honorary DSA
        • May 2007
        • 43

        That guy in the red speedo threw me off balance and I forgot to make my original point:
        ---That by comparing/contrasting the presence and variations of detectable pharmaceuticals in different watersheds/communities we can determine certain things about the people who live there.

        **For a real conclusion with scientific merit we would have to take into account the population in relation to the area of the watershed, among other variables. I'm just gonna make some rough estimates based on the info available from the article**


        Anti-epileptic and anti-anxiety medications were detected in a portion of the treated drinking water for 18.5 million people in Southern California.
        ---There exists a large number of people in Southern California who are stressed out (probably b/c of all that traffic) and epileptic (that's news to me).

        The drinking water for Washington, D.C., and surrounding areas tested positive for six pharmaceuticals.
        ---A large number of politicians are pill poppers, or, a small number of politicians are very heavy pill poppers

        Three medications, including an antibiotic, were found in drinking water supplied to Tucson, Ariz.
        ---Because antibiotics are primarily used to treat bacterial and fungal infections, we can probably assume that the people of Tucson Arizona have a higher than (national) average of the clap

        Officials in Philadelphia said testing there discovered 56 pharmaceuticals or byproducts in treated drinking water
        ---I couldn't be content knowing that there 56 and not know which ones in particular so I went a'researching. Here they are:


        ANTIBIOTICS
        Amoxicillin for pneumonia, stomach ulcers
        Azithromycin for pneumonia, sexually transmitted diseases
        Bacitracin prevents infection in cuts and burns
        Chloramphenicol for serious infections when other antibiotics can't be used
        Ciprofloxacin for anthrax, other infections
        Doxycycline for pneumonia, Lyme disease, acne
        Erythromycin for pneumonia, whooping cough, Legionnaires' disease
        Lincomycin for strep, staph, other serious infections
        Oxytetracycline for respiratory, urinary infections
        Penicillin G for anthrax, other infections
        Penicillin V for pneumonia, scarlet fever, infections of ear, skin, throat
        Roxithromycin for respiratory, skin infections
        Sulfadiazine for urinary infections, burns
        Sulfamethizole for urinary infections
        Sulfamethoxazole for traveler's diarrhea, pneumonia, urinary and ear infections
        Tetracycline for pneumonia, acne, stomach ulcers, Lyme disease
        Trimethoprim for urinary and ear infections, traveler's diarrhea, pneumonia
        PAIN RELIEVERS
        Acetaminophen soothes arthritis, aches, colds; reduces fever
        Antipyrine for ear infections
        Aspirin for minor aches, pain; lowers risk of heart attack and stroke
        Diclofenac for arthritis, menstrual cramps, other pain
        Ibuprofen for arthritis, aches, menstrual cramps; reduces fever
        Naproxen for arthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, aches; reduces fever
        Prednisone for arthritis, allergic reactions, multiple sclerosis, some cancers
        HEART DRUGS
        Atenolol for high blood pressure
        Bezafibrate for cholesterol problems
        Clofibric acid byproduct of various cholesterol medications
        Diltiazem for high blood pressure, chest pain
        Gemfibrozil regulates cholesterol
        Simvastatin slows production of cholesterol
        MIND DRUGS
        Carbamazepine for seizures, mood regulating
        Diazepam for anxiety, seizures; eases alcohol withdrawal
        Fluoxetine for depression; relieves premenstrual mood swings
        Meprobamate for anxiety
        Phenytoin controls epileptic seizures
        Risperidone for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe behavior problems
        OTHER HUMAN DRUGS
        Caffeine found in coffee; also used in pain relievers
        Cotinine byproduct of nicotine; drug in tobacco, also used in products to help smokers quit
        Iopromide given as contrast agent for medical imaging
        Nicotine found in tobacco, also in medicinal products to help smokers quit
        Paraxanthine a byproduct of caffeine
        Theophylline for asthma, bronchitis and emphysema
        VETERINARY
        Carbadox for control of dysentery, bacterial enteritis in pigs; promotes growth
        Chlortetracycline for eye, joint, other animal ailments
        Enrofloxacin for infections in farm animals and pets; treats wounds
        Monensin for weight gain, prevention of severe diarrhea in farm animals
        Narasin for severe diarrhea in farm animals
        Oleandomycin for respiratory disease; promotes growth in farm animals
        Salinomycin promotes growth in livestock
        Sulfachloropyridazine for enteritis in farm animals
        Sulfadimethoxine for severe diarrhea, fowl cholera, other conditions in farm animals
        Sulfamerazine for a range of infections in cats, fowl
        Sulfamethazine for bacterial diseases in farm animals; promotes growth
        Sulfathiazole for diseases in aquarium fish
        Tylosin promotes growth, treats infections in farm animals, including bees
        Virginiamycin M1 prevents infection, promotes growth in farm animals


        Because this info was made available by the Philadelphia Water Department I'm gonna go ahead and not trust this for ****. I'm not disputing what they found, but rather what they didn't find. Phili gov't found 56 but the AP study found 62. When confronted with this evidence the Phili gov't stated the following in their defense:
        ----"they probably found more drugs simply because they did more testing"

        I've contacted the AP and asked for their raw data that they've compiled, that they then used to base these articles on, for academic purposes. We'll see if I get it or not (doubt it), but I'm gonna take a guess now and say that among the 8 drugs that Philadelphia didn't test for your gonna find things like barbiturates, amphetamines (which almost every damn kid takes). It would be in their benefit not to test for these because if they did they would have to report their presence. If they did report their presence it would reflect badly on the city and stereotype its people as addled pill poppers.

        But thanks to the AP investigation we're starting to realized how much of a national issue this really is.

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        • #5
          NotRob
          Honorary DSA
          • May 2007
          • 43

          Originally posted by Rdaug27
          Is that why my boobs are getting bigger as I get older? ROFL OMG thats a sweet pic lol.

          The story I read yesterday didn't say anything about estrogen, but did about pain killers and antibiotics. I will try and find it and post here.
          No no no,

          None of the reports publicly available mentioned "estrogen." What the main article did say is "a sex hormone"

          Because the 3 main (and only ones that exist as far as I can tell) sex hormones are types of Androgens, Estrogens and Progestagens, and of the 3 Estrogens are easily the most widely distributed and used.

          Because they used the phrase "a sex hormone," meaning one particular sex hormone, I said that chances are its Estrogen (which all variations of will be lumped together)



          Keep in mind that San Fransisco is home to quite a few body builders and juicers, many of whom use muscle building steroids that actually contain one or more type of Androgen (a type of sex hormone).

          I'm assuming that its Estrogen and not Androgen because I'm assuming there are many more people in San Fransisco that are like "Paco" in that picture, than there are Schwarzenegger wannabes.

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          • #6
            Dioxin
            Honorary DSA

            Originally posted by Inlimbo
            It also says that a Suny Stony Brook scientist found a male fish in Jamaica Bay developed female characteristics from exposure to estrogens in the waterway. I'm sure glad i use a brita filter lol (**** i really hope it takes out the estrogenl lol).
            Rest assured. Consuming environmental estrogens won't turn you (as an adult) any more feminine. At worse, you'd probably just get cancer and die.
            "F--k Ron Paul!" -Gino in the heat of a losing battle; COD4; Crash.

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            • #7
              Zabka
              Imperial Guard
              • Nov 2004
              • 4956
              • DSA Zabka

              The trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in the water supply are not from people taking them and pissing them. When drugs are taken in the human body, they are broken down into the active metabolite and other products and ultimately they are cleared via the liver or kidneys usually. By the time they are cleared, they usually are in some metabolized form.

              The drug traces are more likely the result of either the citizenry or some business flushing drugs down the toilet or tossing them into the water. Drugs should not be disposed of in this manner.

              As for the sex hormones, progesterone and estrogen are very commonly prescribed drugs. Their primary use was to help menopausal women get through hot flash periods. However, some docs continued to prescribe them as they can help with osteoperosis as well as a couple of other issues. However, a study a few years back found that they meaningfully increased the risk of certain cancers. So many doctors scaled back the usage. Those studies are still producing results and Wyeth, the drug company, has been sued since then. It's really pretty silly because the incidence of the cancer is very low---but the study was large enough to capture a statistically meaningful difference.
              You're the best! Around! Nothings gonna ever keep you down!


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              • #8
                NotRob
                Honorary DSA
                • May 2007
                • 43

                Originally posted by Zabka
                The trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in the water supply are not from people taking them and pissing them. When drugs are taken in the human body, they are broken down into the active metabolite and other products and ultimately they are cleared via the liver or kidneys usually. By the time they are cleared, they usually are in some metabolized form.

                I disagree.

                Although the resulting chemicals/pharmaceuticals that result from a body metabolizing drugs most likely show up in the water (I'm not sure if they accounted for this in their tests, but I'd be surprised if they didn't), no one will have a 100% absorption rate.

                Originally posted by AP Article
                People take pills. Their bodies absorb some of the medication, but the rest of it passes through and is flushed down the toilet.
                How much is absorbed depends on a hell of a lot of variables but again, its not 100%.


                Originally posted by Zabka
                ...flushing drugs down the toilet or tossing them into the water. Drugs should not be disposed of in this manner.
                I also disagree with this statement. I believe that this is the only way to give mother earth the feel good medicine she so desperately needs.

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                • #9
                  Zabka
                  Imperial Guard
                  • Nov 2004
                  • 4956
                  • DSA Zabka

                  It is true that not all of the active metabolite from a dose of drug may not be utilized--but that is different from it not being "absorbed". Clinical trials are required to characterize the pharmacokinetics to understand the blood serum concentrations according to the dosage...and changes in formulation result in different pharmacokinetics. But this blood serum concentration is similar conceptually to how much has been "absorbed".

                  But some drugs are hepatically cleared. The liver clears toxins out of your system. It effectively breaks it down so that the drug is further metabolized. Other drugs are renally cleared...in this instance, it would make sense for drug in the blood to pass to the urine.

                  I have read elsewhere--and now I can't find the source--that it is believed that unused pharmaceuticals are believed to be the culprit. The same article listed various drugs that shouldn't be flushed, and which ones could. I think it was in a US News that I read at the dentists. I know that many small healthcare institutions (long term care facilities) will flush expired drugs down the toilet.

                  Oh yeah, I also forgot what is probably the biggest source of the female sex hormones that might be in the water--birth control pills.
                  You're the best! Around! Nothings gonna ever keep you down!


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