Water quality and the levels of pharmaceuticals in water

Testimony for Illinois Senate Public Health Committee
Subject - Water quality and the levels of pharmaceuticals in water

September 9, 2008
16-503 Thompson Center
Chicago

Good morning. My name is Bill Soucie. I am a chemist and water quality laboratory supervisor at the Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency in Lake Bluff. I am also an elected Trustee for the Illinois Section of the American Water Works Association which I represent today. Founded in 1909, the Illinois Section of the AWWA has over 2,250 members representing 1770 public water supplies.1 Our objective is the advancement and dissemination of knowledge concerning water works, and the promotion of public health, safety, and welfare. That is why I am here today.

The presence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in water has been the subject of research over the past 38 years.2,3,4 During this time span, waste water has been identified as a major contributor of these compounds to the environment.5 Waste water contains pharmaceuticals and personal care products because people excrete them after consumption, wash them off after use, or dispose of them in the sink or down the toilet.6 It makes sense that avoiding pharmaceuticals disposal in this manner would reduce their presence in waste water.

Traditionally, human and animal health care facilities and pharmacies disposed of pharmaceuticals down the drain.7, 8 Their advice to patients was to do the same, establishing this all too common practice.9 We must now break this habit. To do so, we encourage continuation of programs like the Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal program in Pontiac;10 local waste collection events;11,12,13 the EPA funded ARCHS: RxMeds program allowing drug drop-off at grocery stores;14 and finally pharmaceutical manufacturer programs like disposal pouches for medical patches.15

But pharmaceuticals get into water in other ways too.16 Medicated pets and animals excrete pharmaceuticals directly into the environment.17,18 In 1997 alone, between 7 and 15 thousand tons of antibiotics were used for farm animals compared to about 5 thousand tons for humans.19,20 By one estimate, over 12 thousand pounds of pharmaceuticals are used each year in livestock for nontherapeutic purposes alone.21 Recent testing in this State by the Illinois EPA also suggests “agricultural sources may be important contributors to the load of pharmaceuticals in the source water…” 22

The old adage “out of sight out of mind” is no longer accurate. We can now detect less than one drop of some medicines in more than 13 million gallons of water.23 And with the continued march of science, we will eventually detect more compounds at even lesser amounts. Fortunately, detection of a compound does not imply a health risk. The highest detected level thus far is 5,000,000 times lower than a therapeutic dose.24 Based on water tests conducted this spring; IL EPA has determined that the levels in water are not currently a health concern.22

But more science needs to be done, especially health effects research. The US EPA is moving forward to address the information gaps.25 They are funding research, pilot collection programs, and have assembled 300 pages of existing scientific references related to this topic. 26 They have also commissioned the National Academy of Sciences to assemble a panel of experts to advise them on the topic later this year.27

We support the EPA’s comprehensive science based approach to setting water quality standards. The Safe Drinking Water Act and related Contaminant Candidate List and Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule identify, prioritize, and study contaminants in a scientifically rigorous manner. 28, 29, 30 This process assures the public that the standards are both needed and protective of public health. Regulatory limits and monitoring requirements must be based on health protection and not on trace occurrence.31

Water treatment folks take drinking water seriously. We are on the front line of protecting public health. Our community residents rely on us for a lifetime of safe drinking water. We understand clearly our role in the environment and desire healthy watersheds and source waters that are free of compounds that pose a health concern. However, watersheds, rivers, lakes and aquifers know no boundaries. We are all going to have to take part in this effort. We ask that everyone everywhere properly use and dispose of all chemicals, especially pharmaceuticals and personal care products.

Thank you Senator Garrett and colleagues on the Public Health Committee for this opportunity to appear before you today. We offer you our organization as a source of information and we offer the expertise of our members. We look forward to working with you as partners in protecting our environment and its natural resources to assure public health protection.

Respectfully Submitted September 9, 2008.

William J. Soucie, M.S.
Illinois Section AWWA Trustee Region 2
Water Quality Laboratory Supervisor
Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency
200 Rockland Road
PO Box 278
Lake Bluff, IL, 60044

Postscript

When it comes to the levels of pharmaceuticals in drinking water, perspective is an important factor. My utility and others have detected DEET, a compound used to repel mosquitoes, in Lake Michigan. Consider what happens to a single small dab, a gram to be exact, of the popular “Sun & Bug” lotion that contains DEET.32 Let’s assume that half of the dab washes into the Lake as the bather jumps in to cool off. That half a dab creates a detectable DEET level in 26 million gallons of water.33 That sounds bad. Will accidental consumption of this water while swimming pose a health risk to the bather? For perspective, consider that when applied to the skin, 100,000 times more DEET will enter the person’s bloodstream than if they accidently swallowed a liter of this water.34,35 Yet DEET is considered safe and has been used for decades.


References

1. Dougherty, Laurie. Personal Communication. 8/25/2008

2. Tabak, H. and R. Bunch. 1970. “Steroid hormones as water pollutants. I. Metabolism of natural and synthetic ovulation-inhibiting hormones by microorganisms of activated sludge and primary settled sewage.” Developments in Industrial Microbiology. 11: 367-376.

3. Endocrine Disruptors & Pharmaceutically Active Chemicals in Drinking Water Workshop. April 19 – 21, 2000. AWWARF. Chicago, Illinois.

4. Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs). US EPA. Accessed 9/4/08. http://www.epa.gov/ppcp/

5. Kolpin, D.W., et al. 2002. “Pharmaceuticals, Hormones, and Other Organic Contaminants in U.S. Streams, 1999-2000: A National Reconnaissance.” Environ. Sci. Technol. 36: 1202-1211.

6. Snyder, S. et al. Comprehensive Utility Guide for Endocrine Disruptors and Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water. AWWARF. Denver, CO. 2008.

7. Smith, C.A. 2002. “Managing Pharmaceutical Waste.” Journal of the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin, 11: 17-22

8. Pines, E. & C. Smith. “Managing Pharmaceutical Waste: A 10-Step Blueprint for Health Care Facilities in the United States”. Hospitals for a Healthy Environment. April 2006. US EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Innovative Initiative. Accessed 8/23/2008. http://www.h2e-online.org/docs/h2epharmablueprint41506.pdf.

9. Disposal of Unwanted or Unused Pharmaceuticals Fact Sheet. Illinois EPA. Accessed 9/6/08. http://www.epa.state.il.us/land/hazardous-waste/household-haz-waste/pharmaceuticals-disposal.html

10. Ritter, P. Prescription Drug Disposal Program. Pontiac Township H.S. Accessed 8/22/08. http://www.p2d2program.org/

11. Household Chemical Waste (HCW) Collections. Solid Waste Agency of Lake County. Accessed 8/25/08. http://www.co.lake.il.us/swalco/events/hcw.asp

12. Boehme, S. & E.H. Malloy. “Disposal of Unwanted Medicines: A Resource for Action in Your Community.” Habitats and Ecosystems. July 2007. Illinois – Indiana Sea Grant. Accessed 8/22/08. http://www.iisgcp.org/unwantedmeds/updatedToolkitMaterials/2.0CaseStudies.pdf.

13. Medicine Drop Off. Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County. Accessed 9/4/08. http://swancc.org/recycling/medicinedropoff.html

14. 2008 Medicine Cabinet Cleanup ARCHS: RxMEDS Community Partnership. Area Resources for Community and Human Services. Accessed 8/28/08. http://www.stlarchs.org/rxmeds.htm

15. Batt, S. “Pharmaceuticals in Our Water: A New Threat to Public Health?” Women and Health Protection. October 2004. Accessed 8/21/08. http://www.whp-apsf.ca/en/documents/pharmWater.html.

16. Origins and Fate of PPCPs in the Environment Poster. USEPA. March 2006. Accessed 9/7/08. http://www.epa.gov/ppcp/pdf/drawing.pdf

17. Boxall, A.B.A. et al. 2003. “Are Veterinary Medicines Causing Environmental Risks?” Environ. Sci. Technol. 8: 286A – 294A

18. “Pharmaceuticals and Pathogens”. EPA Regional Priority AFO Science Question Synthesis Document. Workshop Review Draft: Supporting Documentation for the EPA Regional Science Workshop on Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs) – Science and Technical Support Needs. December 6-9, 2004. Accessed 9/4/2008. http://www.epa.gov/OSP/regions/afo.htm

19. Cicmanec, J. L. “Veterinary Pharmaceuticals: Potential Environmental Impact and Treatment Strategies.” Presentation for Emerging Pollutants Workshop. US EPA Region 5. Accessed 8/28/08. www.epa.gov/osp/regions/emerpoll/cicmanec2.ppt

20. Cicmanec, J.L. “Veterinary Pharmaceuticals: Potential Environmental Impact and Treatment Strategies.” Presentation for Animal Feeding Operations Workshop. US EPA. Accessed 9/4/08. http://www.epa.gov/OSP/regions/afo.htm

21. Mellon, M. et al. 2001. Hogging It – Estimates of Antimicrobial Abuse in Livestock. Union of Concerned Scientists. UCS Publications. Cambridge, MA.

22. Report on Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Illinois Drinking Water. Bureau of Water, Illinois EPA. June 2008.

23. One drop of water weighs about 50 mg or 50 million nanograms. One part per trillion equals 1 ng/L which equals 50 million nanograms per 50 million liters. 50,000,000 liters / 3.785 l/gal = 13,210,000 gallons.

24. Statement of Dr. Shane Snyder, Southern Nevada Water Authority before the Senate Subcommittee on Transportation Safety, Infrastructure Security, and Water Quality on Pharmaceuticals in the Nation’s Water: Assessing Potential Risks and Actions to Address the Issue. April 15, 2008.

25. Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Water, USEPA. Accessed 8/28/08. http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/ppcp/


26. “Literature Citations Relevant to Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs).” U.S. EPA, ORD. July 2008.Accessed 8/28/08. http://www.epa.gov/ppcp/citations20080701.pdf

27. “EPA Continues Work to Understand Potential Impacts of Pharmaceuticals in Water.” Press Release 8/6/08. USEPA. Washington DC.

28. Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List and Regulatory Determinations – Basic Information. US EPA. Accessed 9/4/08. http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ccl/basicinformation.html

29. National Drinking Water Advisory Council Report on the CCL Classification Process to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. May 19, 2004. NDWAC. Accessed 9/4/2008. http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ccl/basicinformation.html

30. Classifying Drinking Water Contaminants for Regulatory Consideration. Committee on Drinking Water Contaminants. National Research Council. National Academy Press. Washington D.C., 2001.

31. Snyder, S.A. et al. Removal of EDCs and Pharmaceuticals in Drinking and Reuse Treatment Processes. AWWARF, Denver ,CO 2007.

32. Repel Sun and & Bug Stuff ® Lotion. 20% DEET. Spectrum Brands. Accessed 8/28/08. http://www.repel.com/ProductCategories/Insectrepellents/SunBug/

33. Typical use is much more than one gram. However, here we assume only half of the applied one gram completely dissolves and disperses in water. And we assume a detection limit of one part-per-trillion. 0.5 grams of lotion contains 20% DEET or 0.1 grams of DEET. One gram of DEET in one trillion grams of water is equal to one part-per-trillion. One tenth of a gram of DEET in one tenth of a trillion or 100 billion grams of water is also equal to one-part-per-trillion. Since 1 gram of water = 1 mL of water and 3785 mL = one gallon: 100,000,000,000 mL / 3785 mL per gallon = 26,000,000 gallons of water.

34. More than 5% of applied DEET is absorbed through the skin. DEET Chemical Technical Summary for Public Health and Public Safety Professionals. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. December 2004. Accessed 8/22/08. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/consultations/deet/pharmacokinetics.html.

35. 5% of the 0.1 gram of 20% DEET left on the skin is absorbed into the body. That is 0.005 grams absorbed into the body. If one drank a liter of Lake water with 1 part-per-trillion of DEET, their exposure would be 5 million times LESS than the exposure from DEET applied to the skin.