2nd Int'L Conference on Pharmaceuticals/EDCs in Water

[Guest guest]

Hello,

Do we have any members with technical expertise on groundwater issues

that are planning to attend the following conference below?

.....actually, it was a

high school student in WV, USA who read about Germany's identification

of pharmaceuticals in their drinking water sources. She took samples of the

Ohio River, a major source of drinking water for a few states, had them

tested, and

amazing...pharmaceuticals in the Ohio River....and heaven knows what else.....

some civilizations have to learn the hard way.....

The National Ground Water Association (http://www.ngwa.org/) and co-sponsors,

EPA, MN MDH, PAHO/WHO, USGS, et al

will hold the Second International Conference on Pharmaceuticals

and Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Water, October 9-11, 2001

The Hyatt on Nicollett Mall, Mnpls., MN, USA.

<A HREF= " http://www.ngwa.org/education/pharmconf.html " >National Ground Water

Association Education Course:</A>

http://www.ngwa.org/education/pharmconf.html

Conference highlights:

Pharmaceuticals in Rivers and on Tap

Drug Resistant Bacteria

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals & Wildlife--

" ....Disturbing evidence will be presented about effects on wildlife,

such as sexual differentiation reversal in male fish after exposure

to natural and synthetic hormones and certain other endocrine

disrupting chemicals (EDCs).

EDCs cam be natural hormones, pharmaceuticals such as

birth control pills, estrogen replacement products and other steroids,

and hundreds of organochlorine compounds found in pesticides and

industrial chemicals such as PCB's. EDCs appear to be persistent

in the environment and bioaccumulate, and exposures are widespread

throughout the entire globe. Correlative evidence does exist for

organochlorines, cadmium, tributyltin, alkyphenols, and estrogen.

Compounds in the complex mixtures from pulp and paper mill and

municipal effluents have been shown to be EDCs. Actually paper

mill effluent has recently been determined to produce the male

hormone androstenedione and masculinized fish. Based on

recognition of the potential scope of the problem, the possibility

of serious effects on the health of populations, and the persistence

of some EDCs in the environment, research on EDCs was

identified as one of the six high-priority topics in the EPA Office

of Research & Development Strategic Plan.

and finally....Treatment Technologies for Pharmaceuticals and EDCs

.....and no one can figure out the epidemic of neoplasms

in the uterus....Marsha