Manufacturing facilities significant source of pharmaceuticals in water	<<>
Monday, June 07, 2010
WASHINGTON — A new study by the US Geological Survey (USGS) conducted in cooperation with the State of New York indicated that pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities can be a significant source of pharmaceuticals to surface waters, according to a press release. The findings were published in the American Chemical Society’s journal Environmental Science and Technology. Outflow from two wastewater treatment plants in New York that receive more than 20 percent of their wastewater from pharmaceutical facilities had concentrations of pharmaceuticals that were 10 to 1000 times higher than outflows from 24 plants nationwide that do not receive wastewater from pharmaceutical manufacturers, the release stated. “This is the first study in the U.S. to identify pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities as a significant source of pharmaceuticals to the environment,” said Matthew C. Larsen, USGS Associate Director for Water. “The USGS is working with water utilities to evaluate alternative water treatment technologies with the goal of reducing the release of pharmaceuticals and other emerging contaminants to the environment.” This study is part of a long-term effort to determine the fate and effects of chemicals of emerging environmental concern and to provide water-resource managers with objective information that assists in the development of effective water management practices, according to the release. To read the entire article, click here. For related information, click here.