Hidden Health Hazards
2/26/2018 | 25m 41sVideo has Closed Captions
Pharmaceuticals, personal care products in the water and antibiotic resistance.
The surprising story of pharmaceuticals & products in our waterways and food animals and the crisis of antibiotic resistance. Dr. Lance Price, George Washington University and Dr. Emma Rosi, Cary Institute of Ecosystem explain what they're finding. And Everly Macario, a SuperMom Against Superbugs talks about her 1-1/2 year son who died of MRSA suddenly.
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Funding for TO THE CONTRARY is provided by the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, the Park Foundation and the Charles A. Frueauff Foundation.
Hidden Health Hazards
2/26/2018 | 25m 41sVideo has Closed Captions
The surprising story of pharmaceuticals & products in our waterways and food animals and the crisis of antibiotic resistance. Dr. Lance Price, George Washington University and Dr. Emma Rosi, Cary Institute of Ecosystem explain what they're finding. And Everly Macario, a SuperMom Against Superbugs talks about her 1-1/2 year son who died of MRSA suddenly.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> THIS IS A WAKE-UP CALL TO ALL OF US THAT ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE IS VERY REAL.
>> WHAT IS A SUPER BUG?
>> A TERM THAT SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES DON'T LIKE.
I LOVE IT BECAUSE PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION.
>> WE CAN SEE THE TRASH THAT WE ARE PUTTING OUT THERE IN THE ENVIRONMENT.
>> THE FACT IS WE FIND PHARMACEUTICALS PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS THINGS THAT YOU CAN NOT SEE IN PLACES THAT OTHERWISE LOOK CLEAN.
>> I KEPT HEARING A CHORUS OF YOUR CHILD IS VERY, VERY SICK.
YOUR CHILD IS VERY, VERY SICK.
AND I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING ON BECAUSE HOW COULD THEY TELL?
WE HAD BEEN THERE EARLIER IN THE DAY AND THEY SAID WE NEED NEED TO TAKE HIM TO THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT NOW.
>> EVERLY MARCARIO'S ONE-AND-A-HALF-YEAR-OLD SON SIMON CONTRACTED AN ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANCE BACTERIA CALLED MRSA.
>> IT WAS LESS THAN 24 HOURS, YES.
YES.
FROM THE TIME OF HIS FIRST SYMPTOMS TO THE TIME OF HIS DEATH.
LESS THAN 24 HOURS.
>> MOST PEOPLE WHO GET MRSA DO SO IN HOSPITALS.
BUT SOMETIME MOP DIED OF WHAT IS CALLED COMMUNITY ASSOCIATED MRSA.
THERE'S NO PROOF OF WHERE HE CAME IN CONTACT WITH IT.
IT WAS 2004.
MARCARIO WHO HAS A PHD FROM THE HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND WAS A HEALTH COMMUNICATOR NEVER HEARD OF MRSA UNTIL DOCTORS TOLD HER THE CAUSE OF HER OTHERWISE HEALTHY SON'S DEATH.
>> HE WAS COMPLETELY HEALTHY HAD NO UNDERLYING DISEASES AND YET HE DIED.
IT IS A WAKE-UP CALL TO ALL OF US THAT ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE IS REAL.
>> THERE ARE PARENTS, HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PARENTS THAT PACE IN HOSPITAL ROOMS AND HOSPITAL HALLWAYS WAITING FOR THE DOCTORS TO FIND A DRUG TO TREAT THEIR SICK CHILD AND THEY FAIL.
THE DOCTORS FAIL BECAUSE THE KID IS INFECTED WITH SOMETHING THAT IS RESISTANT TO ANTIBIOTICS AND BY THE TIME THEY FIGURE THAT OUT THEY HAVE SUCCUMBED TO THE INFECTION.
>> LANS PRICE IS A MICRO BIOLOGIST THAT LEADS THE CENTER AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY.
THERE'S MORE THAN A PIT OF IRONY IN HIS CAREER CHOICE BECAUSE HE WAS RAISED IN TEXAS ON HIS FATHER'S CATTLE RANCH.
>> I SAW THE IMPACT OF INDUSTRIALIZATION FIRSTHAND.
>> ANIMAL FOOD PRODUCTION IS A MAJOR FOCUS OF ARAC'S FIGHT AGAINST ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE CALLED ONE OF THE GREATEST PUBLIC HEALTH THREATS OF OUR TIME.
ARAC'S ARSENAL INCLUDES, RESEARCH, ADVOCACY AND SCIENCE-BASED PUBLIC POLICY.
>> THE CDC CONSERVATIVELY ESTIMATES THAT AT LEAST 23,000 AMERICANS DIE OF DRUG RESISTANT INFECTIONS EACH YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES.
WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THIS COMING CRISIS, THIS THE END OF ANTIBIOTICS AS WE KNOW IT OR THE POST ANTIBIOTIC ERA, AND THEY ASK WHEN DOES THIS HAPPEN?
WHEN DO WE GET THERE?
I HAVE TO SAY LOOK 23,000 AMERICANS AT LEAST LAST YEAR GOT THERE ALREADY.
>> THINK ABOUT THIS FOR A MINUTE...
IF IT WERE ANY OTHER CONDITION OR DISEASE KILLING 23,000 AMERICANS EACH YEAR, THERE WOULD BE A DIFFERENT REACTION.
THINK ABOUT TERRORISM KILLING 23,000 AMERICANS PER YEAR.
IF IT WERE ANYTHING OTHER THAN ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANCE, AMERICANS WOULD BE IN A PANIC.
BUT THEY ARE NOT.
>> THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND MANY PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS AGREE WE MAY SOON LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE ANTIBIOTICS ARE NO LONGER A MATCH FOR DRUG DRUG RESISTANT BACTERIA OFTEN CALLED SUPER BUGS.
>> WHAT IS A SUPER BUG?
>> A TERM THAT SOME OF MY LEAGUES DON'T LIKE.
I LOVE IT BECAUSE PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION.
SUPER BUG MEANS IT'S BACTERIA RESISTANT TO OUR BEST ANTIBIOTICS.
AND SOMETIMES THESE ARE BACTERIA RESISTANT TO 25, 26 DIFFERENT ANTIBIOTICS.
>> THE PUBLIC HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF LOSING ANTIBIOTICS ARE ALMOST INCOMPREHENSIBLE.
STANDARD MEDICAL PROCEDURES AND MOST SURGERY COULD BECOME EXTREMELY RISKY AND EVEN A SIMPLE CUT COULD KILL.
>> THE BEST TREATMENT THERE ARE FOR BACTERIAL INFECTIONS ARE ANTIBIOTICS.
BUT IF THOSE INFECTIONS ARE RESISTANT TO THE TREATMENTS THEN THE INFECTION CAN PROGRESS.
THE DOCTOR IS GOING TO GUESS WHAT THEY CAN TREAT IT WITH AND IF THAT GUESS IS WRONG THAT PATIENT CAN DIE.
>> ALONG WITH THE AGREEING TEAM, Dr. PRICE STUDIES HOW HE GOT HERE AND HOW BACTERIA SPREAD AND EVOLVE.
>> WHAT WE'RE USING ARE THE ADVANCED GENOMIC TECHNIQUES AND SEQUENCING THOUSANDS OF BACTERIAL GEOPOLITIC MONIES AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE DRUG RESISTANT INFECTIONS WE ARE DEALING WITH PEOPLE TODAY ARE THE RESULT OF USING OR ABUSING ANTIBIOTICS IN FOOD ANIMAL PRODUCTION.
>> OVERUSE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN HUMAN MEDICINE PLAYS A ROLE IN THE SUPER BUG PROBLEM.
ACCORDING TO THE C.D.C.
ONE IN THREE ANTIBIOTIC PRESCRIPTIONS IS UNNECESSARY AND DRUG COMPANIES AREN'T KEEPING UP WITH THE NEED FOR NEW ANTIBIOTICS FOCUSING INSTEAD ON MORE PROFITABLE DRUGS.
BUT THE TOP REASON?
>> THE ABUSIVE WAY WE USE ANTIBIOTICS IN FOOD ANIMAL PRODUCTION JUST USING TONS OF ANTIBIOTICS EVERY YEAR.
AND THAT IS HAPPENING GLOBALLY NOT JUST IN THE UNITED STATES THAT IS DRIVING THE EVOLUTION OF DRUG RESISTANT BACTERIA.
>> THE RECENT STUDY FINDS 70% OF ANTIBIOTICS SOLD IN THE U.S.
WENT FOR FOOD ANIMAL PRODUCTION.
>> WE PRODUCE NINE BILLION FOOD ANIMALS IN THE UNITED STATES THAT IS A LOT OF CUSTOMERS FOR ANTIBIOTICS.
>> THEY GIVE ANTIBIOTICS FOR REASONS WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT FOR TREATING SICK ANIMALS BUT MOST ANTIBIOTICS ARE BEING USED TO PREVENT DISEASES THAT ARE OCCURRING BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE ARE RAISING ANIMALS.
WE CROWD THEM TOGETHER UNDER STRESSFUL UNSANITARY CONDITIONS AND ANIMALS GET SICK AND RATHER THAN CHANGE THAT SYSTEM WE GIVE THEM ANTIBIOTICS.
>> ARAC STUDIES HOW FOODBORNE BACTERIA AND THE RESISTANT STRAINS OF BACTERIA END UP AT THE GROCERY STORE.
Dr. PRICE, PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT IS BEING DONE IN YOUR LAB HERE?
>> WE BUY CHICKEN FROM THE GROCERY STORE AND PUT IT INTO THE BROTH AND WE TRY TO ENCOURAGE THE GROWTH OF THE BACTERIA THAT MIGHT BE ON THERE.
TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BACTERIA IS WE NEED TO STREAK IT OUT ON TO THE PETRI DISHES AND BASED ON THE COLOR, WE CAN DIFFERENTIATE E.coli, THE PINK IS E.coli.
FROM OTHER BACTERIA FOR INANOTHER BACTERIA.
AND THESE ARE DANGEROUS BACTERIA IN THE FOOD SUPPLY BUT THE ONE WE ARE FOCUSING ON IS E.coli.
WE FIND ABOUT 90% OF THE CHICKEN THAT WE TEST AS E.coli.
AND E.coli IS AN INDICATION OF FECAL CONTAMINATION.
THIS IS SHIPPED TO US BY OUR COLLEAGUES IN CALIFORNIA.
WHERE CALIFORNIA JUST PASSED SOME LEGISLATION THAT IS GOING TO BE MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN CURRENT FEDERAL REGULATIONS IN TERMS OF ANTIBIOTIC USE IN ANIMAL PRODUCTION.
AND SO WE WANT TO SEE WHETHER THAT IS GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE BACTERIA ON THE FOOD PRODUCTS.
WE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE CHANGES IN POLICY IN TERMS OF ANTIBIOTIC USE IN ANIMALS CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE KINDS OF INFECTIONS WE SEE IN PEOPLE.
>> AS ARAC STUDIES ADD MORE EVIDENCE OF THE LINK BETWEEN OVERUSE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN FOOD ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND SUPER BUGS, EVEN Dr. PRICE IS SOMETIMES SURPRISED AT HIS FIND FINDINGS.
>> ONCE WE HAVE THE BACTERIA OF INTEREST ON THE DISH, WE TAKE A DOT WITH BILLIONS OF CELLS AND STREAK IT ON TO ANOTHER PETRI DISH AND WE WILL THEN DROP ANTIBIOTICS ON TO IT.
AND WE'LL LOOK TO SEE WHICH ANTIBIOTICS KILL IT AND WHICH ANTIBIOTICS IT'S RESISTANT TO.
THE SCARY SOMETIMES WE LOOK AT THE PETRI DISHES AND THE BACTERIA HAVE GROWN-UP TO THE DISK ON ALL OF THE DISKS THAT CANDIDATES THAT THAT BACTERIA IS RESISTANT TO ALL THE DRUGS.
>> IS EVERYBODY WHO EATS FACTORY FARMED CHICKEN AND BEEF AT RISK FOR DEVELOPING RESISTANCE TO ANTIBIOTICS?
>> YOU KNOW, THIS PRACTICE OF USING DRUGS IN FOOD ANIMAL PRODUCTION, ABUSING ANTIBIOTICS IN FOOD ANIMAL PRODUCTION PUTS US ALL AT RISK MEAT CONSUMERS OR NOT.
THE BACTERIA MOVE FROM PERSON TO PERSON.
THEY MOVE FROM THE CONTAMINATED MEAT SOURCE TO THE CUTTING BOARD TO THE FAUCET TO THE COUNTERTOP.
AND IF YOU ARE A VEGETARIAN EATING IN A RESTAURANT WHERE THEY ALSO PREPARE MEAT YOU CAN STILL GET EXPOSED TO DRUG RESISTANT BACTERIA STARTING IN FOOD ANIMAL PRODUCTION.
>> Dr. EMMA ROSI SEES THE PROBLEM OF MEDICATING FOOD ANIMALS FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.
SHE STUDIES PHARMACEUTICALS IN OUR WATERWAYS.
>> THE SOURCES OF PHARMACEUTICALS INCLUDE US USING THEM IN OUR LIVES, MANUFACTURING, THE WAY WE RAISE OUR CHICKENS AND BEEF IN THIS COUNTRY WE USE ANTIBIOTICS FOR THIS AND SO ANOTHER SOURCE OF PHARMACEUTICALS TO ECOSYSTEMS WHATEVER IS DONE WITH THAT WASTE FROM THE ANIMALS IF WE SPREAD IT ON THE LAND OR PUT IT INTO A LAGOON, ANTIBIOTICS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT WASTE CAN ENTER AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS.
>> WE WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT Dr. ROSI'S STUDIES ABOUT HIDDEN DANGERS IN OUR STREAMS LATER IN THE PROGRAM.
BACK AT THE LAB, Dr. PRICE STRESSES THE URGENCY FOR LAWMAKERS, PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES AND THE MEAT AND POULTRY INDUSTRY TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.
BUT THERE IS ONE GROUP TAKING THE LEAD.
>> THE MARKETPLACE IS GETTING AHEAD OF POLICYMAKERS WHERE CONSUMERS ARE DEMANDING OF RETAILORS SAYING WE DON'T WANT PRODUCTS FROM ANIMALS AT THAT TIME ARE UNNECESSARYLY TREATED WITH ANTIBIOTICS.
AND SO YOU ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE PRODUCTS ON THE SHELVES THAT HAVE THE CLAIM RAISED WITHOUT ANTIBIOTICS OR ORGANIC.
>> THE POULTRY INDUSTRY IS NEARING A TIPPING POINT BIG PRODUCERS SUCH AS PERDUE AND TYSON ARE CHANGING TO NEVER EVER ANTIBIOTIC POLICIES.
BUT THIS DOESN'T HOLD TRUE FOR ALL FOOD ANIMAL PRODUCERS.
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE FDA BEGAN TRACKING ANTIBIOTIC USE ON U.S. FARMS IN 2009, ANTIBIOTICS SOLDS DOMESTICALLY FOR USE IN FOOD PRODUCING ANIMALS HAVE DECLINED, DOWN 10% FROM 2015-2016.
BUT, STILL, IT REMAINS HIGHER THAN USAGE IN 2009.
SOME RESTAURANTS EVEN FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS, ARE OPTING TO ONLY SERVE FOOD ANIMALS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN RAISED ON ANTIBIOTICS.
PRICES ENCOURAGED BUT HE SAYS THAT OVERSIGHT AND LEGISLATION IS STILL NEEDED.
>> IT'S BEEN SLOW TO GET LEGISLATION PASSED.
>> AS A SUPER MOM AGAINST SUPER BUGS, MARCARIO LOBBIES CONGRESS FOR LAWS THAT WILL STOP THE OVERUSE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN HUMANS AND IN ANIMALS.
AND THERE'S BEEN SOME PROGRESS.
>> THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT SOME LEGISLATION HAS PASSED.
FARMERS ARE NOT ALLOWED IT IS AGAINST THE LAW FOR THEM TO ADD MINISTER ANTIBIOTICS TO THE FOOD HAND MALLS FOR GROWTH -- ANIMALS FOR GROWTH PROMOTION PURPOSES.
THAT IS A HUGE WIN.
BEFORE FARMERS WOULD GO TO THE FEED STORE AND GET AS MUCH FEED WITH THE ANTIBIOTICS IN THEM.
AND NOW, A VETERINARIAN MUST PROVIDE A PRESCRIPTION.
>> THIS IS A REVERSIBLE TREND.
IN SOME CASES.
WE'VE SEEN VERY CLEAR EXAMPLES WHERE WHEN WE STOP USING ANTIBIOTICS IN ANIMALS WE WILL SEE DRUG RESISTANT BACTERIA THAT ARE RESISTANT TO THAT ANTIBIOTIC QUICKLY DECREASE IN THE ANIMALS.
WE'VE SEEN EXAMPLES WHERE REMOVING THE DRUG FROM THE ANIMALS WE SEE DRUG RESISTANT BACTERIA DECREASE RAPIDLY ON POULTRY PRODUCTS AND THEN WE SEE DRUG RESISTANT INFECTIONS IN PEOPLE DROP AT THE SAME RATE.
>> THERE ARE SO MANY PROBLEMS IN THE WORLD AND THIS ONE WE CAN FIX AND WE KNOW BECAUSE DENMARK HAS BEEN A MODEL IN THIS AREA.
THEY'VE REPOFFED ALL OF THEIR -- REMOVED ALL OF THEIR ANTIBIOTIC PRACTICES IN THE RAISING OF FOOD ANIMALS IN THEIR FARMS.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THE RATES OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT BACTERIA HAVE DECREASED.
SO THEIR ANTIBIOTICS ARE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN BEFORE.
SO IT WORKED IN DENMARK.
I DON'T SEE WHY IT CANNOT WORK IN THE REST OF THE WORLD INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES.
>> THE KEY TO CHANGE IS EDUCATION.
>> WE NEED TO RAISE THE LITERACY AROUND ANTIBIOTICS AND ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, ACTUALLY.
I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THESE ARE VALUABLE RESOURCES THAT WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF LOSING AND WE NEED TO USE THEM CAREFULLY.
>> BUT IT'S NOT JUST OVERMEDICATED ANIMALS AND PEOPLE.
DRUGS ARE ALSO IN AMERICA'S WATERWAYS.
>> WE ARE SURPRISED TO FIND CONCENTRATIONS THAT WERE HIGH.
AMPHETAMINE, EYE BREW PRO FEN, CAFFEINE ANTIBIOTICS THOSE ARE FOUND IN THE SURFACE WATERS IN BALTIMORE.
>> THE DIRTY TRASH FILLED STREAM IS NOT A PRETTY SIGHT BUT THE TRASH YOU SEE IS NOT Dr. EMMA ROSI'S MAIN CONCERN.
SHE IS FOCUSED ON WHAT YOU CANNOT SEE.
>> THAT GRAY COLOR THAT YOU SEE IS TYPICAL OF SEWAGE GETTING INTO STREAMS.
UNTREATED SEWAGE, SMALL AMOUNTS OF IT ARE GETTING INTO THE STREAM.
AND THE TRASH THAT YOU CANNOT SEE ARE THE THINGS THAT I STUDY.
PHARMACEUTICALS AND PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS, THE SUNSCREENS, THE DETERGENTS, THE ANTIBIOTICS, THE ANTIHISTAMINES, THE MAKEUPS ALL THOSE THINGS THAT WE USE IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES THEY END UP WASHED DOWN THE DRAIN AND CAN END UP IN STREAMS.
>> Dr. ROSI WORKS THE THE CARY INSTITUTE IN NEW YORK SHE IS AN AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM ECOLOGIST STUDYING THE HEALTH OF OUR FRESH WATERS RIVERS AND STREAMS AND BRINGS HER TO MARYLAND.
Dr. ROSI IS PART OF A TEAMWORKING ON THE BALTIMORE ECOSYSTEM STUDY, A LONG-TERM ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH PROGRAM.
>> HERE IN BALTIMORE, RESEARCHERS COLLECT WATER FROM EIGHT DIFFERENT STREAM SITES AND THEN THEY TEST IT FOR METAL, CHEMICALS, FOR PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS, AND FOR PHARMACEUTICALS.
>> THE STREAM I BROUGHT YOU TO TODAY IS GWYNNS RUN PART OF THE GWYNNS FALLS BASIN AND IT IS RECEIVING WATER FROM NEIGHBORHOODS IN BALTIMORE WHERE THERE IS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS FAILING.
SO THE SEWAGE PIPES UNDERGROUND THAT ARE LEAKING.
THE SEWAGE IN THE PIPES ARE ARE SUPPOSED TO GO TO ANOTHER RIVER BASIN TO I AWASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT BUT WHAT WE FIND ON ANY GIVEN DAY IN THIS STREAM IS RESIDUES OF PHARMACEUTICALS AND PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SEWAGE GETTING TOO THE STREAM.
THE STREAM HAS HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF DRUGS IN IT ON ANY GIVEN DAY.
>> Dr. ROSI STRESSES BALTIMORE IS NOT THE ONLY PLACE WHERE SEWAGE MIXES WITH FRESH WATER.
SHE SAYS SHE COULD DO HER WORK IN JUST ABOUT ANY CITY IN THE COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY CITIES WHERE THE PIPES AND INFRASTRUCTURE ARE MORE THAN 100 YEARS OLD.
BUT THE ONGOING ECOLOGICAL STUDY OFFERS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A MORE HOLISTIC PERSPECTIVE ON OUR WATERWAYS.
>> I WILL TAKE A PHARMACEUTICAL SAMPLE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THE SAMPLE IS PHARMACEUTICALS AND WE STARTED MEASURING THOSE A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND NOW TAKING THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS AND NOW WE MEASURE 105 COMPOUNDS.
WE HAVE BEEN MEASURING THE WEEKLY WATER QUALITY EVERY WEEK IN THESE WATERSHEDS TO UNDERSTAND HOW URBANIZATION AFFECTS THE QUALITY OF WATER AND WHAT IS COMING OUT OF THE WATERSHEDS.
WE STARTED DETECTING PHARMACEUTICALS AND PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS IN RIVER ECOSYSTEMS.
THE ABLE ABILITY TO DETECT THEM HAS COME BACK IN THE LAST 10, 15 YEARS.
THEY SO THINGS LIKE IBUPROFEN AND BIRTH CONTROL PILLS I WAS INTERESTED TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER OR NOT THE DRUGS WOULD AFFECT THE INSECTS AND THE BACTERIA AND THE ALGAE THAT LIVE IN THE ECOSYSTEMS.
>> THE PROBLEM IS NOT LIMITED TO DIRETY STREAMS.
>> THERE ARE PLACES WHERE IT'S BEAUTIFUL WHERE THERE'S NO OBVIOUS TRASH WHERE WE STILL FIND PHARMACEUTICALS AND PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS BECAUSE YOU CANNOT SEE THOSE AND THEY COME OUT OF SEPTIC FIELDS.
>> SOME OF THE REASONS WHY THE DRUGS AND CHEMICALS ARE ENDING UP IN OUR WATERWAYS MAY BE SURPRISING.
>> ALL THE THINGS ARE TURNING UP IN SURFACE WATERS BECAUSE WE USE THEM IN OUR LIVES AND THEN WE WASH THEM DOWN THE DRAINS AND THEY GET INTO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS.
BUT THEY ARE NOT DESIGNED TO REMOVE THESE PHARMACEUTICALS AND PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS SO THEY END UP BEING DISCHARGED IN OUR RIVERS AND LAKES.
>> WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS ARE EXCELLENT AT ELIMINATING THE DEBRIS THEY WERE DESIGNED TO REMOVE.
BUT MOST OF THEM WERE BUILT WHEN THE TECHNOLOGY DID NOT EXIST TO DETECT THESE PRODUCTS IN OUR WATER MUCH LESS REMOVE THEM.
IN FACT, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOESN'T REQUIRE TESTING AND HASN'T SET LIMITS FOR DRUGS IN WATER.
>> EUROPEANS ARE AHEAD OF US IN THIS IN TERMS OF THEIR IMPLEMENTING THE TECHNOLOGIES.
YOU CAN UPGRADE A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT TO DEAL WITH PHARMACEUTICALS AND PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS BUT IT IS A VERY EXPENSIVE TECHNOLOGY AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE NOT INVEST UNWILLING MAINTAINING OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS AS THEY ARE.
>> Dr. ROSI HOPES HER RESEARCH HELPS MAKE THE CASE FOR UPDATING WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS AS WELL AS INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE.
BUT FOR NOW, SHE CONTINUES TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE COMPOUNDS ARE DOING TO OUR ECOSYSTEM.
IN ORDER TO STUDY THE EFFECTS OF PHARMACEUTICALS WE CAN GO TO BALTIMORE AND MEASURE THE CONCENTRATIONS OF THE PHARMACEUTICALS IN THE ENVIRONMENT BUT TO ISOLATE THE EFFECTS OF ONE COMPOUND OUT IN THE ENVIRONMENT IS CHALLENGING BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT DRUGS IN THE WATER AND OTHER THINGS.
>> Dr. ROSI BUILT AN ARTIFICIAL STREAM FACILITY AT THE CARY INSTITUTE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK.
SHE VISITS A PRISTINE STREAM ON CAMPUS.
THIS 360° VIEW OF THE STREAM SHOWS A VASTLY DIFFERENT SCENE THAN THE ONE IN BALTIMORE.
THE QUALITY OF THE WATER HERE IS THE POLAR OPPOSITE OF GWYNNS RUN.
THIS IS WHERE Dr. ROSI COLLECTS WHAT SHE NEEDS TO POPULATE THE ARTIFICIAL STREAMS, ROCKS WITH AND WITHOUT ALGAE, AQUATIC INSECTS AND OTHER ORGANISMS, LEAVES AND BACTERIA.
>> BE FREE.
>> THERE ARE 20 ARTIFICIAL STREAMS AND IT'S LIKE A BATH TUB WITH AN ISLAND SO THE WATER GOES AROUND WITH A WHEEL.
WE HAVE 20 OF THEM.
SO THEN WE CAN ADD VERY LOW CONCENTRATIONS OF DRUGS TO SOME STREAMS AND KEEP SOME FOR REFERENCE AND THIS ALLOWS US TO YOU HAD WHAT THE EFFECTS OF THESE DRUGS MEASURE THE EFFECTS IN LOW AND CONTROLLED CONCENTRATIONS ON INSECTS, HOW QUICKLY DO THEY EMERGE?
WHAT IS THEIR BEHAVIOR?
WHAT BACTERIA ARE IN THE STREAMS WHEN WE EXPOSE THEM TO DRUGS VERSUS THOSE THAT ARE NOT?
USING THIS TECHNIQUE WE CAN ISOLATE THE EFFECTS OF THESE DRUGS OR LOOK AT THE COMBINATION OF DRUGS ON THE ECOSYSTEMS.
>> Dr. ROSI IS PASSIONATE ABOUT HER WORK.
SHE CONTINUES TO PERFORM A RANGE OF EXPERIMENTS ON THE EFFECTS OF VARIOUS DRUG ON AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS.
THE RESULTS OF HER STUDIES HAVE PROVEN AT VERY LOW CONCENTRATION DRUGS CHANGE ORGANISMS.
>> HIGHLIGHTS THINGS WE FOUND IS THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT IN ANTIBACTERIAL SOAPS AND TOOTHPASTE IS GENERALIZED COMPOUND BUT IT AFFECTS ALGAE AND FUNGI.
WHEN WE ADDED THAT TO CONVENIENTLIES WITH ACTIVE BACTERIAL COMMUNITIES AND WHAT WE SAW WAS THAT THE BACTERIAL COMMUNITIES WE DID NOT KILL THE BACTERIA BUT THEY FUNDAMENTALLY SHIFTED WHICH BACTERIA WERE THERE >> AND THAT, ACCORDING TO Dr. ROSI IS SIGNIFICANT.
IN FACT, THE FDA BANNED THE USE OF TRICLISAN IN SOAPS AND SUGGESTS PEOPLE USE REGULAR SOAP OR ALCOHOL-BASED HAND SANITIZERS.
ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT STUDY WAS ON AMPHETAMINES IN THE WATERWAYS.
>> WE DETECTED AMPHETAMINES IN STREAMS IN BALTIMORE AND USED THE SAME CONCENTRATIONS AND ADDED THEM TO OUR ARTIFICIAL STREAMS AND THE AQUATIC INSECTS EMERGED SOONER AND CHANGED THE BACTERIAL COMMUNITIES WHEN WE EXPOSED THEM.
IT SHOWED THAT THESE COMMUNITIES ARE SENSITIVE TO VERY LOW CONCENTRATIONS OF THESE DRUGS.
WE HAVE PUBLISHED THAT PHARMACEUTICALS AND PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS ARE ECOLOGICAL DISRUPTORS THEY DISRUPT THE ECOLOGY OF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS.
>> Dr. ROSI SAYS IT'S NOT JUST HER WORK PROVING THAT DRUGS WE INGEST IMPACT THE ENVIRONMENT.
SHE REFERENCES A STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF BIRTH CONTROL PILLS ON A CANADIAN LAKE.
>> THEY ADDED VERY SMALL CONCENTRATIONS OF THE INGREDIENT AND THE FIRST THING IS THE MALE FISH STARTED SHOWING UP WITH OVERRIES AND TESTIES.
THEY WERE INTERSECTION FISH AND NEXT YEAR THERE WERE FEWER MALE FISH AND THE POPULATION CRASHED BECAUSE THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH MALES TO ALLOW FOR THE POPULATION TO GO ON.
>> Dr. ROSI WANTS HER STUDIES TO BE USED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND THERE IS A GOOD REASON TO BELIEVE IT COULD.
>> MANY ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS WE HAVE ARE HARD TO TACKLE AND THIS ONE WE CAN SOLVE.
>> WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?
THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN DO ABOUT KEEPING THESE DRUGS OUT OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
WE CAN STOP FLUSHING THEM DOWN THE DRAIN AND DON'T TAKE DRUGS THAT THE ARE EXPIRED MEDICINE AND DO NOT PUT THEM DOWN THE DRAIN.
WE CAN FIX OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE CAN UPGRADE OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS.
WE CANNOT USE DRUGS WHEN WE DON'T NEED THEM.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS.
ONCE THEY GET OUT IN THE ENVIRONMENT IT'S HARD TO CLEAN THEM UP.
WE SHOULD PREVENT THEM FROM GETTING IN.
>> HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP GET ANTIBIOTICS AND PHARMACEUTICALS OUT OF OUR ECOSYSTEMS.
CHECK WITH STATE POLICE, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PHARMACIES ABOUT PRESCRIPTION TAKE BACK DAYS.
MANY WILL INCINERATE THE DRUGS TO MAKE SURE THEY NEVER GO DOWN A DRAIN OR ARE FLUSHED DOWN A TOILET.
Dr. ROSI SAYS MANY PEOPLE JUST DO NOT UNDERSTAND OR KNOW ABOUT THESE HIDDEN DANGERS IN OUR WATERWAYS.
>> THE CONCERN THAT I HAVE AS A RESEARCH SCIENTIST IS THAT THE HEALTH OF OUR AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS IS LINKED TO THINGS PEOPLE CARE ABOUT.
IF IT AFFECT THE BUGS AND THE ALGAE THEY ARE AT THE BASE OF THE FOOD CHAINS AND THEY SUPPLY THE FOOD FOR FISH OR BIRDS AND SO IF WE AFFECT THE HEALTH OF OUR ECO-SYSTEMS IT CAN AFFECT OUR HEALTH AS WELL.RUEAUFF FOUNDATION.
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