The Directors Blog
This is where the Director of Aquatic Technologies gets on his "Soap Box" and expounds on various topics - these can
include: New Electrolytic Oxidation Techniques and Treatments
Upcoming Pollutant Concerns, as well as Rants and Raves
Comments can be sent to dave@eoh2o.com
April 2008 Article: "FLUSHING OLD PHARMACEUTICALS - AND SUPPLYING "OLD" MEDICINES TO 3RD WORLD COUNTRIES"
Recently there has been a lot of media coverage about a plan to collect and supply medicines that have passed the manufacturers
expiration date to the poor and 3rd World countries. To quote Glenn Beck, "this should make blood shoot out of your eyes" for the
pure stupidity of this idea.
First, the political backlash against the United States by supplying "expired" medications will not endear us to 3rd World countries. It
will be seen as another attempt by the "Great Satan" to keep the poor and developing nations down. This will feed the establishment
of more dictatorships and corrupt-thuggish regimes like Uganda, the Sudan, Venezuela, and North Korea. Here in the States, if the
poor received "expired" medications - just think of the lawsuits by the ACLU and the outcry by those peers of social conscious Al
Sharpton and Jesse Jackson - let alone the Reverend Wright!
Second, if the expired medications are still good - where is the expiration date validity? Is this a conspiracy by the pharmaceutical
industry to sell more product, then is this not increasing the cost of health care here in the United States - and especially to us
taxpayers who are footing the Medicare and Medicaid cost? Isn't this against the law just as conspiratorial pricing fixing was and is
by other industries? If Big Oil was pulling this - every Congressman and Senator would be having hearings and pushing for the
Justice Department to indict every oil companies CEO and Board of Directors immediately!
Seems to me that if this is such a great idea (supplying expired pharmaceuticals to the poor) - ol' Hillary and Obama would be
jumping all over it as part of their grand national health care proposal. God knows as a tax payer if there ever is a national health care
plan, I'd rather be charged for supplying "good but expired" medicines then new medications at full price. Course, maybe I'm brain
rattled from being pinned down by sniper fire while writing this article :)
Last, this practice by health care facilities - primarily elderly care facilities, of dumping old medicines down the toilet. Obviously they
are not aware that these pharmaceuticals are not removed by the municipal wastewater plant and that virtually every river and coast
in the United States shows traces of 20-70 different pharmaceuticals residuals. Guess they don't watch the news or read about the
EPA or USGS or U.S. Fish & Wildlife denoting these residuals are accumulating in salmon, trout, bass, sturgeon, crappie, catfish, and
affecting male fish the worst (developing eggs in their testes) or the United Nations Environmental Programme linking
pharmaceutical residuals as one of the rising causes of sexual organ and gland abnormalities in fetuses and babies. Guess they
don't have the time to read the latest Health and Medical journals or research periodicals.
Here in the Pacific Northwest, all the major cities dump their treated wastewater to the Willamette, the Columbia, and the Snake
Rivers. The Columbia is a protected waterway under the Salmon & Trout Recovery Act - but that does not stop Portland and the
surrounding cities in dumping treated wastewater to the river. Now, the Portland Metro Area contains approximately 50% of the
State's total population. So the majority of hospitals, residential care centers, medical clinics, and private elderly care facilities are
located in this area. So all those pharmaceuticals that are being flushed, and that are unmetabolized by the human body, wind up in
the various cities wastewater plants, and ultimately, into the Columbia and Willamette Rivers.
Now I give the medical care facilities the benefit of the doubt by saying they are not aware. My personal belief is that they really don't
care, and unless there is some sort of citywide collection or central disposal service provided at no cost - they are going to do what
they have always done - simply flush it down the drain. The local Channel 6 (KOIN) news station ran a spot this evening on the
practice. Want to know the position of the facility - "What can we do - the city has no recycling or legal collection agency for the
medications".
Typical, throw up your hands and blame someone else for not handling the problem. The vast majority of municipalities answer to
this appears to be instead of establishing a central collection center for proper disposal, to join the bandwagon of allowing local
non-profit groups to collect them and send them to the poor of the 3rd World". If the pharmaceuticals have expired - then they are no
good - or at least at lower efficiency then if they were within their expiration date - which means your setting up for the creation of
"super bugs" (since these locations are the same areas with the highest levels of the pathogens that create typhoid, dysentery,
tuberculosis, etc.) or at least, sending our garbage over to someone else's backyard - and these same folks have the least ability to
deal with the pollution then you do (Remind you of the computer tech waste we ship to China and the major pollution problem they
now have from toxic metals??).
Anyone else see the hypocrisy here? Forget Global Warming - we can't solve that. But Global Pollution - that's what will off the human
race - our refusal to require that our technology be used not only to create - but also to de-create so that we do no harm to us or the
other living creatures of this planet. Maybe if we could create "poop credits" like ol' Al's carbon credit scheme - we could get the
attention this problem deserves.
Article #2 TAKING AN NEW APPROACH - UTILIZING DIFFERING INDUSTRY TECHNIQUES
Over past 10 years, we have seen a great reluctance of one industry to employ the solutions and
techniques of another to solve a water or wastewater treatment problem. This has always amazed
us - as it seems a great waste of time, money, and effort to "recreate the wheel" all the time.
There have been apparent reasons for the reluctance, but primarily, it's been one of ego! One side
does not want to admit that the other side knows more, is smarter, or ahead of the other. This is
especially apparent in competing industries such as mechanical filtration v. Chemical treatment
industry; or ozone v. Chemical industry; or biological/carbon industry v. Membrane, etc.
Sure , money always plays a part - we all want to make a sale, but when this gets in the way of
providing the best possible solution for the customer or client, then an ethical line has been
crossed.
Most of my contacts in "competing" technologies are fairly open about the problem, at least when
we are talking "off the record". Not a one of our clients has not run into this problem, and many
companies have terminated relationships with all parties due to disgust over the bickering and
name calling.
For those who don't believe this is a major problem - just peruse the various water and wastewater
discussion forums, even those claiming to be "For Professional Engineers Only". The personal
attacks against each other, the posturing, closed minded replies by many are a real indicator of the
level of the problem. It's not just in academia that this occurs - it's among the professional firms that
are supposed to be there to solve the customers problem!
Maybe I'm old fashioned and should be put out to pasture, but I was raised and trained that the
customer's problem is the overriding concern, and whether my solution or someone else's is the
best, that is what needs to be put forward to the customer. Sadly, in today's openly "dog eat dog"
world, this not the case.
We've never said that electrolytic oxidation is a "silver bullet". In fact I openly state that many water
pollution issues can not be solved with the process, like sugar or surfactant reduction. In many
cases, we refer the client to one or several different technologies and firms able to design and
supply the equipment. Even when the EO process is a viable treatment, we have to look at cost
effectiveness, maintenance, labor, electrical costs, etc. just to see if the process is justified over
another. Not a typical position for an equipment manufacturer, but one that we wish all competing
technologies would employ - it would give the wastewater and water treatment industry and it's
professionals a better reputation, and take great strides in reducing the "attack dog" mentally
between competing firms and techniques.
End/ August 2006
Article #3 August 2006 - POPs and Endocrine Disruptors - the next "AIDS" Crisis
The effect of endocrine disrupting chemicals on both land and water-based life forms (panthers,bears, fish,
insects, amphibians, and birds) has been reported on by both the international and private environmental
community. The USGS, the EPA, the UNEP, the World Health Organization, the NIH out of the United
Kingdom, and now even the National Health agency in China. For most individuals, this is simply a "that's
too bad" talking point over coffee or lunch.
What is not being widely discussed or covered by the major news reporting agencies (major newspapers
and news reporting agencies like the CNN, FOX, and MSNBC) is the effect these pollutants are having on
human embryos and infants.
Primarily, the effect is one of sexual organ mutation and sexual maturity malfunction. For males, this
equates to reduced sperm production, incomplete testicle formation, delayed sexual maturity (early to late
20's) or what is put in politically correct speak - "nondeterminate sexual preference" (which means they are
not predominately heterosexual). For females, the main issue appears to be early sexual maturation (sexual
maturity and/or sexual activity beginning at age 8-10). And it's not just happening in Africa or other
underdeveloped countries. Try Sweden, Norway, China, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom
just for starters. Then add many of the former Soviet Block countries like Romania, Czechoslovakia,
Ukraine, and Hungary - and you get a feel for just how wide spread the problem is. For China, the effect of
these abnormalities and various cancers in the older population, is already surpassing the level of health
costs for all the AIDS/HIV sufferers in Africa!
The main pollutants are residual herbicides, pesticides, and petroleum-based chemical products that are
released from industrial manufacturing and agricultural production. They enter freshwater rivers, streams,
and underground aquifers by way of run-off or direct discharge. Here in the United States, the issue is
agricultural run-off and insufficient wastewater treatment - which is discharged to our rivers and streams.
Thinking New York and Chicago - guess again, as according to the USGS who is monitoring the numerous
pollutants and their locations - try 90% of all freshwater rivers, streams, lakes and aquifers contain 10 or
more of these major pollutants, and most in levels exceeding the EPA guidelines for consumption.
The effect of these pollutants on adults is long-term, 10-20 years of consistent exposure increasing the
level of rectal, lymphatic, and lung cancers. This is the main issue now facing China - the increase in
cancers from long term pollutant exposure in water and food.
Most of the Persistent Organic Pollutants are noted as being retained in animal and plant cellular material,
fats, and oils. Meaning that the pollutants are passed on to whomever, or whatever, consumes them. And,
since these pollutants resist microbial, phyto, and photo-oxidation, fixing the problem is going to take a
long-term approach.
For us, the main issue is addressing the destruction of these pollutants from municipal wastewater
discharge and potable water sources. For potable water, reverse osmosis can remove many of the
pollutants, but not all. Reverse osmosis is not a reduction process for municipal wastewater discharge, as
the volumes of discharge and additional pollutants (suspended solids, mineral and metal levels) contained
in the discharge water that would also be caught by the process, makes it economically unfeasible to utilize
this particular technology for this purpose.
The "best" solution at the present time, is oxidation, reducing the pollutants in total, or into less toxic
forms, or forms more easily eradicated by microbial breakdown.
The solutions for oxidation are several, and all have differing operational costs and effectiveness. The two
main processes that provide the greatest level of reduction and the widest pollutant coverage are
Advanced Oxidation Technologies (using hydrogen peroxide or ozone injection in conjunction with U.V.
Light) and Electrolytic Oxidation (where electricity is used to create oxidizing agents directly from the
water, or from catalysts added to the water as part of a batch treatment process).
I won't go into the plus' and minuses here on each of the technologies. Only state that of all the processes
we have researched in academic and trade journals, these technologies are always at the top of the list.
Application of one over the other depends on water flows, pollutants levels, existing treatment mechanics,
and the other capitol and operational costs issues. The main point, is that traditional water and wastewater
treatment regimes DO NOT ADDRESS THESE POLLUTANTS, and we have not found where new municipal
installations or project feasibility studies are noting or addressing this issue.
It's your children and grandchildren - and possibly your own health and welfare we are discussing here.
And its a problem that exists now, has major consequences along all social, economic, political, and cultural
boundaries demographics.
Any one wishing to learn more - a Google search of the web using the following key words will provide a
wealth of information - both technical and in general terms; POPs, EDs, Stockholm
Convention,Dioxins,Pesticide Contamination-Rivers, Cancers related to Endocrine Disruptors.
End.
Article #4 (January 2007)
Academia and the Main Stream Media finally admit Chicken Little was right!
Two articles in the January 2007 Scientific American periodical denote the increase in antibiotic and
disinfecting resistant pathogenic bacteria in America’s waterways. Most notably, the articles point out that
these bacteria are found in virtually all freshwater sources, regardless of locale (see page 8 – SA
Perspectives; and page 22-23 “Pollution Solution”).
Additionally, the articles refer to the World Health Organization reports. The term “recent” is used
inappropriately, as both The WHO and the UN Environmental Programme have denoted this increasing
problem for well over a decade. It is only the US mainstream media and academia that is “recently” paying
attention to this global problem.
Chicken Little (the UNEPA) was right. The debate over human-influenced global warming may be ongoing,
but the global pollution impact by humanity is here, has been for several decades, and is only going to get
worse as more countries become industrialized.
Aquatic Technologies has long recognized the deficiencies in standard water and wastewater treatment
regimes. This was one of the motivations when we began expanding our development of the electrolytic
oxidation process over 11-years ago, and continues to be even now, as we move to full-scale
commercialization of the process.
The point of this article is not to pat ourselves on the back (OK, maybe just a little), but to once again point
out to the varying interested parties that new, and innovative technologies are going to be required to
prevent not only a health crisis of unheard of proportions, but also a problem that will have far-reaching
cultural and societal impacts.
I am not going to expound for pages on this issue, but simply highlight the main environmental and health
issues, and what this means to those parties engaged in designing and implementing new and upgraded
water and wastewater treatment facilities.
For Engineers and Municipalities:
* The issue of endocrine disrupter's, including antibiotic and other pharmaceutical residues,
released from wastewater plants, storm water, and agricultural sources is currently being
monitored and measured by both the USEPA and the US Geological Society. This monitoring will lead
to increasing restrictions on discharges to land and ground water sources, effecting future NPDES
permits. Those engineering firms who are designing new WWTP’s must begin to address these
pollutants, or risk exposure to future litigation under their Errors & Omissions coverage.
* This same litigative issue exists for City Councils and other municipal representatives who are
involved in making final approval and contractual agreements of such water and wastewater
treatment facilities.
For Home Owners and Residential Home Builders:
The EPA and various local health regulating agencies are beginning to monitor residential septic
systems and the level of nutrients and other pollutants that are released. This is a major issue in
various coastal communities in Oregon and Washington, as well as those along major waterways
such as the Snake, Cache la Poudre, Columbia, Potomac, and Mississippi rivers. Discussion is
already underway and some regulations already in place, that can remove and/or
prevent homeowners from occupying a dwelling until the septic system meets compliance, or the
home is connected to the local sewerage agency. This will also effect the real estate market,
as well as home mortgage lending and insurance coverage.
For Crop and Animal Production Farms:
Already discussion is underway to increase the regulations under both the Clean Water Act and
the 2006 CAFO-AFO Regulations to address residual antibiotic compounds and other endocrine
disrupting compounds and their release to surface and underground water ways. This regulation
will also look at heightened requirements of specific pathogenic bacterial inactivation – with
Escherichia coli O157:H7, being one of many.
Crop farmers will notably have more water-borne pathogens to address; P. Ramorum is already under
quarantine, but newer cytobacteria is also under scrutiny.
Treatment regimes will have to address these pathogens now – so that plant nurseries and other
crop producers do not have to continue purchasing new equipment again, and again to avoid
litigation and/or crop destruction or export restriction.
This is already a major issue among the WTO countries, affecting both the export and import of
agricultural commodities. The restrictions and trade tariffs already being enforced by Western Europe
and the United States on numerous Asian, Eastern European, and African countries on fish, swine,
fruit, and vegetable crop imports has created an economic crisis for many countries – including India,
the Philippines, Thailand, Romania, Poland, and Vietnam.
Drinking water Treatment Regimes:
The USEPA has already announced that increased regulation of disinfection by-products will be
enforced starting in 2008. This primarily centers on various THM and HAA5 pollutants that
are the result of oxidation of soluble organics. These are only part of the long list of endocrine
disrupting compounds – many more are listed within the UNEP Stockholm Convention articles.
But this increased regulation points to the USEPA slowly coming into line with the more restrictive
European Union regulations. This again has impact on exportable agricultural and food products.
Cultural and Societal Impacts:
This is an unexplored area, at least very little has been released on the Worldwide Web or published in
medical periodicals. However, it should be addressed, even if some medical controversy still exists. Not
being a medical practitioner, I will make no comment, but only provide a snippet of the research and
findings that are currently available from various medical research, academic, and governmental agencies.
Human Sexual Maturity Issues: Several medical agencies and researchers have noted that in many pre-
Industrial and newly Emerging Industrial countries, the age to which females are reaching sexual maturity is
coming earlier and earlier. They have noted that females are entering full menstruation as early as 9 and 10
years of age. Estimates are this is effecting a minimum of 20% of the female population. Correspondingly,
males are reaching sexual maturity later – in their late teens to early 20 years. And that prior to this, they are
“sexual ambivalent”. Which is a politically correct way of saying they are uncertain of what their sexual
preference is – men or women. This is of major concern in China, India, Sweden, Norway, and numerous
African countries, for if this continues, it will have far reaching cultural and economic consequences. This
ratio also appears to hold for the increase in spontaneous natural abortions and birth defects where
endocrine disrupting compounds are noted as being present in the local water supply. So far, we have
been unable to locate any corresponding research here in the United States, but with the same endocrine
disrupting compounds being found in 95% of all US waterways, it is not outside reality to assume the same
problem exists here.
This “human effect” mirrors much of what has already been noted in various aquatic and mammalian
species throughout the World. This past summer, male fish in the Potomac were found to have immature
eggs in their testes. Panthers and other mammals in South America and Africa have developed smaller
penis’s – preventing copulation. Male salmon and trout with the same egg production in the testes have
been found in the Willamette and Columbia Rivers of Oregon. Penguin eggs in the Antarctic are thinner,
reducing the amount of viable chicks each year. All scientific indicators point to long-term exposure to
various endocrine disrupting chemicals – residuals from fertilizer, herbicides, pesticides, and numerous
pharmaceuticals.
Changes in Health Care Affect Water and Wastewater Treatment Regimes:
The population of America is rapidly aging, at the same time that the use of pharmaceuticals is rising 10-20%
per year. The ugly secret of the pharmaceutical industry is that 30% of the persons taking any one
medication will get results, the rest will not. This just increases the number and variety of pharmaceuticals
that Americans of all ages are taking. Additionally, the most common antibiotics used to treat both animals
and humans pass through the body 95% unused, prolonging the time that the medications must be taken.
This same non-utilization is true of many other common chemicals – including multivitamins, and those
containing estrogen (such as those for birth control and menopause). All of this is disrupting both
residential septic systems as well as municipal wastewater treatment facilities, as the microbes are both
susceptible to inactivation, as well as unable to breakdown the complex chemical compounds.
Hood Canal in the state of Washington is under increased scrutiny, due to the mussel and clam beds
absorbing the chemical compounds into their flesh, making them unsuitable for consumption. The higher
phosphate and nitrogen loads from septic leach fields and storm water also increases the nutrient load and
reduces the dissolved oxygen content to the river – increasing algae blooms and creating “dead zones”
that is devastating the numerous aquatic species that traditionally inhabit the river.
Norway and Sweden have been grappling with the level of unprocessed antibiotic and other endocrine
disrupting compounds in their wastewater discharge for the past decade, because their society is both
aging and one of the highest pharmaceutical using populations in the World. The effect on their inland and
coastal fishing industry has reached crisis proportions, as the hormonal disruption to halibut, salmon and
various other species has substantially decreased resident populations – requiring greater fish production
by intensive cage culture, as well as forcing fisherman farther and farther into the open ocean, which has
created geopolitical issues with other fishing countries and moves to expand “territorial waters” in an
effort to protect their fishing industries.
I will close this discussion here – the point is made, and for those wishing more information, I suggest you
review the UNEP Stockholm Convention, the USGS report on US waterways, the WHO report on endocrine
disrupters and their effect on rising birth defects and hormonal abnormalities.
Dave Orlebeke, Director
Aquatic Technologies