Comments on: Birth Control in the Water http://www.blisstree.com/articles/birth-control-in-the-water-28/ Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:55:20 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Tracee http://www.blisstree.com/articles/birth-control-in-the-water-28/comment-page-1/#comment-6201 Tracee Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:17:31 +0000 http://www.blogfabulous.com/birth-control-in-the-water/#comment-6201 I too think the way we're doing it backwards. Companies should have to prove something is safe before they are allowed to mass produce it. It seems self-defeating to allow anything until you discover an entire generation of girls has matured too quickly or the fish you eat are growing two heads. I'm sure it's great for the companies' bottom line. But, it's short-sighted economics. Still I can't help but feel organic labels and hormone free labels are a marketing ploy. I could be wrong, but it hurts to shell out more money knowing they are largely unregulated. I too think the way we’re doing it backwards.

Companies should have to prove something is safe before they are allowed to mass produce it.

It seems self-defeating to allow anything until you discover an entire generation of girls has matured too quickly or the fish you eat are growing two heads.

I’m sure it’s great for the companies’ bottom line. But, it’s short-sighted economics.

Still I can’t help but feel organic labels and hormone free labels are a marketing ploy. I could be wrong, but it hurts to shell out more money knowing they are largely unregulated.

]]> By: Ashley http://www.blisstree.com/articles/birth-control-in-the-water-28/comment-page-1/#comment-6234 Ashley Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:50:39 +0000 http://www.blogfabulous.com/birth-control-in-the-water/#comment-6234 The funny thing about the phlalates thing is that they could easily require manufacturers to label their products "contains phlalates" or "phlalate free" just to get the ball rolling and let the customers decide - but besides California, it doesn't even seem to be a blip on the public's radar. I had never heard of it before.. The funny thing about the phlalates thing is that they could easily require manufacturers to label their products “contains phlalates” or “phlalate free” just to get the ball rolling and let the customers decide – but besides California, it doesn’t even seem to be a blip on the public’s radar. I had never heard of it before..

]]> By: Tarah http://www.blisstree.com/articles/birth-control-in-the-water-28/comment-page-1/#comment-6179 Tarah Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:20:15 +0000 http://www.blogfabulous.com/birth-control-in-the-water/#comment-6179 I know it may not be about pharmacueticals, but this morning I read that southern Colorado is reporting salmonella in their tap water and so far over 200 cases have appeared and over 8,000 people can not drink their water till it's clear. They are running chlorine through it or something to TRY and fix it...scary.. I know it may not be about pharmacueticals, but this morning I read that southern Colorado is reporting salmonella in their tap water and so far over 200 cases have appeared and over 8,000 people can not drink their water till it’s clear. They are running chlorine through it or something to TRY and fix it…scary..

]]> By: Violet http://www.blisstree.com/articles/birth-control-in-the-water-28/comment-page-1/#comment-6375 Violet Tue, 25 Mar 2008 02:21:11 +0000 http://www.blogfabulous.com/birth-control-in-the-water/#comment-6375 I'm freaked out by the whole thing. It may not be enough, but I buy organic/hormone free food when I can. Only when we demand it and show we are willing to pay for it, will these products become standard. I have hormonal imbalances, and after I heard the theory that phthalates might be part of the problem, I started replacing plastic in my home, mostly my kitchen. You know what? It's everywhere. Household items, furniture, water bottles, utensils, non-stick pans. Creepiest are teething rings and other toys children put in their mouths. Pthalates have been linked to small or malformed genitalia in boys. California just outlawed them in toys though, so I hope other states will follow suit soon. I’m freaked out by the whole thing. It may not be enough, but I buy organic/hormone free food when I can. Only when we demand it and show we are willing to pay for it, will these products become standard.

I have hormonal imbalances, and after I heard the theory that phthalates might be part of the problem, I started replacing plastic in my home, mostly my kitchen. You know what? It’s everywhere. Household items, furniture, water bottles, utensils, non-stick pans.

Creepiest are teething rings and other toys children put in their mouths. Pthalates have been linked to small or malformed genitalia in boys. California just outlawed them in toys though, so I hope other states will follow suit soon.

]]> By: Tracee http://www.blisstree.com/articles/birth-control-in-the-water-28/comment-page-1/#comment-6416 Tracee Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:41:01 +0000 http://www.blogfabulous.com/birth-control-in-the-water/#comment-6416 ? ?

]]> By: Ashley http://www.blisstree.com/articles/birth-control-in-the-water-28/comment-page-1/#comment-6425 Ashley Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:37:48 +0000 http://www.blogfabulous.com/birth-control-in-the-water/#comment-6425 Also, Denina, I just clicked on your name and can I just say WOW! You are really accomplished and I love to see women excel in science - that's so awesome. Also, Denina, I just clicked on your name and can I just say WOW! You are really accomplished and I love to see women excel in science – that’s so awesome.

]]> By: Ashley http://www.blisstree.com/articles/birth-control-in-the-water-28/comment-page-1/#comment-6424 Ashley Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:35:26 +0000 http://www.blogfabulous.com/birth-control-in-the-water/#comment-6424 I see..It's just so alarming. I watched a thing on pbs (I'm such a dork) Friday night about Phlalates (sp?) in our soft plastics - such as toys - for toddlers. Basically, there is a way to make safe plastics w/out phlalates, and it is mandated in Europe because they operate on a principle: if it might or probably will hurt us - outlaw it.. On the other hand, our lawmakers operate on the principle: wait until it has hurt a whole generation so that we might document the effects - then outlaw it.. Really scary stuff. I'm skeptical of the pharmeceutical industry and their connections with our lawmakers. I have to wonder why OUR lawmakers like to see bad things happen, then act rather than preventing these bad things in the first place. Back to the water though - I know that in most scenarios nature can correct itself if we leave it alone..but how do we stop contaminating the water? What things need to happen? I see..It’s just so alarming.

I watched a thing on pbs (I’m such a dork) Friday night about Phlalates (sp?) in our soft plastics – such as toys – for toddlers. Basically, there is a way to make safe plastics w/out phlalates, and it is mandated in Europe because they operate on a principle: if it might or probably will hurt us – outlaw it.. On the other hand, our lawmakers operate on the principle: wait until it has hurt a whole generation so that we might document the effects – then outlaw it..

Really scary stuff. I’m skeptical of the pharmeceutical industry and their connections with our lawmakers. I have to wonder why OUR lawmakers like to see bad things happen, then act rather than preventing these bad things in the first place.

Back to the water though – I know that in most scenarios nature can correct itself if we leave it alone..but how do we stop contaminating the water? What things need to happen?

]]> By: Tracee http://www.blisstree.com/articles/birth-control-in-the-water-28/comment-page-1/#comment-6431 Tracee Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:51:35 +0000 http://www.blogfabulous.com/birth-control-in-the-water/#comment-6431 The article says things labeled and marketed with "Organic" are watering with the same water supply as other products and that it's not usually tested. Where would they get cleaner water? Unless they are performing reverse osmosis, which would be highly expensive? Ashley the trace prescriptions have been found in the aquifers and underground sources like rural wells - I guess if you dump contaminated water on the ground it leaks down to the aquifers. The article does point out - this could be no problem. Is it possible that we're all just metabolizing these trace amounts and it's having no negative effect? The article says things labeled and marketed with “Organic” are watering with the same water supply as other products and that it’s not usually tested. Where would they get cleaner water? Unless they are performing reverse osmosis, which would be highly expensive?

Ashley the trace prescriptions have been found in the aquifers and underground sources like rural wells – I guess if you dump contaminated water on the ground it leaks down to the aquifers.

The article does point out – this could be no problem. Is it possible that we’re all just metabolizing these trace amounts and it’s having no negative effect?

]]> By: Denina http://www.blisstree.com/articles/birth-control-in-the-water-28/comment-page-1/#comment-6429 Denina Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:22:30 +0000 http://www.blogfabulous.com/birth-control-in-the-water/#comment-6429 In response to Ashley's comment, there are pharmaceuticals that we give to livestock - these animals often get sick living in small spaces and having been bread so often without any genetic variability they are weak and susceptible to disease. Then, when these animals poo onto the land, their feces contain undigested and partially metabolized pharmaceuticals which then runoff into streams or into groundwater reservoirs. Agriculture is the most common reason we find these drugs in spring and groundwater sources, but sometimes the routes can be more complex. This is another reason to insist upon Organic, free-range food. In response to Ashley’s comment, there are pharmaceuticals that we give to livestock – these animals often get sick living in small spaces and having been bread so often without any genetic variability they are weak and susceptible to disease. Then, when these animals poo onto the land, their feces contain undigested and partially metabolized pharmaceuticals which then runoff into streams or into groundwater reservoirs. Agriculture is the most common reason we find these drugs in spring and groundwater sources, but sometimes the routes can be more complex. This is another reason to insist upon Organic, free-range food.

]]> By: Denina http://www.blisstree.com/articles/birth-control-in-the-water-28/comment-page-1/#comment-6428 Denina Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:17:23 +0000 http://www.blogfabulous.com/birth-control-in-the-water/#comment-6428 I don't just believe this, I studied this in my master's thesis. My supervisor at the time is one of the most famous for studying the levels of pharmaceuticals, including estrogenic compounds such as birth control, in surface and drinking waters. After finishing my work I have become convinced that large corporations are entirely aware of the impacts of the chemicals they have created, and all government officials know that the Great Lakes and other freshwater resources in Canada and the United States are sooo polluted that increased Cancer rates have been directly linked to the poor water quality and high level of contaminants, however they just don't care. As usual, money is more important. LEts face it, however, if you lived in a town, city or state where more than half of the jobs were supplied by the pharmaceutical industry (like New Jersey, for instance) than wouldn't you weigh the importance of supper on the table to the chance of getting breast cancer later in life? As an environmental molecular biologist and chemist I wish there was an easy solution to these problems, but as it usually goes, Industry has everyone by the short and curlies. I don’t just believe this, I studied this in my master’s thesis. My supervisor at the time is one of the most famous for studying the levels of pharmaceuticals, including estrogenic compounds such as birth control, in surface and drinking waters. After finishing my work I have become convinced that large corporations are entirely aware of the impacts of the chemicals they have created, and all government officials know that the Great Lakes and other freshwater resources in Canada and the United States are sooo polluted that increased Cancer rates have been directly linked to the poor water quality and high level of contaminants, however they just don’t care. As usual, money is more important. LEts face it, however, if you lived in a town, city or state where more than half of the jobs were supplied by the pharmaceutical industry (like New Jersey, for instance) than wouldn’t you weigh the importance of supper on the table to the chance of getting breast cancer later in life? As an environmental molecular biologist and chemist I wish there was an easy solution to these problems, but as it usually goes, Industry has everyone by the short and curlies.

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