4 ms·

I wouldn't be shocked if prescription drugs were detected in every body of water that is being used for human waste. Wake up to what, exactly?

by oxide 8y ago

mirimir 8y ago
Also recreational drugs. > In a new [~2009] review study, Castiglioni and colleague Ettore Zuccato found that illegal drugs have become "widespread" in surface water in some of Europe's populated areas. > Likewise, in 2005, Zuccato found that a daily influx of cocaine travels down the Po River, Italy's longest river. https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/11/091112-drinking-water-cocaine_2.html https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/11/091112-drin...
- Fnoord 8y ago
  The same is true for sewer water in Dutch cities (Amsterdam, Utrecht, Eindhoven, etc). Scientists can trace which drugs are popular where. EDIT quickly found some sources (in Dutch) [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]. Some are double, but its been tested for a while. Also, at least [3] and [5] are based on European investigation so English source should be available too. [1] https://www.kwrwater.nl/projecten/drugs-in-het-riool/ https://www.kwrwater.nl/projecten/drugs-in-het-riool/ [2] https://nos.nl/artikel/2148110-rioolonderzoek-meer-cocaine-gesnoven-in-utrecht-en-eindhoven.html https://nos.nl/artikel/2148110-rioolonderzoek-meer-cocaine-g... [3] http://www.omroepbrabant.nl/?news/213383832/Waterschap+gaat+speed-+en+xtc-afval+in+riool+onderzoeken.aspx http://www.omroepbrabant.nl/?news/213383832/Waterschap+gaat+... [4] https://www.parool.nl/amsterdam/meeste-cocaine-in-amsterdams-rioolwater~a4578463/ https://www.parool.nl/amsterdam/meeste-cocaine-in-amsterdams... [5] https://www.ed.nl/eindhoven/cocaeniuml-ne-en-amfetamine-resten-in-rioolwater-blijkt-uit-europees-onderzoek~a7b7cbea/ https://www.ed.nl/eindhoven/cocaeniuml-ne-en-amfetamine-rest...
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
vanderZwan 8y ago
To the fact that you find this normal enough to not be shocking.
- mirimir 8y ago
  If I've know about something problematic for many years, it's no longer "shocking". But I don't necessarily consider such stuff "normal". The situation is still abnormal. Chronically so.
2020-3030 8y ago
I see articles like these as useful reminders that human actions have consequences which need to be understood and mitigated if they are bad enough. We don't want to become numb to the signs of systematic and widespread problems. On the general topic of pollution and what it takes to organize effective responses, a friend recommended this article https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/10/magazine/the-lawyer-who-became-duponts-worst-nightmare.html https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/10/magazine/the-lawyer-who-b...

I wouldn't be shocked if prescription drugs were detected in every body of water that is being used for human waste. Wake up to what, exactly?

by oxide 8y ago

I wouldn't be shocked if prescription drugs were detected in every body of water that is being used for human waste. Wake up to what, exactly?

mirimir 8y ago

Also recreational drugs. > In a new [~2009] review study, Castiglioni and colleague Ettore Zuccato found that illegal drugs have become "widespread" in surface water in some of Europe's populated areas. > Likewise, in 2005, Zuccato found that a daily influx of cocaine travels down the Po River, Italy's longest river. https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/11/091112-drinking-water-cocaine_2.html https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/11/091112-drin...

Fnoord 8y ago
The same is true for sewer water in Dutch cities (Amsterdam, Utrecht, Eindhoven, etc). Scientists can trace which drugs are popular where. EDIT quickly found some sources (in Dutch) [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]. Some are double, but its been tested for a while. Also, at least [3] and [5] are based on European investigation so English source should be available too. [1] https://www.kwrwater.nl/projecten/drugs-in-het-riool/ https://www.kwrwater.nl/projecten/drugs-in-het-riool/ [2] https://nos.nl/artikel/2148110-rioolonderzoek-meer-cocaine-gesnoven-in-utrecht-en-eindhoven.html https://nos.nl/artikel/2148110-rioolonderzoek-meer-cocaine-g... [3] http://www.omroepbrabant.nl/?news/213383832/Waterschap+gaat+speed-+en+xtc-afval+in+riool+onderzoeken.aspx http://www.omroepbrabant.nl/?news/213383832/Waterschap+gaat+... [4] https://www.parool.nl/amsterdam/meeste-cocaine-in-amsterdams-rioolwater~a4578463/ https://www.parool.nl/amsterdam/meeste-cocaine-in-amsterdams... [5] https://www.ed.nl/eindhoven/cocaeniuml-ne-en-amfetamine-resten-in-rioolwater-blijkt-uit-europees-onderzoek~a7b7cbea/ https://www.ed.nl/eindhoven/cocaeniuml-ne-en-amfetamine-rest...

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

vanderZwan 8y ago

To the fact that you find this normal enough to not be shocking.

mirimir 8y ago
If I've know about something problematic for many years, it's no longer "shocking". But I don't necessarily consider such stuff "normal". The situation is still abnormal. Chronically so.

2020-3030 8y ago

I see articles like these as useful reminders that human actions have consequences which need to be understood and mitigated if they are bad enough. We don't want to become numb to the signs of systematic and widespread problems. On the general topic of pollution and what it takes to organize effective responses, a friend recommended this article https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/10/magazine/the-lawyer-who-became-duponts-worst-nightmare.html https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/10/magazine/the-lawyer-who-b...