Risky water source by Brenda Adelman

Monday’s Letters to the Editor

Risky water source

EDITOR: The state’s concern about future water supplies is well-founded. Yet using treated wastewater to augment supplies is risky business (“Water plan to change ‘way of life,’ ” Jan. 2). Historically, the state has allowed treated wastewater to be discharged into waterways or reservoirs and, ultimately, mixed with drinking water supplies, supposedly without health risks.

Faced with a burgeoning population, the state is beginning a process to establish standards that would allow mixing highly treated wastewater directly into drinking water pipes. Many experts agree that no technology gets all toxins out and believe a little remnant is safe. But if the little bit contains endocrine-disrupting toxic chemicals, according to the Endocrine Society, there is no safe dose. In addition, the dose could accumulate because we are all exposed to these toxins from many other environmental sources.

The endocrine system governs most of our bodies’ functions. Yet often scientists cannot identify cause-and-effect relationships between specific toxic exposures and precise causes of disease. Endocrine disruption can occur at the parts-per-billion level. Infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly and those fighting serious disease shouldn’t be exposed.

Say no to direct potable reuse. While this will not happen soon here, the head of the Sonoma County Water Agency is head of the professional lobbying group pushing this technology statewide.

BRENDA ADELMAN

Russian River Watershed Protection Committee

For more information: http://endocrinedisruption.org/enews/the-tedx-list-of-potential-endocrine-disruptors-has-grown

The TEDX List of Potential Endocrine Disruptors Has Grown!

The list relied on by governments, scientists, businesses, and non-profits to identify chemicals with endocrine disrupting properties has grown to 1,326. We recently found evidence of endocrine disruption for 288 more chemicals. We also added new references for 68 chemicals that were on the list.
The TEDX list of Potential Endocrine Disruptors is easy to use! Simply type in a chemical name or CAS number to see sources of the chemical, categories of use, and research on endocrine effects. Only interested in the new chemicals? The list is easily sortable by the date the chemical was added. If you know of a chemical that should be on the list, send us the name and we’ll investigate.
Click here to explore the expanded and updated TEDX list of Potential Endocrine Disruptors.