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Regulatory Perspective: EPA/OW’s Strategy for Contaminants of Emerging Concern

This article discusses the EPA's four-pronged strategy for addressing contaminants of emerging concern, including pharmaceuticals, and the unique challenges ahead. It highlights the need to strengthen scientific knowledge, improve risk communication, build partnerships for stewardship, and use regulatory tools.

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Regulatory Perspective: EPA/OW’s Strategy for Contaminants of Emerging Concern

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  1. Regulatory Perspective: EPA/OW’s Strategy for Contaminants of Emerging Concern Diana M. Eignor Health and Ecological Criteria Division Office of Water U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Washington, DC 2008 Watershed Science and Technical Conference West Point, N.Y. September 2008 …to protect human health and the environment

  2. Overview • Contaminants of emerging concern • Reason for concern • EPA’s four-pronged strategy • Unique challenges ahead …to protect human health and the environment

  3. PFOA Prions Nanomaterials PBDEs *Not an exhaustive list.

  4. Pharmaceuticals Prescription & over-the-counter therapeutic drugs Veterinary medicine Detected in Water Steroids/Hormones Antibiotics Antidepressants Analgesics Antimicrobials Statins Antiepileptics Antineoplastics Pharmaceuticals of Concern

  5. Is there Concern? • Some studies have documented occurrence in low levels in source and finished drinking water. • Pharmaceuticals are designed to be biologically active at low levels. • An increase in the use of pharmaceuticals is anticipated as the US population grows older. • Associated risks to humans and the environment are uncertain. However, demonstrated presence has generated Congressional and public concern.

  6. EPA’s Four-Pronged Strategy 1) Strengthening our Scientific Knowledge • Identifying potential contaminants of concern in surface water and drinking water • Identifying information gaps and targeting collection of needed effects, dose, concentration, methods, and occurrence information 2) Improving Public Understanding and Risk Communication • Providing information to help the public understand the issues and inform policy choices 3) Building Partnerships for Stewardship • Working to prevent pharmaceuticals from entering water 4) Using Regulatory Tools • Using EPA’s regulatory tools when sufficient information exists

  7. 1. Strengthening our Scientific Knowledge: Methods Development • Analytical methods are lacking for most contaminants of emerging concern • OST developed and released methods for analysis of ~100 pharmaceuticals, personal care products, steroids, and hormones in water, soil, sediment, and biosolids. • Methods 1694, 1698 and 1699 atwww.epa.gov/waterscience/methods/method/other.html • Working on drinking water analytical methods

  8. Strengthening our Scientific Knowledge: Occurrence • EPA is conducting studies to understand the potential occurrence of pharmaceuticals in wastewater effluent, biosolids, and fish tissue: • Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) Study (12/09) • Pilot Study of PPCPs in Fish Tissue (10/08) • Expanded Fish Tissue Study (12/10) • National Targeted Sewage Sludge Survey (9/08) • Grants (ongoing)

  9. 2. Improving Public Understanding and Risk Communication • General EPA PPCP website -- focus on research: www.epa.gov/ppcp/ • Launched new website (August 6, 2008) -- focused on PPCPs in water: www.epa.gov/waterscience/ppcp/

  10. 3. Building Partnerships for Stewardship • ONDCP/EPA/HHS issued drug disposal guidelines (2/07) • Pharmaceuticals in the Environment (PiE) and EDC in the Environment Workgroups to coordinate federal research efforts • Other stewardship efforts supported by EPA include: • Grant to ARCHS in St. Louis ($150K) for take-back of non-controlled, unused medicines at pharmacies • Grant to University of Maine ($150K) for mail-back of unused medicines w/law enforcement involvement • Great Lakes Earth Week Challenge--grants funding 24 collection events (medicines, e-waste or both) -- 1M pill goal far exceeded • Grant to Albany Medical Center in NY (>$100K) to identify ways to better manage pharmaceutical waste and educate health professionals • California Statewide “No Drugs Down the Drain” campaign planned for October 4 – 11, 2008 supported by EPA Region 9 • World Health Organization (WHO) Task Force on PPCPs in Drinking Water plan to address various human health issues

  11. Various Stewardship Efforts • Federal efforts • “Do not flush” guidelines (2/07) • EPA/ONDCP/DHHS • Drug Take-Back Pilot Studies • EPA/OA • Universal Waste Rule • EPA/OSW

  12. Building Partnerships (Cont.) • Letters to all States (state environmental & public health dept. directors) • Stakeholder listening sessions on PPCPs in water • Environmental/NGOs (5/7/08) • Drinking water/Wastewater Utilities (5/13/08) • State Associations (5/14/08) • Agricultural Associations (6/4/08) • Major Stakeholders’ Recommendations/Concerns • Human Health Effects – need better understanding of effects • Risk Communication – need consistent, clear, concise message • Take Back Programs – need more funding/support • Drug Disposal Policy – need to revisit and clarify • Monitoring programs – need funding

  13. 4. Using Regulatory Tools • If sufficient information exists, we will take action • Health Services Study • Information Collection Request (ICR) released • White Paper addressing Developing Aquatic Life Criteria for CECs • Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Human Health and Aquatic Life • Contaminant Candidate List (CCL3) • Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) • Drinking Water Health Advisories • Six-Year Review

  14. EPA Statutory Framework • Safe Drinking Water Act • Contaminant Candidate List (CCL) • Six Year Review • Health Advisories • Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) • Clean Water Act • Human Health and Aquatic Life Criteria • Water Quality Standards • Effluent Guidelines for point sources • Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) • Food Quality Protection Act • Endocrine Disruptors Screening Program (EDSP) • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act • Universal Waste Rule • Toxics and Substances Control Act • Premanufacture Notices (PMNs), High Production Volume (HPV) chemicals • Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act • Pesticide Registration and Re-registration

  15. Unique Challenges Ahead • Nature of available data (adverse effect vs beneficial effect) • Limited access to toxicological data for human pharmaceuticals • Absence of chronic, low-dose exposure data • Lack of drug interactions (mixtures) data • Application of available risk assessment methods • Intersex fish – human health connection • Available analytical and removal methods

  16. Next Steps • Collaborate with Federal/non-Federal, and international partners in targeting timely research, monitoring, testing and risk analyses efforts to fill data gaps to support criteria development and regulatory actions

  17. Contact Information • Diana Eignor • 202-566-1143 • eignor.diana@epa.gov • www.epa.gov/waterscience/ppcp/

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