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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 18, 2007

Wastewater Carries Signs Of Drug Problems

A city's sewer plant doesn't just treat human waste; it also can tip off law enforcement officials about a local drug problem.

Using just a teaspoon of wastewater, Oregon State University researchers recently measured levels of everything from caffeine, cotinine (a break-down product of nicotine from cigarette smoke) and prescription drugs to methamphetamines, cocaine and Ecstasy. The community urinalysis wouldn't flush out single users but could eventually help officials track the spread of drugs, the researchers said.

When drugs break down in the body, their byproducts end up in excrement and urine. That waste flows from toilets to treatment plants.

Caffeine is the ingredient Americans consume and excrete the most. The scientists also found higher concentrations of "recreational" drugs such as cocaine on weekends. Levels of prescription drugs and meth were constant.

Chicago Tribune

Maybe You Should Just Light A Match

Walgreens pulled three of its air fresheners from shelves after tests by an environmental group showed that the products had high levels of hormone-disrupting chemicals known as phthalates, which can be dangerous to pregnant women or young children.

When will the government start assessing the risk of the popular sprays, gels and plug-ins?

That's the question several organizations asked in a petition to two federal agencies after the study by the Natural Resources Defense Council environmental group found that 12 of 14 common air fresheners contain phthalates.

The products have been linked to breathing difficulties, developmental problems in babies and cancer in laboratory animals, according to the petition from the NRDC, the Sierra Club, Alliance for Healthy Homes and the National Center for Healthy Housing.

Last year a National Institutes of Health study found that exposure to a chemical in many air fresheners, dichlorobenzene, may reduce lung function.

Walgreens removed its Walgreens Air Freshener Spray, Walgreens Scented Bouquet Air Fresheners and Walgreens Solid Air Fresheners as a precaution, after the NRDC tests showed they had the highest levels of phthalates. It plans to have them independently tested and will have a phthalate-free version available soon, a spokesman said.

But products containing dichlorobenzene — most often used in room deodorizers, urinal and toilet-bowl blocks — are still available. Other brands that tested for high or medium levels of phthalates included Ozium Glycolized Air Sanitizer, Air Wick Scented Oil, Febreze Noticeables Scented Oil, Glade Air Infusions, Glade PlugIn Scented Oil and Oust Air Sanitizer Spray, according to the NRDC.

"Air fresheners work either by masking the smell with a strong, synthetic odor or by desensitizing our sense of smell by coating the nasal passages with a film or blocking the olfactory nerve," Bridget Bodoana wrote in "The Little Book of Quick Fixes for Eco Conscious Cleaning" (Quadrille, $12.95).

To reduce smells, Bodoana suggests opening a window or installing an extractor fan. In the kitchen, use a lighted candle while cooking; if fish is involved, place a small bowl of white vinegar next to the stove.

Chicago Tribune

Online Shop Has Designs On 'Wellderly'

The New York Times Magazine calls them the "wellderly," a group they classify as: "The new age of age. An undefined group of millions of people who are living and looking forward to 20, 25 and more years after retirement, of decent health, sustainable income, productivity and service."

These "wellderly" are the group Patrick Conboy has in mind when he displays merchandise in his online store, www.elderluxe.com.

On this Web site, affluent seniors find pricey toys such as cookware with handles designed to relieve fatigue and pain ($375). Or serious tools like the MD Serious Medication Management System ($800) that holds cups of medications and dispenses them with voice notification that it's time to take your pills, among other features.

Conboy says his goal is to allow men and women who are aging to be social, have activities and enjoy conversation while showing themselves at their best and feeling good about their appearance.

The Orange County Register

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