University of Iowa Hygienic Laboratory finds trace anti-seizure medication in Chicago water (with video) April 17, 2008
Posted by John in Environment, Medicine.Tags: Chicago Tribune, Coralville (Iowa), Drinking water, Iowa City (Iowa), Non-prescription drugs, pesticides, Prescription drugs, Tribune Tower, University of Iowa, University of Iowa Hygienic Laboratory, University of Iowa Oakdale Campus, Water, Water Resources
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Includes a one-minute video of Dr. John Vargo inside the UI Lab.
From today’s Chicago Tribune special report:
Using sampling techniques and containers provided by the University of Iowa Hygienic Laboratory, Tribune reporters took samples on March 17 from drinking fountains at City Hall, Sherman Elementary on the South Side, and the Waukegan Public Library. Water from a tap at Tribune Tower also was filtered through a household filter before collection.
The water samples were shipped to the Iowa lab and analyzed for nearly 40 different compounds, including regulated pesticides and heavy metals and unregulated prescription and non-prescription drugs.
The tests did not reveal the presence of most of the contaminants But water from a drinking fountain on the 7th floor of City Hall, just outside the Department of Streets and Sanitation, contained small amounts of carbamazepine, a prescription drug used to control epileptic seizures and treat bipolar disorder. Also found was acetaminophen, an over-the-counter painkiller. …
John Vargo, the environmental program manager at the University of Iowa lab that conducted the Tribune’s tests, said he has found traces of carbamazepine, acetaminophen and other pharmaceuticals in the drinking water of other Midwestern cities. He declined to reveal the specific locations, citing confidentiality agreements written into the lab’s contracts. …
Country Home magazine: Iowa City ranked among greenest U.S. cities March 25, 2008
Posted by John in Environment, Nature, Rankings.Tags: Country Home magazine, Iowa City (Iowa)
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From Country Home magazine:
Across the nation, people are looking for ways to shrink their proverbial footprint. And along with that push to live a little closer to the Three-R mantra (reduce, reuse and recycle), Americans are asking their communities to think green, too. That prompted our second annual Best Green Places report, which analyzed hundreds of cities on key points, such as official energy policies, green power, green buildings, and the availability of fresh, locally grown food.
And this page:
2008 City Rankings
Top 25 Green Cities in America 1. Corvallis, OR 2. Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, OR 3. Bellingham, WA …
16. Salem, OR 17. Madison, WI 18. Iowa City, IA 19. Ames, IA 20. San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA …
