By Cindy Kreifels, The Groundwater
Foundation
I was deeply touched when I received
an email from a woman going through cancer treatment who expressed her concern
about the impact of the chemotherapy drugs on groundwater and the
environment. The writer pointed out, the
excretion from a person’s body after a chemotherapy treatment must result in
toxic bodily waste. Since these drugs
are disposed of in hazmat bins, doesn’t it stand to reason that the human waste
from a chemo patient must be a toxic solution that upon flushing is being added
to our water stream?
If so, what does that mean for the
aquatic plants and animals? And, what
does it mean for us as humans? Septic
systems and wastewater treatment systems are not designed to remove these types
of chemicals from the water.
So what can be done? What should be done? The writer of the letter provided this
suggestion:
· Cancer treatment centers could provide biowaste toilets and
overnight beds for patients for at least 48 hours after chemo treatment
What other options are out
there? What are the next steps?
Please share your thoughts and join
me in wishing this woman all the best in her quest to overcome cancer and
protect our water!
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