Showing posts with label Environmental Protection Agency. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Environmental Protection Agency. Show all posts

05 April 2010

"Germ Free"? No Such Thing

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are NO aerosols or foggers that can kill airborne flu viruses. Coughing, sneezing and breathing can send viruses up to 160'. Getting the disease causing germs out of the air isn't easy. With the H1N1 flu outbreak this year, many products made claims that they can kill viruses. Some sprays claim to disinfect rooms as "air cleaners". What the sprays actually do is settle on hard surfaces attracting viruses which is the same thing ordinary disinfectants do. It's impossible to kill germs in mid-air. The EPA is investigating fake germ-killing claims and violators can face fines of up to $7,500.00 for each item sold.

source:Parade

01 July 2009

No Drugs in the Water

For years, doctors, pharmacists and even the federal government have advised people to flush unused medicine down the toilet. Trace amounts began to show up in the nation's water supply. Several years ago, the U.S. Geological Survey announced that tests on 139 streams in 30 states showed trace amounts of Prozac, codeine, antibiotics and drugs for high blood pressure and diabetes.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found no immediate risk to people but suspects that drug contamination is causing ecological harm.

Legislation introduced this year in Congress would require the Justice Department to develop rules for "take-back" facilities. The government is urging people to seek "drug take-back programs" instead of flushing them. However, such programs are rare as it is illegal for people to give their controlled substances to others, even if it is just to get rid of them.

The federal government recommends mixing the drugs with "undesirable substances" like coffee grounds or kitty litter, placing them in a sealed container, and throwing them in the trash.