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Silent Spring give
water worries a voice
By Kathy Szmit
kszmit@barnstablepatriot.com
Whenever a toilet is
flushed or some-
thing is poured
down a drain, it is as-
sumed it is headed for a
septic system where it will
break down and disap-
pear over time. With /a
certain chemicals
and substances
this is true. With
others, new
findings are
showing that A
some things /A
simply /M
don't ju st /M
go away. /M
Ac- ima
jMrn
cord-
ing to a
new peer-reviewed study
conducted by the Silent
Spring Institute many
septic systems, such as
those used on Cape Cod,
do not remove potentially
harmful pollutants from
sewage before it is dis-
charged into groundwater.
These pollutants , known
to be possible hormone
disrupting chemicals,
have been linked to
hormonally responsive
cancers such as breast
cancer.
The Silent Spring study
looked at an anonymous
Cape Cod residence, us-
ing special monitoring
wells to determine what
chemicals were present in
the areas surrounding the
septic system. Research-
ers found hormone-dis-
rupting chemicals such as
natural estrogen (excret-
ed in urine), pharmaceuti-
cals (such as prescription
drugs), and detergents
containing alkylphenols
and optical brighteners.
Caffeine was also present.
"What we have found
in looking at river sys-
tems downstream from
wastewater treatment
plants is that male
fish are producing a
v protein that only
|
^ female fish should
¦
R have," said Chris
j^m\ Swartz of Silent
i
|»
. Spring and
1 ^m leac* re"
p
*^^\ searcher of
f ^k\
the study.
^^^J^
"This
5
3
3
5
5
5
^ is an
indica-
tion that their hormonal
systems are being im-
pacted by the chemicals
the wastewater system
discharges."
While the feminization
of male fish is one issue,
how these chemicals can
affect humans is another.
If hormone-disrupting
chemicals remain present
in groundwater, there is
the possibility that those
chemicals could impact
drinking water, particu-
larly in private wells.
"It's difficult to put into
perspective as to what
it means to water sup-
plies on Cape Cod," said
George Heufelder of the
Barnstable County De-
partment of Health and
the Environment, "We've
known in the industry for
a long time that septic
systems don't remove all
chemicals."
Heufelder noted that
although the department
is familiar with the Silent
Spring study, they have
also been conducting
their own research. "We
looked at septic systems
for endocrine disruptors,
caffeine and anti-depres-
sants," he said. "In my
opinion any presence of
endocrine disruptors is
enough to elicit a re-
sponse."
While both Heufelder
and Swartz agree that
there is cause for con-
cern, neither wishes to
cause panic among Cape
residents. "Do we warn
people too soon?" Ques-
tioned Heufelder. "We
need to think about what
those constituents are
that are not on the hori-
zon right now.
Swartz recommended
that those concerned
about their water quality
purchase a water filtration
system for their faucet or
a pitcher form model. "A
carbon block would re-
move organic chemicals,"
said Swartz. As for cor-
recting the problem on a
larger scale he suggested
communities look into
systems that increase the
residence time for waste
material, as well as circu-
late more oxygen.
As for Barnstable, Heu-
felder explained that the
county is exploring their
options. "We are looking
at unique ways and op-
portunities to use ozone
CONTINUED ON PAGE B:4
Tovaccinate or not an
increasing question
By Britt Beedenbender
news@barnstablepatriot.com
E
very year parents
of babies born in
the United States
are encouraged by their
pediatricians to begin a
series of 22 vaccinations
meant to protect against
11diseases before their
child reaches the age of
six.
Most parents give the is-
sue little thought , sign the
lengthy CDC form without
having a chance to read it
and proceed with the in-
oculations, keeping watch
for potential side effects.
An increasing number of
parents, however, are opt-
ing not to vaccinate due to
concerns over acute and
chronic side effects, the
lack of proven efficacy of
certain vaccines, and the
seeming needlessness for
others.
A prevailing argument
in favor of vaccinations is
that it is in the interest of
global health. While dis-
eases develop and thrive
in areas that suffer from
poverty, inadequate sani-
tation, overcrowding and
poor nutrition, it is widely
promoted by the Centers
for Disease Control and
the World Health Organi-
zation that a worldwide
vaccination program that
inoculates all children, re-
gardless of their likelihood
of contracting a disease,
is a necessity as globaliza-
tion has placed us into one
microbial sea.
A Marstons Mills couple
with two healthy and
happy boys, struggled over
the issue of vaccinations
soon after their first son
was born.
"I was a new mother,
and I was overwhelmed.
We just went with what
the doctor recommended
because 'they know best,'"
she said.
A few hours after her
first son received his DTP
vaccination he started to
projectile vomit. "I had
this gut feeling that this
wasn't right. Why would
you put these toxins into
a vulnerable and totally
new immune system?" she
questioned.
Further fueling their
concerns was her son's
ongoing battle with ear
infections.
Over the next few years
the couple began to re-
search vaccinations, their
side effects, and alterna-
tive therapies. By the time
their second son was born
in 2004, they had made an
informed decision not to
vaccinate or continue to
vaccinate either of their
boys.
"When our pediatrician
saw all the information
that we had on the
^
k
subject she was
^
A
very support-
^^
none of .""JsM^^
infor- ;*
$
/
" *
' ma"
0
r was offered
•^ to us. We had to
find it on our own,"
she said.
While acute reactions,
such as fever and vomit-
ing, are short-term con-
cerns, those critical of
vaccines point out that
since their development ,
there has been a rise in
chronic illnesses such as
autism, diabetes, asthma,
chronic fatigue syndrome
and other autoimmune
and neurological disorders.
Lauren Fox, a board cer-
tified family nurse practi-
tioner who used to prac-
tice in a large pediatric
office in Falmouth is also
the mother of two whom
she chose not to vaccinate.
She felt strongly that
"vaccines compromise im-
mature immune systems
which would be stronger if
allowed to develop on their
own naturally. Western
medicine is very cavalier
about it...This is the way it
is going to be, this is how
we will eliminate disease
and that's it," she said,
noting that pre-natal care
and proper nutrition are
key components in the
development of a naturally
healthy immune system.
Many question the
necessity of vaccines.
Fox said that several of
the diseases we currently
inoculate against were
eradicated before the
vaccines were developed ,
polio being one of them.
Before vaccinations, mild
childhood diseases such
as measles, mumps and
rubella were dealt with
like other illnesses such
as chicken pox
and the flu, and
rarely v%*
did
^ » >f
4&
^
they V Jf x '
j T
j am
W
< have
^k
>^/
compli-
JL
A RA cations.
m^ Hepati-
MPr tis B, which is
r typically adminis-
tered to newborns, is
another vaccine that has
come under fire. Primarily
contracted through sexual
contact and IV drug use,
many suggest that a more
reasonable approach is
to test the mother for the
disease and administer the
vaccine only if she tests
positive.
Those critical of vaccina-
tions also note an obvious
conflict of interest as the
pharmaceutical compa-
nies generate $1 billion in
revenues from vaccines in
the United States and $3
billion worldwide.
Maureen Kelleher, who
has served as the Public
Health Nurse for the Town
of Barnstable for over 17
years, said that there are
new mandates concerning
meningitis vaccines for
students attending college
or private academies with
living quarters.
While Kelleher could not
comment on various issues
concerning vaccinations
she recommended that "if
someone has a religious
issue (regarding vaccina-
tions), they should take it
up with their doctor and
school."
If a parent chooses not
to vaccinate, a religious
exemption in Massachu-
setts is honored regardless
of tradition. There is no
standard exemption letter;
CONTINUED ON PAGE B:4
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