Presenter Biography
Ruby and I are approaching our final term as MPH graduate students in the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health. Our program focus is Environmental Systems & Human Health, and we both have an interest in sustainable systems with regards to environmental pollution and waste.
Institution
OHSU
Program/Major
Environmental Systems & Human Health
Degree
MPH
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
4-4-2023 2:00 PM
End Date
4-4-2023 3:00 PM
Creative Commons License or Rights Statement
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/40214
Subjects
system, water, pharmaceuticals, PPCPs, lifecycle, environmental health, systems map, climate change, water monitoring, materials management, pollution prevention
Abstract
In a changing climate, there is growing emphasis on protecting our water sources and developing systems for conserving and reusing water. While many contaminants of concern are monitored and addressed by water treatment systems, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are generally not accounted for. PPCPs in water systems have been an increasing concern as detection of these products has increased over the last few decades. Studies have been exploring the impact of antibiotics, antidepressants, contraceptives, and other anthropogenic products on our water system and how these substances interact with local ecosystems. Our main research questions are to understand what factors influence the presence and impact of PPCPs in water systems, and to assess where and how health concerns might arise in relation to PPCPs in water.
In this project we use a system map to explore how PPCPs move through a water system and evaluate the occurrence of reinforcing loops which signify possible areas of PPCP accumulation. We compare this system map to those of other substances in water which receive significant monitoring and treatment. Comparing these system maps elucidates the fact that there is little to no data around PPCP presence in most water systems, yet there is risk of biomagnification in humans via amplification of trophic levels, particularly when faced with the threat of climate change and the need to reuse water. Lastly, we identify several points in the system at which monitoring, regulation, and potential removal techniques could be implemented.
Included in
Environmental Health Commons, Other Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health Commons, Public Health Commons
Map the System: Presence and Impact of PPCPs in Water
In a changing climate, there is growing emphasis on protecting our water sources and developing systems for conserving and reusing water. While many contaminants of concern are monitored and addressed by water treatment systems, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are generally not accounted for. PPCPs in water systems have been an increasing concern as detection of these products has increased over the last few decades. Studies have been exploring the impact of antibiotics, antidepressants, contraceptives, and other anthropogenic products on our water system and how these substances interact with local ecosystems. Our main research questions are to understand what factors influence the presence and impact of PPCPs in water systems, and to assess where and how health concerns might arise in relation to PPCPs in water.
In this project we use a system map to explore how PPCPs move through a water system and evaluate the occurrence of reinforcing loops which signify possible areas of PPCP accumulation. We compare this system map to those of other substances in water which receive significant monitoring and treatment. Comparing these system maps elucidates the fact that there is little to no data around PPCP presence in most water systems, yet there is risk of biomagnification in humans via amplification of trophic levels, particularly when faced with the threat of climate change and the need to reuse water. Lastly, we identify several points in the system at which monitoring, regulation, and potential removal techniques could be implemented.