We all know wastewater is harmful. But how harmful, and in what different ways? This is the subject of my current newsletter. Aquatic Organisms Do Aquatic organisms exposed to pharma products live or die? Antibiotics, blood lipid regulators, analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and beta-blockers, fragrances [musks], skin care products, disinfectants and antiseptics are the common ingredients o domestic wastewater. Physiological responses on organisms in the aquatic environment is one of the harmful effects of wastewater. Sewage Sewage wastewater is harmful to growth hormones. Domestic wastewater contains chemicals that may disturb endocrine function thereby reproduction or development in animals is severely affected. Natural and synthetic hormones and certain industrial chemicals that have effect on estrogens are identified in sewage effluents. Evidence suggests that these harmful effects of wastewater may occur even at low concentrations and/or from transient exposure. Sewage Contamination Is sewage contaminated with pathogenic organisms? Many disease-causing viruses, parasites, and bacteria are also present in wastewater. These pathogens often originate from people and animals that are infected with, or are carriers of a disease. Gray water and black water from typical homes contain enough pathogens to pose a risk to public health. Other likely sources i communities include hospitals, schools, farms, and food processing plants.