Annotated Bibliography #5 and Student Choice #3

Annotated Bibliography #5

Brody, Julia Green, et al. "Breast cancer risk and drinking water contaminated by wastewater: a case control study." Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source 5.(2006): 28. MEDLINE. EBSCO. Web. 22 Nov. 2009

The question posed in this study was; is there a correlation between the high rate of breast cancer in Cape Cod and exposure to contaminated drinking water?
The evidence cited in this study were the cases of approximately 800 residence of Cape Cod that had been diagnosed with breast cancer. The study identified a marker compound, Nitrate-N, that is present in contaminated waste water. The participant were then tested for this marker compound. The audience for this study would be professionals involved in environmental and health sciences. The conclusion of this study was that there was no evidence found of a connection between an elevated rate of breast cancer and exposure to contaminated water supplies.

I believe the assertion was accurate. The authors of the study were careful in not saying there is no connection but there was no evidence found of such a connection. The evidence was convincing, the sample group was large and many aspect were examined in order to make the study as accurate as possible. I am not in the audience. The study was helpful, this was the first study that I have found that investigates this particular question of the effects of emerging contaminates on human health. I am not certain if I will us this study in my final Paper.


Student Choice #3

Leonnig, Carol D. "Area Tap Water Has Traces of Medicines." The Washington Post. 10 Mar. 2008: B1.retrieved from the web on 11/21/2009 at www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/03/09/ST2008030901877.html

The question posed by this article is; does the recent discovery of certain types of Pharmaceutical compounds in Washington D.C. area tap water reason for concern? The evidence cited were an investigative report done by the Associated Press and the USGS survey of various waterways across the U.S. The audience in this case is the general public, specifically Washington D.C. area residence. The article concludes that for the moment these findings do not warrant concern due to the very low concentration found, but it furthers states that the effects of long term exposure to such compounds at low doses is not know. the article goes on to say that it is also not known if these drugs may have a synergistic effect.

After researching this topic I believe the assertions of this article to be true. I also believe the evidence to be convincing. The Washington Post is a reputable newspaper and the article names most of its sources so one could independently verify the facts being stated. I am in the intended audience of the article and I will use the information in my final paper because this article was the first I had heard of tap water being tested and getting positive results. All other information I had read to this point cited findings of pharmaceuticals in ground and surface water only.