Research Guide and Annotated Bibliography # 1

1. What do I already know about the issue?
-I know that there have be small amounts of pharmaceuticals and other Pharmaceutical like chemicals found in ground water.

2. What questions do I have about the issue?
-What effect are pharmaceutical contaminants having in groundwater and surrounding environments?
-How widespread is pharmaceutical contamination?
-Are pharmaceutical contaminants found in municipal water supplies?
-Is so do technologies exist to remove such contaminants? Are they in use?
-Are these types of contaminants generally tested for in drinking water supplies?
-If such contamination is found to exists do the levels of hormones and pharmaceuticals reach that of clinical doses?

3. Who is interested in this issue
-I believe those that would be interested would include everyone who uses municipal water supplies, as well as clinicians providing public health support and biologists studying effected ecosystems.

4. Where do people read, write, talk, or hear about this issue?
-I first heard about this issue by means of a news documentary. Other places where this topic might be discussed would include news periodicals, scientific journal, Government web sites dealing with water quality and hydrology and possibly
environmental wed sites and blogs.

5. Where will I look to find secondary sources?
-I believe my principal source of secondary sources will be library databases of journal articles as well as university press releases.

6. Will I conduct primary research?
-Yes, Primary sources will be obtained from databases and Government websites .

7. Research Timeline: I will post my Annotated Bibliography on or before the due dates for each so as to have adequate time to search for the best and most relevant sources.



Annotated Bibliography #1

Environmental Science & Technology: Kolpin, D.E., Pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other organic wastewater contaminants in U.S. streams, 1999-2000: A national reconnaissance, v. 36, no. 6, p. 1202-1211, 2002 (see http://toxics.usgs.gov/pubs/FS-027-02/index.html).

The question posed by this publication is,"How wide spread is contamination by pharmaceuticals, hormones and other organic compounds in U.S. streams and rivers"
The evidence used in this study are water samples taken from 133 rivers and streams throughout the United States. Levels of specific contaminates are listed using a range, measured in micrograms/liter. This publication, I believe, Is for use by scientists in various disciplines. This is just a preliminary study, the focus was broad and listed sampling results from a variety of locations.

This study does not make an assertion other than the evidence found warrants further and more in depth study. I felt like the source was objective and the findings of the study convincing. I am not part of the audience the study was intended for. This information was very helpful for me in my initial search for data. The study areas were marked on a map of the U.S. this will give me further leads in future research. I believe I will reference this study in my final paper.