Last month, we talked about the endocrine disruptor atrazine (it induces formation of aromatase…which plays a role in the conversion of testosterone to estrogen).
The timing was perfect, as the AP concluded a 5 month investigation into pharmaceuticals in national water supplies last month as well. They found trace amounts of pharmas in 24 major metropolitan areas, including San Francisco. In SF, the AP found the sex hormone estradiol present in trace quantities in our water. Scary stuff eh? Let’s break it down.
Let’s start at source: You take drugs. Drugs are …

Part one of the Bay Area Science Forum, a collaboration between the Cal Academy, UC Berkeley, & Stanford, launched last Thursday.
In the part one, Peter Gleick of the Pacific Institute on Water issues…links to the articles can be found below.
I’ll summarize my thoughts on one particle article: The SFPUC’s request to divert an additional 25 MGal/day from the Tuolumne.
Currently, the SFPUC draws 85% of its water from the Tuloumne. 80% of the projected increase will be sold to other agencies (Alameda, Hayward, Milpitas, Santa Clara). The SFPUC project most of …

Our friends over at the Cal Academy of Sciences have started a new informal science venture: The Bay Area Science Forum. In collaboration with UC Berkeley and Stanford, BASF is an interactive dialogue to facilitate more informed decisions….much like a science cafe without the booze.
After an open vote, Water resources was chosen as a topic for this 3 month, 3 event discussion. The first event is March 13 at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco. I will definitely be attending, I encourage everyone else to come out as well.
For …