Letters to the editor: Questions over wastewater drug testing

Test tube with samples collected from wastewater. Photo / File

The article on Wellington's weak positive wastewater test (News, May 17) raises a question over drug testing in our wastewater management system.

Considering humans normally absorb and utilise only 25 per cent of the medication, drugs or supplements they take, the remaining residue is excreted through our normal elimination functions.

Naively, we hope the wastewater management water system filters this waste out, but according to the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and the World Health Organisation's study (ref March 2018) considerable levels of drugs are still found in our water supply, especially around cities.

I researched and published a book on the subject in 2019.

If the health authorities through New Zealand's ESR testing unit found a weak positive for Covid-19 in Wellington's water supply, as mentioned in the article, then is it possible what it has tested is a weak positive of the actual vaccine drug?

Flu virus testing in water is only available in an organism in EPA research, and even that evidence has never been conclusive as viruses need a bilayer to carry them, along with being unstable in water.

Enteroviruses and other such types of bacterial viruses can make their way into the water supply through faecal samples from humans (and animals).

That type of bacterial virus is killed by boiling water. What the health authorities are suggesting is that the ESR has uncovered a means to test water for flu viruses, if so, they have uncovered a research headliner?

Janice Priest
CNHP NC DSc MDH
Tauranga

Bias against Israel is obvious

The bias against Israel in the world media seems obvious to me and apart from some rather toothless support from the Biden administration, which it seems is now under pressure from within his own Democratic party, Israel stands alone.

This has been the case for the Jews for at least 4000 years, and in spite of being treated as the offscourings of humanity they still proudly stand alone.

Hamas, the militant terrorist group which has ruled Gaza since its election in 2006 has, as part of its manifesto, the sworn aim of eliminating the state of Israel.

The talk of a two-state solution to the Middle East problem is simply a pie-in-the-sky dream of a world that won't accept this feud goes back thousands of years. Israel has regularly shown restraint, relying on its Iron Dome defence system to protect citizens from the rocket attacks from Gaza.

Warnings have been consistent in that these attacks would cost dearly, and it's easy to forget that, in my opinion, if Hamas ceases its aggression the war would be over, but if Israel lays down its arms it would cease to exist.

Sadly, civilians from both sides get caught up, but it was democratic process that put both antagonist regimes in power so ultimately the people bear the brunt of their choices.

John Williams
Ngongotahā

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