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in the newsBottle Safest Betfor Some BabiesAccording to a recent policy statementfrom the American Academy ofPediatrics (AAP), American women withHIV should not breastfeed their babies,even if they are receiving antiretroviraltherapy. As reported in Antiviral Therapy,studies in Africa showed thatsix months of antiretroviralprophylaxis could reduce therisk of transmission from fiveto one percent. However, theAAP argues that in a settingwhere mothers can accessclean water and affordableinfant formula, any transmissionrisk outweighs thebenefits of breastfeeding.New AIDS-like Diseasein Asians not ContagiousResearchers at The National Institutesof Health (NIH) discovered a new adultonsetdisease in Southeast Asia thatcauses symptoms similar to AIDS, but isnot contagious. Nearly all the individualswith the disease were Asian or Asianborn,suggesting it may be caused bygenetic or environmental factors.Trouble in the WaterCatfish on anti-depressants. Trout on antibiotics. Bass on steroids. Studies acrossthe U.S., Europe and Canada have found drugs in fish that swim in municipal watersources, making groundwater contamination a growing environmental concern. It’sunknown whether the pharmaceuticals showing up in our water are causing a neurologicaleffect on these animals – or on humans. However, it is clear that drugs gettinginto the water through improper disposal, like flushing them down the toilet, arehaving an effect on our ecosystems.As reported by The New York Times, a new law in Alameda County,California will require drug manufacturers to create and pay for disposalprograms for unused medications. Supporters of the law say take-backprograms would help keep drugs out of the water supply, and would alsoprevent unused drugs from being taken accidentally by children, used recreationallyby teens or stolen.Detractors point out that the new law does not address issues of water contaminatedthrough effluent, which may be the greater source of pharmaceutical content.The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), which representsbrand-name drug companies, the Generic Pharmaceutical Association and theBiotechnology Industry Organization are joining forces in filing a lawsuit against theAlameda County ordinance.Keeping water sources drug-free will involve cooperation between communities,pharmaceutical companies, law enforcement agencies and patients. As yet, acomprehensive solution has not been proposed – but ultimately, we’ll need to worktogether to clear the water.20 InsideOut