[Music] everybody loves water whether we’re
everybody loves water whether we’re
everybody loves water whether we’re talking about the h2o we drink or the
talking about the h2o we drink or the
talking about the h2o we drink or the big pools we love to splash around in we
big pools we love to splash around in we
big pools we love to splash around in we can’t honestly live without it but we
can’t honestly live without it but we
can’t honestly live without it but we aren’t so aware of what exactly we put
aren’t so aware of what exactly we put
aren’t so aware of what exactly we put in our water let me ask you a question
in our water let me ask you a question
in our water let me ask you a question how do you dispose of your unused
how do you dispose of your unused
how do you dispose of your unused pharmaceuticals do you place them in the
pharmaceuticals do you place them in the
pharmaceuticals do you place them in the trash or do you flush them down the
trash or do you flush them down the
trash or do you flush them down the toilet or are you one of those people
toilet or are you one of those people
toilet or are you one of those people who pours them down the drain think
who pours them down the drain think
who pours them down the drain think about it for a minute
about it for a minute
about it for a minute according to University of Chicago
according to University of Chicago
according to University of Chicago researchers every year there’s over 2.3
researchers every year there’s over 2.3
researchers every year there’s over 2.3 billion dollars worth of unused
billion dollars worth of unused
billion dollars worth of unused pharmaceuticals that end up in our
pharmaceuticals that end up in our
pharmaceuticals that end up in our waters I am here today to make you think
waters I am here today to make you think
waters I am here today to make you think twice about your actions ever since I
twice about your actions ever since I
twice about your actions ever since I was a kid I loved to be around water
was a kid I loved to be around water
was a kid I loved to be around water I hadn’t lake in my backyard and growing
I hadn’t lake in my backyard and growing
I hadn’t lake in my backyard and growing up it had always been such a huge part
up it had always been such a huge part
up it had always been such a huge part of me whenever it’d be sunny the lake
of me whenever it’d be sunny the lake
of me whenever it’d be sunny the lake would shine like a million crystals when
would shine like a million crystals when
would shine like a million crystals when it’d be stormy the dark waters would
it’d be stormy the dark waters would
it’d be stormy the dark waters would crash up against the shore bringing with
crash up against the shore bringing with
crash up against the shore bringing with it this dark beauty but my backyard Lake
it this dark beauty but my backyard Lake
it this dark beauty but my backyard Lake isn’t one of the only places I love the
isn’t one of the only places I love the
isn’t one of the only places I love the Congaree National Park in South Carolina
Congaree National Park in South Carolina
Congaree National Park in South Carolina is one of my favorite places to go with
is one of my favorite places to go with
is one of my favorite places to go with my friends and family if you’re not
my friends and family if you’re not
my friends and family if you’re not familiar with it
familiar with it
familiar with it the park is this twenty four thousand
the park is this twenty four thousand
the park is this twenty four thousand acre park located in central South
acre park located in central South
acre park located in central South Carolina it’s actually the National Park
Carolina it’s actually the National Park
Carolina it’s actually the National Park of the state there’s this one time I
of the state there’s this one time I
of the state there’s this one time I remember so vividly from the park I was
remember so vividly from the park I was
remember so vividly from the park I was about eight years old and I was biking
about eight years old and I was biking
about eight years old and I was biking with my dad on a hot summer day as we
with my dad on a hot summer day as we
with my dad on a hot summer day as we zoomed on by I noticed this flash of
zoomed on by I noticed this flash of
zoomed on by I noticed this flash of green out of the corner of my eye and I
green out of the corner of my eye and I
green out of the corner of my eye and I went to investigate it turns out it was
went to investigate it turns out it was
went to investigate it turns out it was the small green turtle crawling on the
the small green turtle crawling on the
the small green turtle crawling on the biking path since it was a hot summer
biking path since it was a hot summer
biking path since it was a hot summer day I knew that this little guy was in
day I knew that this little guy was in
day I knew that this little guy was in desperate search of water so I decided
desperate search of water so I decided
desperate search of water so I decided to help him out I found the nearest lake
to help him out I found the nearest lake
to help him out I found the nearest lake and I said
and I said
and I said down at the water’s edge and sure enough
down at the water’s edge and sure enough
down at the water’s edge and sure enough he scrambled into the cool waters after
he scrambled into the cool waters after
he scrambled into the cool waters after this happened my dad kept joking that I
this happened my dad kept joking that I
this happened my dad kept joking that I was basically this turtle in spirit
was basically this turtle in spirit
was basically this turtle in spirit always scrambling to the water’s edge
always scrambling to the water’s edge
always scrambling to the water’s edge with this in mind when something bad
with this in mind when something bad
with this in mind when something bad happens to a place you hold so close to
happens to a place you hold so close to
happens to a place you hold so close to your heart
your heart
your heart it almost shocks you and that’s exactly
it almost shocks you and that’s exactly
it almost shocks you and that’s exactly what happened to me two years ago when I
what happened to me two years ago when I
what happened to me two years ago when I was in tenth grade I was scrolling
was in tenth grade I was scrolling
was in tenth grade I was scrolling through the news when I came across an
through the news when I came across an
through the news when I came across an article about the park it was found that
article about the park it was found that
article about the park it was found that there was a high mutation rate among the
there was a high mutation rate among the
there was a high mutation rate among the fish populations here scientists s’s the
fish populations here scientists s’s the
fish populations here scientists s’s the waters and determined high levels of
waters and determined high levels of
waters and determined high levels of pharmaceuticals found within the rows
pharmaceuticals found within the rows
pharmaceuticals found within the rows and streams of this park as you can see
and streams of this park as you can see
and streams of this park as you can see here in this picture this fish is not
here in this picture this fish is not
here in this picture this fish is not supposed to be silver and purple it’s
supposed to be silver and purple it’s
supposed to be silver and purple it’s the sign of a mutation this shocked me
the sign of a mutation this shocked me
the sign of a mutation this shocked me and led me to do more online research on
and led me to do more online research on
and led me to do more online research on this topic I found out that there are
this topic I found out that there are
this topic I found out that there are over 100 different types of
over 100 different types of
over 100 different types of pharmaceuticals found within the rivers
pharmaceuticals found within the rivers
pharmaceuticals found within the rivers and streams of the world sounds
and streams of the world sounds
and streams of the world sounds surprising right
surprising right
surprising right the most common way the pharmaceuticals
the most common way the pharmaceuticals
the most common way the pharmaceuticals are disposed of is by placing them in
are disposed of is by placing them in
are disposed of is by placing them in the trash and flushing them down the
the trash and flushing them down the
the trash and flushing them down the toilet
toilet
toilet even though filtration systems are
even though filtration systems are
even though filtration systems are effective and removing waste from the
effective and removing waste from the
effective and removing waste from the water system 93% of pharmaceuticals are
water system 93% of pharmaceuticals are
water system 93% of pharmaceuticals are not detected by any sort of filtration
not detected by any sort of filtration
not detected by any sort of filtration device which is why they end up in our
device which is why they end up in our
device which is why they end up in our aquatic environment all these facts
aquatic environment all these facts
aquatic environment all these facts moving to do scientific research on this
moving to do scientific research on this
moving to do scientific research on this topic and that’s what I did in my 10th
topic and that’s what I did in my 10th
topic and that’s what I did in my 10th grade I tested the effects of two of the
grade I tested the effects of two of the
grade I tested the effects of two of the most common drugs found at the park tri
most common drugs found at the park tri
most common drugs found at the park tri spring tech which is birth control and
spring tech which is birth control and
spring tech which is birth control and metformin which treats type 2 diabetes
metformin which treats type 2 diabetes
metformin which treats type 2 diabetes on three prevalent aquatic species
on three prevalent aquatic species
on three prevalent aquatic species snails plants and crustaceans
snails plants and crustaceans
snails plants and crustaceans I completed experimentation by placing
I completed experimentation by placing
I completed experimentation by placing these organisms and separate habitats
these organisms and separate habitats
these organisms and separate habitats and gradually adding three different
and gradually adding three different
and gradually adding three different doses of pharmaceuticals to their
doses of pharmaceuticals to their
doses of pharmaceuticals to their environments over a period of time I
environments over a period of time I
environments over a period of time I complete the experimentation by testing
complete the experimentation by testing
complete the experimentation by testing for the mortality and reproduction of
for the mortality and reproduction of
for the mortality and reproduction of all the organisms as well as a heart
all the organisms as well as a heart
all the organisms as well as a heart rate the results I received back were
rate the results I received back were
rate the results I received back were alarming
alarming
alarming even within minut quantity of
even within minut quantity of
even within minut quantity of pharmaceuticals used which was into 1 to
pharmaceuticals used which was into 1 to
pharmaceuticals used which was into 1 to 5 parts per trillion level both the
5 parts per trillion level both the
5 parts per trillion level both the mortality and heart rate went up
mortality and heart rate went up
mortality and heart rate went up drastically and brought down the heart
drastically and brought down the heart
drastically and brought down the heart rate in my 11th grade I decided to
rate in my 11th grade I decided to
rate in my 11th grade I decided to continue my research and come up with a
continue my research and come up with a
continue my research and come up with a plant-based filtration device that can
plant-based filtration device that can
plant-based filtration device that can filter out the eggs already existing
filter out the eggs already existing
filter out the eggs already existing amount of pharmaceuticals in our waters
amount of pharmaceuticals in our waters
amount of pharmaceuticals in our waters right now this filtration device has
right now this filtration device has
right now this filtration device has five parts a settling tank a
five parts a settling tank a
five parts a settling tank a pretreatment tank an aeration tank a
pretreatment tank an aeration tank a
pretreatment tank an aeration tank a coagulation tank and a receiving tank
coagulation tank and a receiving tank
coagulation tank and a receiving tank the settling tank is where the water
the settling tank is where the water
the settling tank is where the water initially comes in and then goes into
initially comes in and then goes into
initially comes in and then goes into the pretreatment tank which consists of
the pretreatment tank which consists of
the pretreatment tank which consists of fine sand coarse sand and sawdust and
fine sand coarse sand and sawdust and
fine sand coarse sand and sawdust and initially filters out the larger
initially filters out the larger
initially filters out the larger particles from the water the water then
particles from the water the water then
particles from the water the water then goes into the aeration tank where the
goes into the aeration tank where the
goes into the aeration tank where the water is aerated which expels the
water is aerated which expels the
water is aerated which expels the dissolved gases from the water the water
dissolved gases from the water the water
dissolved gases from the water the water then goes into the coagulation tank were
then goes into the coagulation tank were
then goes into the coagulation tank were there to plant based seeds there and it
there to plant based seeds there and it
there to plant based seeds there and it acts as an absorbent and it sucks out
acts as an absorbent and it sucks out
acts as an absorbent and it sucks out the pharmaceuticals from the water
the pharmaceuticals from the water
the pharmaceuticals from the water the final purified water then goes into
the final purified water then goes into
the final purified water then goes into the receiving tank I tested my filter on
the receiving tank I tested my filter on
the receiving tank I tested my filter on some of the most prevalent classes of
some of the most prevalent classes of
some of the most prevalent classes of pharmaceuticals found within the rivers
pharmaceuticals found within the rivers
pharmaceuticals found within the rivers and streams of North America some of
and streams of North America some of
and streams of North America some of which are antibiotics antidepressants
which are antibiotics antidepressants
which are antibiotics antidepressants birth control drugs among others results
birth control drugs among others results
birth control drugs among others results revealed that my filter was able to
revealed that my filter was able to
revealed that my filter was able to remove up to 80% of all the contaminants
remove up to 80% of all the contaminants
remove up to 80% of all the contaminants I tested but even though
even though a solution to filter our
even though a solution to filter our water is critical I think priority
water is critical I think priority
water is critical I think priority should be given on preventing these
should be given on preventing these
should be given on preventing these contaminants from entering our water in
contaminants from entering our water in
contaminants from entering our water in the first place
the first place
the first place so what can we do as consumers of
so what can we do as consumers of
so what can we do as consumers of pharmaceuticals and scientists of her
pharmaceuticals and scientists of her
pharmaceuticals and scientists of her era the only way this problem can be
era the only way this problem can be
era the only way this problem can be stopped is through community awareness
stopped is through community awareness
stopped is through community awareness and proper information regarding this
and proper information regarding this
and proper information regarding this issue think about a nine year old
issue think about a nine year old
issue think about a nine year old healthy girl she could be your daughter
healthy girl she could be your daughter
healthy girl she could be your daughter your granddaughter or even your
your granddaughter or even your
your granddaughter or even your neighbor’s kid drinking this
neighbor’s kid drinking this
neighbor’s kid drinking this contaminated water for a few years could
contaminated water for a few years could
contaminated water for a few years could you imagine what kind of abnormalities
you imagine what kind of abnormalities
you imagine what kind of abnormalities she could develop not even knowing the
she could develop not even knowing the
she could develop not even knowing the source from where these problems are
source from where these problems are
source from where these problems are coming from so let me ask you again what
coming from so let me ask you again what
coming from so let me ask you again what do we do with the unused drugs that pile
do we do with the unused drugs that pile
do we do with the unused drugs that pile up in her shelves some of the pharmacy
up in her shelves some of the pharmacy
up in her shelves some of the pharmacy chains have recently started to have
chains have recently started to have
chains have recently started to have drug take-back kiosks where they will
drug take-back kiosks where they will
drug take-back kiosks where they will take back your unused drugs some of the
take back your unused drugs some of the
take back your unused drugs some of the counties around your state have also
counties around your state have also
counties around your state have also started to have collection days where
started to have collection days where
started to have collection days where they will come around and pick up your
they will come around and pick up your
they will come around and pick up your unused drugs similar to the trash and
unused drugs similar to the trash and
unused drugs similar to the trash and recycling service you have in your area
recycling service you have in your area
recycling service you have in your area contacting your local law enforcement
contacting your local law enforcement
contacting your local law enforcement agency it’s the best way to find out
agency it’s the best way to find out
agency it’s the best way to find out whether you’re counting sponsors these
whether you’re counting sponsors these
whether you’re counting sponsors these collection days contacting your city or
collection days contacting your city or
collection days contacting your city or governments trash and recycling service
governments trash and recycling service
governments trash and recycling service it’s the best way to learn about the
it’s the best way to learn about the
it’s the best way to learn about the medical disposal guidelines and options
medical disposal guidelines and options
medical disposal guidelines and options in your area there are also drug
in your area there are also drug
in your area there are also drug disposal bags where you can place your
disposal bags where you can place your
disposal bags where you can place your crushed unused drugs into these bags and
crushed unused drugs into these bags and
crushed unused drugs into these bags and the ingredients will neutralize it so
the ingredients will neutralize it so
the ingredients will neutralize it so when you do throw away your drugs it
when you do throw away your drugs it
when you do throw away your drugs it won’t affect our environment everyone
won’t affect our environment everyone
won’t affect our environment everyone really enjoys the beauty that nature has
really enjoys the beauty that nature has
really enjoys the beauty that nature has to offer and by disposing a few drugs
to offer and by disposing a few drugs
to offer and by disposing a few drugs properly you’re helping to preserve this
properly you’re helping to preserve this
properly you’re helping to preserve this beauty for many generations to come I’m
beauty for many generations to come I’m
beauty for many generations to come I’m doing my part by bringing awareness now
doing my part by bringing awareness now
doing my part by bringing awareness now it’s your turn to do your part by not
it’s your turn to do your part by not
it’s your turn to do your part by not putting these drugs in our water in the
putting these drugs in our water in the
putting these drugs in our water in the first place I started a community
first place I started a community
first place I started a community outreach program in my 10th grade
outreach program in my 10th grade
outreach program in my 10th grade to make people aware of the impacts of
to make people aware of the impacts of
to make people aware of the impacts of improperly disposing of their drugs and
improperly disposing of their drugs and
improperly disposing of their drugs and whenever I’m out
whenever I’m out
whenever I’m out supporting this cause I always like to
supporting this cause I always like to
supporting this cause I always like to take the time to think about the little
take the time to think about the little
take the time to think about the little turtle that I saved with his cute little
turtle that I saved with his cute little
turtle that I saved with his cute little fins and big beady eyes but now I wonder
fins and big beady eyes but now I wonder
fins and big beady eyes but now I wonder that turtle that I saved was it
that turtle that I saved was it
that turtle that I saved was it desperately searching for water or was
desperately searching for water or was
desperately searching for water or was it actually running from it thank you
”
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