DEAR READERS: Since the invention of the flush toilet, we humans have violated one of the basic rules of ecology: the proper recycling and treatment of sewage through composting/fermentation to destroy potential pathogens . Now, I also wonder about all the pharmaceuticals that might end up in our garbage.
I am concerned about all the non-antibiotic drugs, especially from birth control pills, being excreted in our feces and urine. It is worth noting that epidemiologists are analyzing sewage to assess the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the community. Each municipality must adopt the best technologies available to promote biosecurity when handling human waste in their sewage treatment and processing facilities.
Waste management is also problematic during prolonged droughts, while at the other end of the spectrum, flooding can put raw sewage on our streets — not to mention nearby lakes and rivers, and ultimately the oceans.
For details on these issues, see the studies below:
— Roger Murray et al.: “The effect of municipal sewage sludge stabilization processes on the abundance, field persistence, and transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic-resistant genes in vegetables in harvesting,” Science of the Total Environment, 2019
— Katarzyna Styszko, et al.: “The effect of sewage sludge processing on the safety of its use,” Scientific Reports, 2022
My advice: Buy only USDA organic certified foods. Methods such as irradiation, sewage sludge and genetic engineering are expressly prohibited when growing or processing organically certified foods. (See usda.gov/media/blog/2011/12/16/organic-101-what-organic-farming-and-processing-doesnt-allow.)
DEAR DR. FOX: Our beloved 5-year-old cat died suddenly. This happened just two days after we set up a litter box enclosure/furniture piece, which we later learned was from China.
He was a perfectly happy and playful cat when we set up the enclosure. The next day, he was vomiting and not eating. He is lethargic and doesn’t want to play.
The next morning, we took him to the vet and he had no fever; his heart is fine; no hairballs; and his blood work came back almost all normal. He was diagnosed with FIV, though. They gave him multivitamins, along with medicine for vomiting and immune support.
The next morning, he died in my arms as we rushed to the vet’s office. His last action was to vomit the projectile, which made a terrible sound. And then he died. Please help us understand what happened.
Looking at articles online, I am now very suspicious of cat furniture from China. Please tell us what you think. If this is the tool, we want to save other animals from this terrible experience! — KKM, Silver Spring, Florida
DEAR KKM: I am very sorry to hear about the sudden death of your cat. A feline immunodeficiency virus diagnosis may be a factor, but from what I’ve seen online, your cat’s immune system may have been compromised by the chemicals used in imported tools.
A potential poison is methyl bromide, which is used as a fumigant. Chronic exposure to it can damage the thyroid gland.
This post from the furniture company Dapwood — dapwood.com/beware-of-imported-products — makes me suspect that your cat has actually been exposed to toxins in treated, imported furniture from China .
From dapwood.com: “With international shipping a mainstay of our global economy, can you imagine how America keeps foreign insects, rodents and fungi at bay? So are we. What we found was both fascinating and disturbing. It is fascinating to discover a side of the importation business that is rarely discussed in America today. It is troubling for the simple fact that to kill potential pests, many toxic methods are used and accepted as a silent, necessary evil. Try asking a retailer about a particular chair, and what method was used to eradicate pests that may have tried to get in the seas. You will probably get a very confused expression. Since this information is only part of the import process, it is never shared with consumers.”
Additional information from US Customs and Border Protection: “The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the US Department of Agriculture regulates the importation of wood and wood products. APHIS requires wood and wood products to undergo certain phytosanitary procedures prior to importation to eliminate the risk of non-native pests and diseases entering the United States.
“There are two treatment options for wood and wood products. Heat treatment involves the use of a kiln dryer or dry heat, such as a microwave energy dryer. Chemical treatment involves the use of surface pesticides, preservatives, or methyl bromide fumigation.”
KKM REPLIES: So good of you to answer. We are deeply saddened by our sweet cat. The thought that we are adding something special to our house, and instead causing our cat to die, is a terrifying feeling.
We bought the piece of furniture from Amazon. The tools are under the Petsite name, but elsewhere, the company is listed as Petjoy. I notified Amazon, and the customer service rep said the item would be removed from the market.
I talked to our vet, and he said our cat died of toxicity. He will warn his other clients.
What else can we do to prevent this from happening to others?
Dr. FOX RESPONDS: Only buy products labeled “Made in America”. Don’t be fooled by verbiage such as “Distributed by (some American company),” when the item is actually made elsewhere.
(Send all mail to [email protected] or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be addressed in future columns.
Visit the website of Dr. Fox at DrFoxOneHealth.com.)
