DEAR READERS: Ever since the invention of the flush toilet, we humans have violated one of the basic rules of ecology: the proper recycling and treatment of fecal waste by composting/fermentation to destroy potential pathogens. Now, I also wonder about all the pharmaceuticals that could remain in our waste.
I am concerned about all the non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals, especially from birth control pills, that are excreted in our feces and urine. It is notable that epidemiologists check sewage to assess the prevalence of the COVID-19 virus in the community. Every 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 on the other end of the spectrum, flooding can put raw sewage into our streets -- not to mention into nearby lakes and rivers, and ultimately the oceans.
For details on these issues, see the studies below:
-- Roger Murray et al.: "The impact of municipal sewage sludge stabilization processes on the abundance, field persistence, and transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes to vegetables at harvest," Science of the Total Environment, 2019
-- Katarzyna Styszko, et al.: "The impact of sewage sludge processing on the safety of its use," Scientific Reports, 2022
My advice: Purchase only USDA organically certified foods. Methods like irradiation, sewage sludge and genetic engineering are all 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. It 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, playful cat when we set up the enclosure. The next evening, he was vomiting and not eating. He was lethargic and didn’t want to play.
That next morning, we took him to the vet and he had no fever; his heart was fine; no hairballs; and his blood work came back almost all normal. He was diagnosed with FIV, though. They gave him multivitamins, plus medicine for vomit control and immune support.
The next morning, he died in my arms as we rushed to the vet office. His last act was to projectile vomit, making a terrible sound. And then he passed away. Please help us understand what happened.
Looking at articles online, I am now highly suspicious of the cat furniture from China. Please tell us what you think. If it is the furniture, we would like to save other animals from this horrible experience! -- K.K.M., Silver Spring, Florida
DEAR K.K.M.: I am saddened to hear about the sudden death of your cat. The diagnosis of feline immunodeficiency virus may be one factor, but from what I have found online, your cat’s immune system could have been compromised by chemicals used on the imported furniture.
One potential toxin is methyl bromide, used as a fumigant. Chronic exposure to this could harm the thyroid gland.
This post from furniture company Dapwood -- dapwood.com/beware-of-imported-products -- makes me suspect that your cat was indeed exposed to a toxin in treated, imported furniture from China.
From dapwood.com: “With international shipping a mainstay in our global economy, ever wonder how America keeps foreign insects, rodents and fungi at bay? So did we. What we found is both fascinating and disturbing. It was fascinating to uncover a side of the importation business that is very rarely discussed in America today. It was disturbing in the simple fact that to kill potential pests, many toxic methods are used and are accepted as a silent, necessary evil. Try to ask a retailer about a particular chair, and what method was used to eradicate pests that may have tried to hitch a ride across the seas. Chances are you will get a very confused expression. Since this information is just part of the import process, it is never shared with consumers.”
Further info from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) regulates the importation of wood and wood products. APHIS requires wood and wood products to undergo certain phytosanitary procedures prior to importation in order to eliminate the risk of introducing non-native pests and diseases into 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 a surface pesticide, preservative, or methyl bromide fumigation.”
K.K.M. REPLIES: So good of you to answer. We are deeply mourning our sweet cat. Thinking we were adding something special to our house, and instead causing our cat to die, is a ghastly feeling.
We bought the furniture piece off Amazon. The furniture was under the name Petsite, but elsewhere, the company was listed as Petjoy. I have notified Amazon, and the customer service rep said that the item would be taken off the market.
I talked with our vet, and he said our cat died of toxicity. He is going to warn his other clients.
What else can we do to prevent this from happening to others?
DR. FOX RESPONDS: Only buy products with a “Made in America” label. Do not be tricked by verbiage such as "Distributed by (some American company)," when the item was actually manufactured elsewhere.
(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com 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 discussed in future columns.
Visit Dr. Fox’s website at DrFoxOneHealth.com.)