August 2007
Proper Pharmaceutical Disposal
Several recent studies have identified a wide range of medications and personal care products that are entering many of our rivers and streams as treated water. As studies continue, evidence is emerging of the very real impact these compounds have on our fish and wildlife. For these reasons, we need to rethink our current practices of disposing of unwanted pharmaceutical products.
How do these chemicals get into the streams?
Through our daily use and through our normal lifestyle habits. The water that flows down your household drains and from your toilet contains many of the chemicals you consumed or used topically. Wastewater treatment facilities are not currently equipped to remove these tiny molecules and compounds. Many times unused chemicals, medicines, or other personal care products are flushed down the toilet, poured down the drain or tossed in the trash. This is NOT the proper method for disposal of these products!
Why is this such a big deal?
There are a number of active ingredients found in medications and personal care products that can do harm in the natural world, but two in particular are receiving increased attention: estrogens or other endocrine disruptors (compounds that mimic hormones) and anti-depressant and obsessive-compulsive medications. Estrogens and other chemicals that mimic hormones such as estrogen are proven to have a feminization effect on fish and amphibians. As you can imagine, this decreases their reproductive capacity and can shift the gender ratio of a species population.
The effects of anti-depressants and obsessive-compulsive regulators on aquatic life are similar to the effects humans experience. When released in the water these medications have been known to affect the spawning behavior of shellfish and delay frog and fish development. They also result in slower heart rates for the water flea Daphnia, which indicates broad physiological effects. Our greatest concern is for small aquatic organisms. They have a short lifespan, so multiple generations will be exposed. This could have a catastrophic impact on the well being of certain species.
What is the proper disposal method for unused medicines?
First of all, NEVER FLUSH THEM DOWN THE TOILET OR POUR THEM DOWN THE DRAIN. Wastewater treatment plants weren’t designed to remove dissolved medicines from water. When a personal care product is flushed, it can kill the beneficial bacteria responsible for breaking down waste in sewage treatment plants and damage septic systems.
If you must throw pharmaceuticals in the trash, please make sure to take the following precautions: ensure trash is in a secured container, make the medications unpalatable (mix with kitty litter, coffee grounds, etc.), disguise its content (take off label), and place it in a sealed bag before throwing in the trash.
What is the best method of disposal?
Community medicine take back programs. Keep an eye out for public collection programs in your area or contact your local officials about starting a regular collection in your community. These organized collection drives are a great method of gathering and disposing of harmful wastes. They transport the collected materials to hazardous waste incinerators. Most industry professionals believe destructive treatments such as incineration are necessary for the safety of the environment.
The problem of pharmaceutical disposal is somewhat removed from the public eye; however, it is not a problem we can choose to ignore any longer. In particular, because we are not certain how many of these chemicals interact with each other once they arrive in waterways, we must acknowledge that various combinations of drugs may have a disproportionately large and negative impact on aquatic communities. The amount of chemicals from personal care products in our streams is only going to rise as society’s use of pharmaceuticals and personal hygiene products increases. Therefore, it is imperative that our efforts to keep our rivers and streams clean include adopting proper disposal methods for unused or unwanted pharmaceutical and personal care products.