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Written by Bill Robertson
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The Environment and You - Drug Disposal
What do you do with your old or expired or unused drugs? Flush? Landfill? Or Incinerate?
If you flush they go directly into municipal wastewater, but even the most modern wastewater systems are not designed to filter out medications. Directly into the water system they go. It is estimated that 90 percent of meds taken orally are excreted and also pass into our water systems.
It is reported that estrogens at a low level have feminized fish and frogs. Once this feminization occurs it seem to be permanent.
If tossed into the garbage, they can be ingested by animals or even children unless they are properly disposed of. Once these drugs are at the landfill, they will leach out, and into the water system they go.
Incinerate if local governments provide such a service.
Feb.20, 2007 the Federal Government issued the new Federal prescription drug disposal guidelines. They are as follows:
- Take unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs out of their original containers
- Mix the prescription drugs with an undesirable substance, like used coffee grounds or kitty litter, and put them in impermeable, non-descript containers, such as empty cans or sealable bags, further ensuring that the drugs are not diverted or accidentally ingested by children or pets
- Throw these containers in the trash
- Flush prescription drugs down the toilet only if the accompanying patient information specifically instructs it is safe to do so
- Return unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs to pharmaceutical take-back locations that allow the public to bring unused drugs to a central location for safe disposal
As with most environmental issues, there are no fool proof solutions. We must all work judiciously to do our part using the best methods available.
For more information you might checkout proper disposal of drugs (at Whitehouse drug policy) or google "proper disposal of drugs".
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Last Updated on Monday, 09 November 2009 13:50 |
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