By PF Khong
While society continues to grapple with changing attitudes, studies from across the globe have clearly shown that rubbish bins, toilets and sinks remain the most popular disposal methods for unwanted medications in homes, with little consideration given to the environmental impact of these “tiny bits” of pharmaceutical compounds.
A PRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN
This is a universal, perennial problem and is not limited to any single person, place or product. Aside from complex factors of pharmacokinetics, improperly disposed pharmaceuticals allow these compounds to enter the environment and eventually contaminate surface waters. Pharmaceutical concentrations detected in surface waters are relatively low compared to other major environmental pollutants and occurs across continents. However, the continuous discharge of low-concentration residual active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) into sewage systems and waterways, even in small quantities over time, will inevitably affect the environment, humans and aquatic wildlife to some degree, raising broader environmental concerns.
Over the longer term, these residual hormonal, psychotropic drugs and antibiotics may eventually lead to the collapse or destruction of fish, animal and microorganism populations. This issue arises as medicines are excreted or discarded at landfills or sewage systems, where sewage treatment plant processes are unable to remove all improperly disposed pharmaceuticals.
The presence of pharmaceuticals in the environment is not a new phenomenon and green initiatives have been continually introduced, with various sustainable policies and frameworks set in place by international organisations and local governments across different countries. These efforts align with current trends such as green pharmaceuticals and green community programmes.
In the foreseeable future, the use of pharmaceuticals is only expected to increase, perpetuating the rising prevalence in medication wastage due to various factors, including over-ordering, over-prescription, changes in medication regimes, non-adherence to prescriptions and patient deaths. Thus, it is not surprising that a portion of the medications accumulating in home cabinets will eventually find its way into the trash.
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