Pharmaceutical
Disposal (3rd Draft)
Based on the article, ‘Pharmaceutical Disposal’, Burch
(2015), states that disposing of unused medications is ‘a common practice by
many residents and hospitals’ in New York. Disposal methods like flushing or
throwing into rivers causes water to be polluted. People practice disposal
because there is no law that prevents improper disposal of pharmaceutical
drugs. According to Burch, studies ‘found trace amounts of pharmaceutical drugs
in drinking water and treatment plants’ are not equipped to remove
pharmaceutical contaminants which is a problem treating these kind of waste.
The writer states that even though ‘pharmaceutical contamination’ are found in
water, there is no proven health effects on human. However, he strongly asserts
that it is necessary to promote safe disposal options for the people so that
residents and healthcare facilities will not dispose unused medications
improperly. A federal law is being implemented to provide more options to safe
pharmaceutical disposal. I agree with the article to a certain extent that
pharmaceutical disposal is a hazard to the public and the environment, however
the author did not mention on the possibilities of too much drug pollution in
the water can do to the public.
Improper disposing of pharmaceutical drugs can be
harmful to humans and the environment such as when people either flush or throw
their unused medications into rivers or lakes. The author describes the
negative impact improper disposal can have on aquatic life but suggest
otherwise for humans. The article “The Environmental Impact of the
Pharmaceuticals Industry” (2013) states that ‘Improper disposing of medications
finds its way into streams and drinking water which negatively impact humans,
wildlife and the environment. However, there are currently no adverse effects
on human.’ Though the effects on humans remain unknown, the public still needs
to have the awareness of pharmaceutical pollution. In fact, some medicines can
have serious consequences on human health. According to FDA (2015), there is a
list of medicines that require certain disposal techniques to prevent
‘accidental exposure or intentional misuse.’ Pharmaceutical waste comes from us
through improper disposal and also through our bodies. When we take medicine,
‘excess drugs in the bloodstream leave the body through urine and the urine
flow with the sewage out of our homes to the streams and lakes.
The article by Burch showed the importance of
promoting safe disposal pharmaceutical drugs to prevent pollution of water and
the environment. According to the article, “Guidelines for Safe Disposal of
Unused Pharmaceuticals in and after Emergencies”, WHO (1999), the public and
the media must be inform of safe disposal instructions and the current
situation of pharmaceutical disposal. The people and media are informed about
the risk of disposal of pharmaceuticals and what happens when pharmaceuticals
pass their expiry date. In the article, “How to Dispose of Medicines Properly”,
EPA (2011) gave a few pointers on what can proper disposing benefit the public
and environment. A few of the pointers given are ‘Prevents poisoning of
children and pets’, Avoids health problems from accidental overdose of same or
wrong medicine’. The public and media must know of the consequences
pharmaceutical pollution. If the public and medic are not inform regarding the
disposal, drinking water may be too polluted to drink. Furthermore, “The Secure
and Responsible Drug Act was passed into law to encourage voluntary drug take
back programs” and also to improve public awareness of such events. At least 20
states in the USA now have collection programs for unused medications, which
greatly enhance awareness of safe disposal of pharmaceuticals.
In conclusion, Burch article brought up good pointers
on pharmaceutical disposal and how it can affect the people and environment. He
may not have given detailed information about improper disposal but it was
clear in the article that too much of such disposal will bring harm to us in
the near future. It is important to note that effects caused by improper
disposal of medications may be vague for now but it does not stop us from knowing
the cause it might do to our body if we drink water that is polluted by
medications.
References:
Burch,
L.W. (2015, March 4). Pharmaceutical
Disposal - Citizens Campaign for the Environment. Retrieved from:
The
Environmental Impact of the Pharmaceuticals Industry. (2013, January 31).
Retrieved from:
US
Food & Drug Administration. (2015, September 25). Disposal of Unused Medicines:
What You Should Know. Retrieved from:
US
Food & Drug Administration. (2015, September 25). Disposal of Unused Medicines:
What You Should Know. Retrieved from:
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/EnsuringSafeUseofMedicine/SafeDisposalofMedicines/ucm186187.htm
World Health Organisation. (1999). Guidelines for Safe Disposal of Unwanted
Pharmaceuticals in and after Emergencies. Retrieved from: http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Jwhozip51e/2.9.html
United
States Environmental Protection Agency. (2011, April). How to Dispose of
Medicines Properly. Retrieved from:
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