17 research outputs found
Household Disposal of Pharmaceuticals as a Pathway for Aquatic Contamination in the United Kingdom
Pharmaceuticals are produced and used in increasingly large volumes every year. With this growth comes concern about the fate and effects of these compounds in the environment. The discovery of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment has stimulated research in the last decade. A wide range of pharmaceuticals has been found in fresh and marine waters, and it has recently been shown that even in small quantities, some of these compounds have the potential to cause harm to aquatic life. The primary pathway into the environment is the use and disposal of medicines; although much of the research in the area currently focuses on the removal of pharmaceuticals during sewage treatment processes, disposal via household waste might be a significant pathway requiring further research. To investigate the household disposal of unused and expired pharmaceuticals as a source of pharmaceutical compounds in the environment, we carried out a survey and interviewed members of 400 households, predominantly from southeastern England. We used the information on when and how they disposed of unfinished pharmaceuticals to construct a conceptual model to assess the pathways of human pharmaceuticals into the environment. The model demonstrated that disposal of unused pharmaceuticals, either by household waste or via the sink or toilet, may be a prominent route that requires greater attention
Minimization and management of wastes from biomedical research.
Several committees were established by the National Association of Physicians for the Environment to investigate and report on various topics at the National Leadership Conference on Biomedical Research and the Environment held at the 1--2 November 1999 at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. This is the report of the Committee on Minimization and Management of Wastes from Biomedical Research. Biomedical research facilities contribute a small fraction of the total amount of wastes generated in the United States, and the rate of generation appears to be decreasing. Significant reductions in generation of hazardous, radioactive, and mixed wastes have recently been reported, even at facilities with rapidly expanding research programs. Changes in the focus of research, improvements in laboratory techniques, and greater emphasis on waste minimization (volume and toxicity reduction) explain the declining trend in generation. The potential for uncontrolled releases of wastes from biomedical research facilities and adverse impacts on the general environment from these wastes appears to be low. Wastes are subject to numerous regulatory requirements and are contained and managed in a manner protective of the environment. Most biohazardous agents, chemicals, and radionuclides that find significant use in research are not likely to be persistent, bioaccumulative, or toxic if they are released. Today, the primary motivations for the ongoing efforts by facilities to improve minimization and management of wastes are regulatory compliance and avoidance of the high disposal costs and liabilities associated with generation of regulated wastes. The committee concluded that there was no evidence suggesting that the anticipated increases in biomedical research will significantly increase generation of hazardous wastes or have adverse impacts on the general environment. This conclusion assumes the positive, countervailing trends of enhanced pollution prevention efforts by facilities and reductions in waste generation resulting from improvements in research methods will continue
Disposal practices of unused and expired pharmaceuticals among general public in Kabul
Over-the-Counter Monocyclic Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Environment—Sources, Risks, Biodegradation
Recently, the increased use of monocyclic
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs has resulted in
their presence in the environment. This may have
potential negative effects on living organisms. The
biotransformation mechanisms of monocyclic nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs in the human body
and in other mammals occur by hydroxylation and
conjugation with glycine or glucuronic acid.
Biotransformation/biodegradation of monocyclic
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the environment
may be caused by fungal or bacterial microorganisms.
Salicylic acid derivatives are degraded by
catechol or gentisate as intermediates which are
cleaved by dioxygenases. The key intermediate of
the paracetamol degradation pathways is hydroquinone.
Sometimes, after hydrolysis of this drug, 4-
aminophenol is formed, which is a dead-end metabolite.
Ibuprofen is metabolized by hydroxylation or
activation with CoA, resulting in the formation of
isobutylocatechol. The aim of this work is to attempt
to summarize the knowledge about environmental risk
connected with the presence of over-the-counter antiinflammatory
drugs, their sources and the biotransformation
and/or biodegradation pathways of these
drugs