Page 11 - July August 2017 Vol 35 No 2
P. 11
STATEWIDE By Kelsey Davis
Responsible Pharmaceutical
Disposal
It’s that time of the year again, where we drugs enter the watershed or groundwater. Unit in 2011, Tennessee’s waterways were
just finished spring cleaning and continue Some of these chemicals are toxic and can tested statewide for 17 specific compounds
to sort through things in our house to negatively affect drinking water and aquatic and hormones. Similar to many samples
make it a little less cluttered. While sorting ecosystems. Pain medications, hormone from across the country, certain pharma-
through old, unwanted, and forgotten items therapy, and birth control dissolve in and ceuticals and personal care products were
in the home, expired pharmaceuticals often combines with water in a way that normal identified in all of Tennessee’s watersheds
emerge and cause problems, because many soil filtration cannot remove. Wastewater and groundwater sources. However, none
individuals are unaware of the potential treatment plants are not designed to remove of the laboratory results reported contami-
harm that improper disposal of these drugs all of the pharmaceutical compounds found nates above health advisory limits.
can cause. Likewise, many are unaware of in the water before releasing it back into
the safe disposal options available to them the watershed. The contaminated water can Likewise, a study by the Toxic Substances
at their local law enforcement facilities. then be introduced to groundwater that Hydrology Program of the U.S. Geological
Thanks to a partnership between Ten- potentially supplies water wells. The drug Survey conducted in 2002 showed that a
nessee’s Department of Environment contamination amount may be small, but if broad range of chemicals found in waste-
and Conservation’s Office of Sustainable consumed by humans over a long period of waters commonly occurs downstream from
Practices, the Tennessee Bureau of Inves- time, it may cause serious health problems. areas of intense urbanization and animal
tigation, Tennessee Department of Safety production. The chemicals found include
and Homeland Security, the Tennessee Not only can contaminated water affect human and veterinary drugs (including an-
Department of Health, and state and local humans, it can also alter aquatic ecosys- tibiotics), natural and synthetic hormones,
law enforcement, there are now prescrip- tems and impact other wildlife. Scientists detergent metabolites, plasticizers, insecti-
tion drug collection bins located in all 95 have detected pharmaceutical residues cides, and fire retardants. Over 80 percent
counties in Tennessee. Tennessee is the in rivers and coastal waters and harbor of the streams sampled had one or more of
only state in the nation to offer this kind of concerns about the adverse effects and long these chemicals.
comprehensive coverage. term implications that they have on aquatic
species and ecosystems. Studies have Avoiding the disposal of pharmaceuti-
Kathy Glapa, from the Office of Sustain- shown that both fish and algae respond cals altogether can be just as dangerous as
able Practices states, “Without the assis- negatively to pharmaceutical contaminates. incorrectly disposing of them. According
tance from our local, State, and Federal Small changes to algae growth and produc- to the CDC, in Tennessee there has been
partners, the success of our program sim- tion can disrupt an entire ecosystem. a 345 percent increase in prescription
ply would not have happened. Every part- drug overdose deaths from 2001 to 2015,
ner plays a critical role in the Unwanted Flushing drugs is not the only way of climbing from 422 deaths per 100,000 to
Pharmaceutical Take-Back Program. The introducing the chemicals into waterways. 1,457 deaths. Tennesseans can help ad-
Department of Environment and Conser- Pharmaceuticals are just as likely to enter dress prescription drug abuse by decreas-
vation appreciates their continued support the watershed when improperly thrown ing availability. Keep expired or unused
and dedication to the responsible disposal away in the trash. Drugs that end up medications out of the cabinet and out of
of pharmaceuticals.” landfilled also enter water whether through
leaks in the landfill liner or through landfill
The proper method of disposal for all leachates, which are treated at wastewater
expired or unwanted over-the-counter and plants. Therefore, it is incredibly important
prescription drugs is to take them to your to make sure all pharmaceuticals are prop-
local law enforcement agency’s permanent erly disposed of to eliminate any possibility
drug take back bin, or attend a scheduled of contaminating the waterways, aquatic
take back event. Law enforcement collects ecosystems, or ourselves.
these drugs and takes them to an approved
facility to be incinerated in a way that does During a study conducted by TDEC’s Di-
not negatively impact air quality. Simply vision of Water Resources, Drinking Water
throwing away, flushing, or diluting and
mixing are not safe or responsible ways to
dispose of drugs. These pharmaceuticals
are hazardous waste and should be handled
responsibly.
When drugs are flushed down the toilet,
or poured down the sink, chemicals in the
10 TPW July/August 2017
