Pharmaceutical pollution is pollution from medical drugs that are released through excreted waste (human or animal waste). When one takes a drug, experts say "90 percent may be excreted back into the environment, unchanged." "U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) found that most waterways contain at least some antibiotics, steroids, synthetic hormones or other common drugs. Out of 139 streams in 30 states, they found:
About 80 percent contained trace amounts of contaminants
Half the streams contained seven or more chemical compounds
One-third of the streams contained 10 or more compounds
- One water sample contained 38 chemicals"
With all of these pollutants entering our waterways, I became increasingly concerned, until I found out what I know now.
Little is known about the result of these drugs interacting with the environment, but it is known that developing fetuses are greatly affected by drugs. If just the smallest amount of prescription drugs enter our drinking water, the fetus could develop birth defects, and according to studies, many tap water supplies are unintentionally dosed. Also, serotonin found in antdepressants could cause some fish to spawn, disrupting breeding patterns.
According to a 2006 study in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, "35 percent of patients have rinsed medications down the sink and 54 percent have flushed them down the toilet." Though nobody can help going to the bathroom after taking a prescription drug, we can all stop doing the things we can help with. So stop throwing your drugs in the garbage, down the toilet, and down the drain! If I had extra drugs, I would contact my local pharmacist and ask what to do.
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