Safe management of household Pharmaceuticals:An overview (original) (raw)
Related papers
Pharmaceutical Waste: Risk To Human Health And Environment
European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine, 2020
The safe and effective management of Pharmaceutical waste has received a lot of attention due to its direct relation with human health and environment. The Knowledge of how to dispose unused medications is similarly significant like medication utilization. Numerous Pharmaceutical compounds at consideration level have been accounted for Wastewater. The revelation of an assortment of pharmaceuticals in surface, subsurface and drinking waters across the nation is increasing worries about the possibly unfriendly ecological results of these contaminants. In spite of the fact that an innovation and treatment convention as of now exists, effective Pharmaceutical waste management still stays a significant issue for all health care facilities. This article reviews the background of Pharmaceutical wastes, its impact on the environment and human health. This Review paper could give the significance of the legitimate removal of Pharmaceutical waste.
The persisting environmental problem of disposal of expired and unused medicines
Journal of Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, 2019
Objectives: Safe disposal of expired, unwanted, or unused medications by the consumers is a major challenge worldwide. The knowledge, attitude and practice of consumers on disposal of unused and expired medicines were assessed. Methods: Data on demographics, educational, occupation, socioeconomic status, drugs purchased, number of unused or expired drugs were obtained from medicine consumers. Knowledge, attitude and practice of safe disposal methods, number, most common class, dosage forms of leftover drugs and the reasons were assessed using a questionnaire. Effect of educational, occupational, socioeconomic status on purchase of drugs, awareness on the consequences of improper disposal of drugs were assessed using chi square test. Results: Of 145 participants, 46 % were females and 54% were males with a mean age of 36.76 + 13.60 years. 66 participants stated 1-5 drugs as leftover at home and the reason for possession of unused medicines as self-discontinuation after the condition was resolved. Most common drugs left unused at home were analgesics and the dosage form was tablets. 76.6% were unaware of the consequences of improper drug disposal. 65.5% stated the acceptable method to dispose medicines as collection of unused drug by Municipality. Majority (88%) disposed unused or expired medicines in the garbage. There was a statistically significant association between educational, occupational and socio economic status, purchase of drugs and awareness on consequences of improper drug disposal (P<0.05). Conclusion: Most of the participants had leftover of unused or expired drugs in their households and there was lack of awareness on safe disposal of medicines.
Impact of Pharmaceutical Wastes on Human life and Environment:-A Review
own publication, 2018
Studies in many countries have demonstrated the presence of pharmaceutical products at trace levels in water streams and waste waters. The pharmaceutical compounds may enter the environment by different routes such as discharge of treated wastewater, seepage from landfills sites, sewer lines, runoff from animal wastes etc. Even though the environmental impact of pharmaceuticals in the environment at trace levels has not been clearly determined, the precautionary principle calls for action in the face of uncertainty. Even though risk from exposure to pharmaceuticals in drinking water is minimal, information about characterization of pharmaceuticals is still lacking. (Patneedi, 2015)
Pharmaceutical Waste Management An Overview
Indian Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 2016
Introduction: Medication disposal is an alarming issue today and gaining more and more awareness from the healthcare professionals as well as consumers. Pharmacists have the potential to be on the forefront of this movement as a healthcare professionals and pharmacists are in an admirable position to educate patients about safe drug disposal. Proper patient counselling on safe medication disposal can make a significant difference to public health and the environment. The knowledge on method of disposal of unused medicines is equally important as that of consumption of medicines. Objective: This article aims to provide a background, the importance and significance of proper medication disposal, describe the correct methods to dispose of unwanted and expired medications. Method: The information about methods of proper disposal as well as consequence of improper disposal was collected by extensive literature survey of all available resources. Conclusion: Till date, researchers have acknowledged many human and veterinary pharmaceutical compounds at serious concentrations in drinking water resources and they are a major contributor to environmental pollution. Emphasis is also given on pharmacist role in proper disposal of unwanted and expired medicine makes a significant impact on the environment as well as it prevents accident, poisoning and intentional violence. So it will lead to the welfare of society and trudge towards goal of 2020 health for all.
Medication Disposal: A Reflection About Possible Sanitary and Environmental Risks
Ambiente & Sociedade
This article has analyzed the drug disposal form by the population of Distrito Federal (DF), reflecting about its possible health and environmental risks. For that, an exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted based on interviews with residents of all Territorial Planning Units in DF. Among the 393 interviewees, 73.8% had a stock of medicines at home, 78.9% had already discarded drugs, which were mostly done in the common waste (73,6%). Adequate discharge was strongly associated with greater schooling (p = 0,027), higher economic classification (p = 0,005), male sex (p = 0,006) and with receiving information about the subject (p <0,001). It is noted that the inappropriate disposal of drugs is common. It presents the need to incorporate the theme into specific policies and media.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2017
The increase in medicine and drug consumption have resulted in identifying these emerging pollutants in all aquatic compartments, ranging from surface water and groundwater resources to the marine environment. Pharmaceuticals are an indispensable part of life today. A large number of pharmaceuticals are used in a daily basis in the treatment, prevention, cure or diagnosis of diseases or to otherwise enhance people's physical or mental well-being. This paper focuses on the evaluation of the attitude of citizens in Cyprus regarding the disposal of pharmaceuticals as well as to identify the main reasons why pharmaceutical wastes are produced. The result indicted that in Cyprus, there is lack of data regarding the amount of pharmaceutical wastes that are discarded into household waste and sinks. The survey audit showed that 86.6% of men's and 83.3% of women's used pharmacy with or without doctor's recipe. Social behaviour is considered to be the most significant reason that pharmaceutical are produced. The results indicated that, citizens mainly keep unused medicines and drugs at home in case they are needed again as well as patients use to cutoff or to reduce their treatment in case that on the first 3-6 days they feel better. The survey indicated that the main disposal method of unused or expired medicines and drugs is in household waste followed from the sink and the toilet. Furthermore, the main disposal solution of unused or expired medicines and drugs remain the household bin as well as the sewage system (sink or toilet), while a percentage more than 55% of the participants indicated that they will follow a specific waste management program if existing in place. Moreover, in order to reduce the production of pharmaceutical wastes, specific prevention activities must be considered.
Safe Disposal of Medication Practices
2020
Unused and expired drug at home often carries the risk of accidental ingestion by children and pets moreover; it also creates confusion among geriatric patients receiving multiple drugs. Variation of disposal methods have been observed throughout the globe. Many studies throughout the world reported inappropriate disposal practices such as discard the unused medicines via the garbage, sink, and toilet. These methods ultimately have toxic effects on human and environment. Therefore, proper disposal of unused drug is paramount important. There must be some well designed disposal system for disposing of unused, unwanted, or expired drugs. Safe disposal methods as described by World Health Organization (WHO) are incinerations, inertization, returned to pharmacy or supplier, encapsulation, chemical decomposition. Therefore, these methods are required to be followed for safe disposal.