PHARMACEUTICAL AND PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS IN THE ENVIRONMENT:A REVIEW OF CURRENT RESEARCH AND IMPLICATIONS FOR FUTUREMANAGEMENT

摘要

The disposal of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) is an issue of rising importance to the health ofrnthe environment and those who monitor and protect it. Concerns about medication disposal were limited to preventingrnchildren or animals from obtaining the medications accidentally. This resulted in the common practice of washingrnpharmaceuticals into the sewage system and throwing them into the trash. Studies have shown that many pharmaceuticalsrnare not removed by sewage treatment systems and enter the aquatic environment. In the environment, concerns over therneffects of pharmaceuticals have emerged as studies have shown pharmaceuticals to influence wildlife and possibly changernbiological systems. New technology and methods are allowing scientists to search for and measure the effects ofrnpharmaceuticals and personal products in the environment, resulting in an environmental issue with rapidly expandingrnimportance to solid waste managers faced with managing this emerging issue. The sources of pharmaceuticals in thernenvironment, their effects and influences in the environment, and regulations affecting their disposal are discussed.rnAdditionally, lessons learned from pharmaceutical collection pilot programs are presented