Pharmaceutical Industry Questions Legality Of EPA Drug Disposal Guidance

摘要

The pharmaceutical industry is questioning the legality of an EPA guidance laying out prescriptive measures for hospitals to reduce the influx of drugs in wastewater - and ultimately to source waters - saying it is beyond the scope of EPA's jurisdiction and is inconsistent with other federal requirements. Additionally, industry says the EPA requirements may actually harm the environment and could impede important hospital functions. Environmentalists, meanwhile, argue that the guidance is not a strict enough. And the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, which represents publicly owned treatment works, is generally in favor of the guidance but encourages EPA to go further and be absolutely clear that flushing drugs into sewers is absolutely not acceptable at any time.