News from the National Environmental Services Center
Think Before You Flush That Pill

We used to think the best way to dispose of old or leftover medicine was to flush it down the toilet. That way kids and animals wouldn't come in contact with it and inadvertently become poisoned. But that's not true anymore, and environmental scientists are warning people, "Do not flush."

Antibiotics, hormones, painkillers, antidepressants, and an array of other medications are now finding their way into the nation's waterways -- raising disturbing questions about potential health and environmental effects, according to the Associated Press article, "Flushing Expired Drugs No Longer Recommended." Besides individuals who flush prescriptions, nursing homes dispose of anywhere between $73 million and $378 million worth of drugs each year. Some are incinerated, but many are just flushed.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is studying whether to develop formal recommendations for what to do with old or leftover drugs. "The age-old wisdom of flushing medication down the toilet is probably the least desirable of the alternatives," says Christian Daughton of EPA's Las Vegas laboratory.

Long-term effects of these drugs aren't known, but environmental scientists worry that exposure to even tiny amounts might cause harm, at least to the ecology.

Studies have linked hormone exposure to reproductive side effects in fish (see the article in On Tap, Winter 2003, "They're in the water. They make fish change sex. Endocrine Disruptors. What are they doing to you?") Scientists also worry about environmental exposure to antibiotics because they fear microbes may become drug resistant and eventually become "super germs."

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reevaluating its policy about labeling drugs with instructions for disposal. In addition, some states are working to allow nursing homes to donate medications to indigent patients, as long they weren't opened or tampered with in any way. Until there's labeling, though, environmental experts offer this advice:

• Take all of a prescribed medication unless there's a good reason not to, such as a bad side effect.
• Trash is better than the toilet. Take proper precautions against children or pets accidentally ingesting them, such as breaking up capsules and crushing tablets and then putting the remains back in the original container. Tape the container, and then double bag it before tossing.
• Check to see if there's a local household hazardous waste collection site that will take old prescription drugs.
• The FDA suggests asking pharmacies to take old medication back.

Click Here to read this article and those listed below on the NESC web site.

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