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PharmaceuticalSession Intro
PSI Forum, June 2009
Dave GalvinLocal Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County (Seattle, WA)
A timely subject…
Pharmaceuticals
• Antibiotics
• Anti-inflammatories
• Beta-blockers
• Anti-depressants (SSRIs)
• Steroids
• Hormones, estrogen replacements, BC pills
• Chemotherapeutics
• Stimulants
• Etc.
Drugs are showing up in the environment
• Ibuprofen, valium, prozac, antibiotics, steroids, hormones
• Found in 80% of U.S. streams tested by USGS
• Found in drinking water supplies in many U.S. cities
Drugs also present poisoning and abuse hazards
• Most homes have many medicines on the shelves
• Common source of childhood poisonings
• Common source of teenage and adult abuse
Evolution of the Issue
• Christian Daughton @U.S. EPA: “father” of this issue?– Lone voice for years beginning in the 1990s; “PPCPs”
• Charlotte Smith @PharmEcology Associates in Wisc.:– Founded first RD firm in 1990; founded P.E. in 2000
• U.S. Geological Survey’s seminal study (Kolpin et al.): – Published in ES&T in 2002
• Maine Benzodiazepine group: First Unused Medicine Return Conference in Maine in 2004– Stevan Gressitt, Len Kaye – concerned about drug abuse
• Formation of national Pharmwaste listserv:– Laurie Tenace @Florida DEP – 2004 NAHMMA conference
• First EPA Conference on Pharms in Environment: – 2005 in Las Vegas
Evolution (cont’d)
• Take-backs began at grass-roots:– Indiana -- New England -- Washington– Florida -- California
• Complex problem identified– Environmental concerns, also safety/abuse
• Complex legal arena for handling left-overs
• Product stewardship take-back approach seems like a key piece of answer
In sum…
• An important, timely focus for PSI
• Strong public support for a solution
• Lots of activity on take-back, state legislation, source control, federal regs and law changes