Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026
06:35
Implementation of a Hyperbolic Vortex Plasma Reactor for the Removal of Micropollutants in Water
Published on: July 25, 2025
A continuous collection system for household pharmaceutical wastes: a pilot project
Stephen E Musson1, Timothy Townsend, Kurt Seaburg
1Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-6450, USA.
Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995)
|August 11, 2007
Summary
A pilot program successfully collected 305 lb of unwanted medications, highlighting the need for safe pharmaceutical disposal. Many participants previously discarded medications improperly, posing an environmental risk.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Public Health
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
Background:
- Improper disposal of unused medications poses environmental and public health risks.
- A significant portion of the population may be unaware of safe disposal methods.
- Pharmaceuticals in sanitary sewers represent a newly identified environmental hazard.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility of a self-serve pilot program for pharmaceutical waste disposal.
- To identify challenges and successes in implementing a community medication collection initiative.
- To gather data on participant demographics and previous disposal habits.
Main Methods:
- A 5-month self-serve pilot project for collecting old and unwanted prescription and nonprescription medications.
- Overcoming obstacles such as retail chain reluctance, regulatory hurdles, and data collection difficulties.
- Weighing collected pharmaceuticals and surveying participants about their disposal practices and demographics.
Main Results:
- Collected a total of 305 lb of discarded pharmaceuticals from approximately 500 participants.
- Identified that 50% of participants previously discarded medications into the sanitary sewer.
- The average age of medication users was 64 years, with most participants over 50.
Conclusions:
- Community-based medication take-back programs can effectively divert pharmaceuticals from improper disposal routes.
- Public awareness campaigns are crucial to educate individuals about safe medication disposal and environmental hazards.
- Addressing regulatory and logistical challenges is key to scaling up pharmaceutical waste management programs.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Biological Treatment of Effluent and Waste Water
Biological wastewater treatment relies on the metabolic activity of microorganisms to remove pollutants from sewage. In modern treatment systems, this process is organized into sequential stages that progressively reduce solid material, dissolved organic matter, and microbial contamination. Each stage plays a distinct role in improving water quality and preparing the effluent for safe discharge or reuse.Primary and Secondary TreatmentPrimary treatment is a physical process that removes large...
01:26Oral Drug Delivery Systems: Continuous-Release Systems
Continuous-release drug delivery systems offer a strategic approach to maintaining therapeutic drug levels over extended periods following oral administration. By modulating the release rate of active pharmaceutical ingredients, these systems minimize fluctuations in plasma concentrations, which enhances clinical efficacy and reduces the need for frequent dosing. Such characteristics make them particularly advantageous in managing chronic diseases where patient adherence and stable drug...
01:30Microbial Wastewater Treatment
Microbial communities in aquatic ecosystems play a key role in the natural breakdown of contaminants introduced through domestic and industrial effluents. Acting as biological catalysts, these microbes change and mineralize a wide range of organic and inorganic pollutants under different redox conditions.In oxygen-rich surface waters, aerobic heterotrophs lead organic matter breakdown, using oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor to efficiently oxidize substrates to carbon dioxide and water.
01:27Bioplastics
Bioplastics derived from microbial processes present a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. Among these, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), particularly polyhydroxybutyrates (PHBs), have emerged as prominent candidates due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility. These polymers are synthesized by a variety of bacteria, such as Cupriavidus necator and Pseudomonas putida, which naturally accumulate PHAs as intracellular carbon and energy reserves, especially under...
01:28Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides
Pesticides often feature structurally complex chemical architectures, incorporating halogen groups and multiple aromatic rings. These characteristics confer high chemical stability, rendering many pesticides resistant to natural degradation processes. This resistance poses significant environmental concerns, as persistent pesticide residues can accumulate in ecosystems and affect non-target organisms.Despite the inherent stability of many pesticides, certain microorganisms possess the metabolic...
01:26Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios
Pharmaceutical poisoning can occur through various channels, impacting an estimated 2 million hospitalized patients in the U.S. annually with serious adverse drug responses. These scenarios encompass both therapeutic uses, such as drug toxicity, where even standard dosages can lead to severe central nervous system depression, and non-therapeutic exposures, including accidental ingestion by children, and environmental and occupational exposures.Unintentional poisonings often involve exploratory...