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