Just say no to drugs down the drain

You may think your sink or toilet is a fine place to dump old pills but one study after the next is proving that those medications are polluting waterways and endangering aquatic life.

Researchers say that pharmaceuticals probably have been in lakes, streams and rivers for some time. But enhanced testing can now detect pharmaceuticals in trace amounts—amounts that could grow as the population ages and increasingly relies on medications.

These compounds can enter bodies of water through various sources, including animal feedlots, human and animal excretion as well as improper disposal down drains. A survey by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2002 found that 80% of waterways tested contained one or more pharmaceutical compound. A study by the Associated Press in 2008 found that drinking water supplies in some areas contained such compounds.

It’s still not definitively known which medicinal products or compounds pose a risk or what the long-term risks are. But, with the research continuing, scientists, environmentalists and sanitation specialists are urging the public to limit the disposal of waste medications that can end up in the sewer and, ultimately, the sea.

For more information, including how best to dispose of medications, visit No Drugs Down the Drain.