Pharmaceutical Disposal: Assessing the Flows and Impacts on Your Community

Elaine Langone Center, Terrace Room

Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are the portion of a drug product that is used to treat and prevent disease. While a fraction of the chemicals are consumed and transformed by the patient’s body, significant amounts of APIs either remain untaken or pass through the body unchanged. As a result, both the drug APIs that pass through the body unchanged and those that are untaken are disposed of through flushing, treated by the wastewater system, directed to the rivers, and contaminate the natural waterways. Concerns have become more prevalent since intersex and mutated bass were first discovered in the Susquehanna River Watershed. Just as society recognizes insecticides and herbicides as major pollutants in the environment, pharmaceuticals are becoming known as a similar harm. This project concentrates on mathematically modeling the mass flows of pharmaceutical waste, which is based on data from literature as well as information gathered from local law enforcement, healthcare professionals, and wastewater specialists. With the flow information in hand, we use the model to compute potential costs based on the impact to the human body, river, landfill, agricultural farmland, and atmosphere. Using these cost assessments, our clients in the community can look to drive change through legislation and education. These changes could lead to better disposal methods and improved surface water quality.