In accordance with Senate Bill 1757, 81st regular session, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) conducted a study and made recommendations regarding methods for disposing of unused pharmaceuticals so that they do not enter a wastewater system as well as considered the feasibility of adopting those recommended methods on a statewide basis. As part of the study, the TCEQ was tasked to identify the current and alternative methods used by health-care providers, consumers and others in Texas for disposing of unused pharmaceuticals and determine the impact of those methods on both public health and the environment.
The report states researchers have determined that the majority of pharmaceuticals that are introduced to the environment are done so through aquatic systems. The report also noted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) currently reports the consumption of low concentrations of pharmaceuticals found in drinking water does not represent a human health risk.
There is limited research that has been conducted in Texas on emerging contaminates. During the February 26th meeting the Pharmaceutical Advisory Group, with participation from various stakeholders, as told by Tim Oden with the U.S. Geological (USGS) Survey Texas Water Science Center that, at that time, there was only one Texas emerging contaminant work. That work in the Dallas area is being conducted by Mick Baldys.
TCEQ makes several recommendations in the report:
- The TCEQ recommends that a statewide education effort be considered in order to disseminate the most current information to health-care providers, consumers, and others on the topic of unused pharmaceuticals and their proper disposal methods.
- The TCEQ’s recommendations to consumers for managing unused pharmaceutical disposal in Texas households include: (1) encouraging and promoting the disposal of consumer’s unused pharmaceuticals into the municipal trash disposal after rendering the drugs undesirable; (2) supporting voluntary, infrequent single-day collection events; (3) promoting an educational program to provide information to the community about the proper disposal of drugs, the potential impact of pharmaceuticals released to the environment, and the potential impact of pharmaceuticals in water on human health and aquatic life; and (4) supporting the voluntary use of take-back programs.
To read the complete report: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/assets/public/comm_exec/pubs/sfr/098.pdf
