[Pharmwaste] RE: pharmaceuticals- flushed or body-released?
Tiferet Zimmern-Kahan
tiferet@productstewardship.us
Wed, 6 Jul 2005 09:37:59 -0500
Concerning the amount of flushed pharmaceuticals vs. "un-metabolized"
medications, is it at all possible to descriminate between the two in
terms of concentration? I would guess that one flush of a lot of left
over medication would be localized and at a higher concentration, than
humanly processed medication which might be more spread out over time
(and therefore space) resulting in lower concentrations. Does this
concept seem to make sense?
-----Original Message-----
From: pharmwaste-admin@lists.dep.state.fl.us
[mailto:pharmwaste-admin@lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of
pharmwaste-request@lists.dep.state.fl.us
Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2005 6:54 AM
To: pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: Pharmwaste digest, Vol 1 #88 - 2 msgs
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Today's Topics:
1. RE: RE: Trash Disposal of Pharmaceuticals Pharmwast e
digest, Vol
1 # 83 - 2 msgs (JeffBeyer@co.manitowoc.wi.us)
--__--__--
Message: 1
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] RE: Trash Disposal of Pharmaceuticals
Pharmwast e digest, Vol
1 # 83 - 2 msgs
To: "Tenace, Laurie" <Laurie.Tenace@dep.state.fl.us>
Cc: "Pistell, Ann E" <Ann.E.Pistell@maine.gov>,
"Johnson, Emma (ECY)" <EJOH461@ECY.WA.GOV>,
pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us,
pharmwaste-admin@lists.dep.state.fl.us
From: JeffBeyer@co.manitowoc.wi.us
Date: Tue, 5 Jul 2005 09:04:20 -0500
Laurie,
Thanks you for your input in regards to this issue. But my concern is
still what is the real issue that needs to be addressed, is it the waste
medications or is it the over prescription of the drugs by the doctors.
Or is it that most of amount of the traces of meds found in the waste
water is from body releases and not dumping. If the issue is the body
releases then the development of collection programs for waste meds may
not do much to address the issue of meds in the waste water.
Jeff
=20
"Tenace, Laurie"
<Laurie.Tenace@de
p.state.fl.us>
To=20
<JeffBeyer@co.manitowoc.wi.us>,
07/01/2005 02:00 "Johnson, Emma \(ECY\)"
PM <EJOH461@ECY.WA.GOV>
=20
cc=20
"Pistell, Ann E"
<Ann.E.Pistell@maine.gov>,
=20
<pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us>,=20
=20
<pharmwaste-admin@lists.dep.state.f=20
l.us>
=20
Subject=20
RE: [Pharmwaste] RE: Trash
Disposal=20
of Pharmaceuticals Pharmwast
e digest, Vol 1 # 83 - 2 msgs
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
Jeff,
I have never seen numbers showing what the split between flushed pills
and un-metabolized flushed drugs is. However, all you have to do is talk
to people to find out that they are flushing their medications when they
no longer want them. And many are told to do so by doctors, pharmacists,
etc.
A
good example is Hospice, which routinely tells people to flush drugs
remaining after the patient dies. Nursing homes and assisted living
facilities often do the same for unfinished prescriptions.
Laurie
Laurie J. Tenace
Environmental Specialist
Florida Department of Environmental Protection 2600 Blair Stone Road, MS
4555 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400
PH: (850) 245-8759
FAX: (850) 245-8811
Laurie.Tenace@dep.state.fl.us
view our mercury web pages at:
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/mercury/default.htm
-----Original Message-----
From: pharmwaste-owner@lists.dep.state.fl.us
[mailto:pharmwaste-owner@lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of
JeffBeyer@co.manitowoc.wi.us
Sent: Friday, July 01, 2005 12:56 PM
To: Johnson, Emma (ECY)
Cc: 'Pistell, Ann E'; 'pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us';
pharmwaste-admin@lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] RE: Trash Disposal of Pharmaceuticals
Pharmwast e digest, Vol 1 # 83 - 2 msgs
In trying to learn more about this issue, is there any information where
there has been some indication of pharmaceutical poisons in the waste
water, that these releases where from the household dumping of
pharmaceuticals. Versus these trace indicators in the waste water being
from human by-products who where using these drugs. How do we know that
the test showing some tract of pharmaceutical products in water after
being processing by waste treatment plants is not from human by-products
versus flushing of the pharmaceutical waste by households. Or if it is a
combination of both what is the percentage of one versus the other.
Jeffery Beyer, Public Works Director, Manitowoc County
"Johnson, Emma
(ECY)"
<EJOH461@ECY.WA.G
To
OV> "'Pistell, Ann E'"
Sent by: <Ann.E.Pistell@maine.gov>,
pharmwaste-admin@
"'pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us'
lists.dep.state.f "
l.us
<pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us>
=20
cc
07/01/2005 10:36
Subject
AM RE: [Pharmwaste] RE: Trash
Disposal
of Pharmaceuticals Pharmwast
e digest, Vol 1 # 83 - 2 msgs
In Washington State we looked at this issue as well. Landfills on the
drier eastside of our state either re-circulate their leachate or in
some cases are unlined. However, landfills on the wetter westside of
the state discharge their leachate to waste water treatment facilities
that use secondary treatment. We thought recirculation of leachate in
an engineered landfill was probably pretty good protection compared to
discharge to WWTPs or groundwater, so we weren't convinced at first that
we should set up an alternative disposal location.
However, three things that we realized:
1. It was impractical to educate consumers whether they should use the
trash to dispose of pharmaceuticals based on who their waste hauler was.
2. As Ann mentioned, there is a pretty good reason that poison control
officials recommend flushing of unwanted medications-- security and
safety issues still exist for this material. According to the
Washington State Department of Health, nine children die each year from
poisoning, 465 are hospitalized, and 3,490 visit the doctor. Of 24
child poisoning deaths from
1999 to 2001, 16 were due to medications.
3. There wasn't a logical environmental reason to allow HHW
pharmaceuticals into landfills when we spend a lot of time and money to
keep other HHW materials out of the landfill, especially if they have
similar designating characteristics.
Emma Johnson
Solid Waste and Financial Assistance
Washington State Department of Ecology
-----Original Message-----
From: pharmwaste-admin@lists.dep.state.fl.us
[mailto:pharmwaste-admin@lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Pistell,
Ann E
Sent: Friday, July 01, 2005 8:12 AM
To: 'pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us'
Subject: [Pharmwaste] RE: Trash Disposal of Pharmaceuticals Pharmwaste
digest, Vol 1 # 83 - 2 msgs
In response to Ann Heil from Los Angeles? I was taking a completely
provincial stand in that in Maine we don't have commercial landfills big
enough to treat their own leachate.(Sounds like your landfill does have
its own treatment plant.) In Maine it all gets collected in tankers and
taken to the local POTW, which usually has secondary treatment only.
Also, I can't believe that we are any different than other states with
lined landfills (We only have a few. Plus we still have a few that are
unlined with NO leachate collection at all.) We have monitoring wells
outside all landfill areas for the very reason that we know even lined
landfills can and do leak, due to a variety of causes.(I was the project
manager for the largest commercial landfill in the state for several
years, Waste Management's, so I speak from personal experience!) This
does point out that each state should develop disposal systems for their
area - what works in LA may not be best in a rural state like Maine.
The journal I referred originally (see below) has several interesting
studies, many of which talk about the fate of pharmaceuticals during
waste water treatment/ bank filtration etc. It is worth reading.
I think most would agree that landfilling would be better than flushing,
except those more concerned about diversion or accidental poisonings
than about environmental impacts.
Ann Pistell
Today's Topics:
1. RE: Response: Trash Disposal of Pharmaceuticals (Volkman, Jennifer
& Charlotte Smith) (Heil, Ann)
2. RE: RE: Trash Disposal of Pharmaceuticals (Contents of Pharmwaste
di gest, Vol 1 #80 - 2 msgs) (Charlotte Smith)
-- __--__--=20
Message: 1
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Response: Trash Disposal of Pharmaceuticals
(Volkman, Jennifer & Charlotte Smith)
Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 14:51:28 -0700
From: "Heil, Ann" <AHeil@lacsd.org>
To: <pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us>
I don't buy either of these arguments. I work for an agency that =3D
operates both sewers and landfills. One very important fact to keep in =
=3D
mind about landfills is that the volume of landfill leachate produced is
=3D very small.
A large landfill may only produce about 10,000 gallons per =3D day of
leachate. It is MUCH easier to treat 10,000 gallons per day of =3D
leachate than 500 million gallons per day of wastewater. I also don't =
=3D
believe it is correct to say that landfills will eventually leak. =3D
Modern landfills are lined, with leachate collections systems.
While I don't believe that landfills are the best place for waste drugs,
=3D the drugs are much better off in a landfill than going down the
toilet. =3D The only way to get people to stop flushing drugs is to give
them a =3D reasonable alternative. Pharmacy collection programs are not
in place. =3D Many people will not take the trouble to go to a =
household
hazardous =3D waste collection center or event. I would rather have
people putting =3D their drugs in the trash, in a way that is not
accessible to children or =3D pets, than flushing them down the =
toilet.=3D20
Just to be clear - landfills are not the best place for drugs, but they
=3D are better places than sewers. If you want people not to flush, you
have =3D to give them an alternative that they will actually do.
Ann Heil
LACSD
-----Original Message-----
From: pharmwaste-admin@lists.dep.state.fl.us
[mailto:pharmwaste-admin@lists.dep.state.fl.us]On Behalf Of David
Stitzhal
Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2005 7:44 AM
To: pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: [Pharmwaste] Response: Trash Disposal of Pharmaceuticals
(Volkman, Jennifer & Charlotte Smith)
The two main arguments I hear about avoiding landfill disposal are,=3D20
in a
nutshell:
1). Landfill leachate is sent to wastewater treatment. Given that=3D20
many drugs are not captured in current treatment processes,=3D20
pharmaceuticals that have migrated into the leachate can end up in=3D20
the environment.
2). All landfills will eventually leak, and the leachate will =
migrate=3D20
to soil, and possibly groundwater, below and around the landfill.
--=3D20
David Stitzhal, MRP
President
Full Circle Environmental, Inc.
3111 37th Place South
Seattle, WA 98144
U.S.A.
206-723-0528 phone
206-723-2452 fax
stitzhal@fullcircleenvironmental.com
_______________________________________________
Pharmwaste mailing list
Pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us
http://lists.dep.state.fl.us/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/pharmwaste
-- __--__--=20
Message: 2
From: "Charlotte Smith" <csmith@pharmecology.com>
To: "Charlotte A. Smith" <csmith@pharmecology.com>,
"'Pistell, Ann E'" <Ann.E.Pistell@maine.gov>,
<pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us>,
<dwyatt@centralsan.dst.ca.us>
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] RE: Trash Disposal of Pharmaceuticals
(Contents of Pharmwaste di gest, Vol 1 #80 - 2 msgs)
Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 20:24:12 -0500
Alert reader Dr. Stevan Gressitt noted the fact that a number of
pharmaceuticals, including barium sulfate and lithium carbonate, are
actually inorganic chemicals which is absolutely correct. The vast =3D
majority of drugs are, however, organic molecules and need to be
considered as =3D such when disposal methods are discussed. Thank you,
Steve, for catching =3D that over-generalization.=3D20
Charlotte A. Smith, R. Ph., M.S., HEM
President
PharmEcology Associates, LLC
200 S. Executive Drive, Suite 101
Brookfield, WI 53005
Phone: 262-814-2635
Fax: 414-479-9941
csmith@pharmecology.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Charlotte A. Smith=3D20
Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2005 8:41 AM
To: 'Pistell, Ann E'; 'pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us';
'dwyatt@centralsan.dst.ca.us'
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] RE: Trash Disposal of Pharmaceuticals =3D
(Contents of Pharmwaste di gest, Vol 1 #80 - 2 msgs)
Thank you, Ann, for the citation. Yes, pharmaceuticals are organic
chemicals. When you mention emission controls for the pharma industry, =
=3D
are you referring to the manufacturers running their own incinerators? I
=3D believe many of those have shut down. It is my understanding that =
RCRA
=3D incinerators are well scrubbed and monitored. Waste to energy plants
and other =3D municipal incinerators I believe need to meet certain
emissions criteria to accept non-hazardous pharmaceutical waste. I
believe there is a great deal more variance there. Of course, they may
be getting small amounts of drugs in consumer waste. Anyone else have
comments on the relative benefits of incineration vs. landfilling?=3D20
Charlotte A. Smith, R. Ph., M.S., HEM
President
PharmEcology Associates, LLC
200 S. Executive Drive, Suite 101
Brookfield, WI 53005
262-814-2635
Fax 414-479-9941
www.pharmecology.com
H2E Champion for Change Award
-----Original Message-----
From: Pistell, Ann E [mailto:Ann.E.Pistell@maine.gov]=3D20
Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2005 7:37 AM
To: 'pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us'; 'dwyatt@centralsan.dst.ca.us'
Subject: [Pharmwaste] RE: Trash Disposal of Pharmaceuticals (Contents of
Pharmwaste di gest, Vol 1 #80 - 2 msgs)
The bottom line is this - all landfills eventually leak. The more
sophisticated one have leachate collection, which goes to a treatment =
=3D
plant and is eventually discharged to a receiving water or bulked into
sludge which may then be land spread on crop land. We all know that
treatment plants in the US, for the most part, do not have the processes
to =3D capture the pharmaceuticals. =3D20
An interesting article on this appears in "Ground Water Monitoring and
Remediation 24, No.2/Spring 2004, pages 119-126. Title is =3D
"Pharmaceuticals and Other Organic Waste Water Contaminants Within a
Leachate Plume Downgradient of a Municipal Landfill" K. Barnes, S.
Christenson et.al.
I am sure there are other articles on this if one goes looking. The =3D
data that may be sorely lacking is on air emissions - although I haven't
dug =3D deep for it. I am concerned about cross-media transfer, that by
burning we =3D may be adding stuff to the air or the ash. I think the
general feeling is that =3D by burning, the organics break down to
harmless components, but I would =3D like to see where that has been
confirmed. And, I am no expert nor chemist, but =3D are some
pharmaceuticals not (basically) organics???=3D20
Lastly, I know EPA has set emission limits for the pharmaceutical =3D
industry which one would hope is based on stack tests etc., sound
science. =3D Anyone looked at these?
Ann Pistell
Me DEP
Today's Topics:
1. FW: Trash Disposal of Pharmaceuticals (Charlotte A. Smith)
2. RE: FW: Trash Disposal of Pharmaceuticals (Volkman, Jennifer)
Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2005 11:50:42 -0500
From: "Charlotte A. Smith" <csmith@pharmecology.com>
To: <pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us>
Subject: [Pharmwaste] FW: Trash Disposal of Pharmaceuticals
Can anyone provide more information on landfill restrictions and why
hazardous waste incineration is a better solution environmentally at =3D
this point? Thanks much!=3D3D20
Charlotte A. Smith, R. Ph., M.S., HEM
President
PharmEcology Associates, LLC
200 S. Executive Drive, Suite 101
Brookfield, WI 53005
262-814-2635
Fax 414-479-9941
www.pharmecology.com
H2E Champion for Change Award
-----Original Message-----
From: David Wyatt [mailto:DWYATT@centralsan.dst.ca.us]=3D3D20
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 5:03 PM
To: Charlotte A. Smith
Subject: Trash Disposal of Pharmaceuticals
Good afternoon,
My name is David Wyatt and I am with the Central Contra Costa Sanitary
District (you will be speaking at a workshop here on the 19th of July).
=3D I am a Senior Technician at the Districts household hazardous waste =
=3D
collection facility (HHWCF). We are looking for some information on the
effects of pharmaceuticals thrown in the trash.
We currently collect pharmaceuticals from households in our service area
=3D at our HHWCF. The medications are packaged with poisonous materials
and =3D sent for incineration. The cost of this waste stream is
relatively =3D inexpensive with respect to the rest of our waste costs.
I've been asked to find out why our residents cannot just throw them in
=3D the trash as mentioned in many reports. Do you know of any
publications =3D that could provide us with information on the potential
effects of pharmaceuticals to sanitary landfills or do you know any
other reasons =3D why residents should not put them in the trash?=3D3D20
We at the HHWCF feel accepting medications at our facility is the best =
=3D
and only method of proper disposal of household pharmaceuticals. We
only =3D need to educate some of our management to see it that way.
Any and all information will be greatly appreciated. You may reply to =
=3D
this email or give me a call at (925)335-7714.
Thank you for your time. Have a great day!
David Wyatt
Sr. HHW Technician
Central Contra Costa=3D3D20
Sanitary District - HHWCF
5019 Imhoff Place
Martinez, CA 94553
Ph. 925-335-7714
Fax 925-335-7737
dwyatt@centralsan.dst.ca.us
www.centralsan.org
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-- __--__--=20
Message: 2
Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] FW: Trash Disposal of Pharmaceuticals
Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2005 17:50:51 -0500
From: "Volkman, Jennifer" <Jennifer.Volkman@state.mn.us>
To: "Charlotte A. Smith" <csmith@pharmecology.com>,
<pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us>
In MN, we don't have a landfill restriction or ban on pharms.
We'd be interested in actual study data. The basic concern from our SW
=3D =3D3D people here is that the pharms would eventually leach through =
the
=3D3D =3D garbage and show up in the leachate which is eventually run
through the =3D3D same =3D WWTP we were trying to keep it out of, or =
that
the landfill would =3D3D =3D eventually leak and the pharms would move =
into
groundwater. =3D3D20
With the lack of hard data, leachate contamination is only assumed, as =
=3D
=3D3D is the relative ability of a landfill to attenuate or absorb =
pharms.
=3D3D Incineration appears to be the best option for destruction, as =
with
any =3D =3D3D other poison. =3D3D20
-----Original Message-----
From: pharmwaste-admin@lists.dep.state.fl.us
[mailto:pharmwaste-admin@lists.dep.state.fl.us]On Behalf Of Charlotte A.
Smith
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2005 11:51 AM
To: pharmwaste@lists.dep.state.fl.us
Subject: [Pharmwaste] FW: Trash Disposal of Pharmaceuticals
Can anyone provide more information on landfill restrictions and why
hazardous waste incineration is a better solution environmentally at =3D
this point? Thanks much!=3D3D20
Charlotte A. Smith, R. Ph., M.S., HEM
President
PharmEcology Associates, LLC
200 S. Executive Drive, Suite 101
Brookfield, WI 53005
262-814-2635
Fax 414-479-9941
www.pharmecology.com
H2E Champion for Change Award
-----Original Message-----
From: David Wyatt [mailto:DWYATT@centralsan.dst.ca.us]=3D3D20
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 5:03 PM
To: Charlotte A. Smith
Subject: Trash Disposal of Pharmaceuticals
Good afternoon,
My name is David Wyatt and I am with the Central Contra Costa Sanitary
District (you will be speaking at a workshop here on the 19th of July).
=3D I am a Senior Technician at the Districts household hazardous waste =
=3D
collection facility (HHWCF). We are looking for some information on the
effects of pharmaceuticals thrown in the trash.
We currently collect pharmaceuticals from households in our service area
=3D at our HHWCF. The medications are packaged with poisonous materials
and =3D sent for incineration. The cost of this waste stream is
relatively =3D inexpensive with respect to the rest of our waste costs.
I've been asked to find out why our residents cannot just throw them in
=3D the trash as mentioned in many reports. Do you know of any
publications =3D that could provide us with information on the potential
effects of pharmaceuticals to sanitary landfills or do you know any
other reasons =3D why residents should not put them in the trash?=3D3D20
We at the HHWCF feel accepting medications at our facility is the best =
=3D
and only method of proper disposal of household pharmaceuticals. We
only =3D need to educate some of our management to see it that way.
Any and all information will be greatly appreciated. You may reply to =
=3D
this email or give me a call at (925)335-7714.
Thank you for your time. Have a great day!
David Wyatt
Sr. HHW Technician
Central Contra Costa=3D3D20
Sanitary District - HHWCF
5019 Imhoff Place
Martinez, CA 94553
Ph. 925-335-7714
Fax 925-335-7737
dwyatt@centralsan.dst.ca.us
www.centralsan.org
-- __--__--=20
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