[Pharmwaste] Does your state have a list ofhazardouspharmaceuticals?

[Eva Dale]

Matthew,
I just want to clarify the 40% - 50% you refer to. It's my understanding
that this figure is OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS COLLECTED AT TAKE-BACK PROGRAMS
and not
40% - 50% of prescription drugs. Please, could you clarify this?

Also, I know that there are many different sources for rates of disposing of
drugs down the drain. I would like to add to the data in use by giving
statistics from a survey performed on a sample of King County residents
(Seattle, WA area). When asked "How does your household typically get rid of
unused or expired medicines?" the responses were:
52% put in household garbage/trash and
20% flush down the toilet or sink
The remainder reported using other methods or responded with "does not
apply".
(The margin of error is +/- 4%.)
For more survey results, check out
http://wastenotwashington.org/Pharmsurveyhighlights.htm.

Thanks,
Eva Dale
Pharmaceuticals and the Environment Project
****************************************************
Washington Citizens for Resource Conservation
2021 Third Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 441-1790

eva at wastenotwashington.org

www.wastenotwashington.org


  -----Original Message-----
  From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us
[mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us]On Behalf Of matthew
mireles
  Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2008 7:51 AM
  To: 'Richard Buggeln'; pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
  Subject: RE: [Pharmwaste] Does your state have a list
ofhazardouspharmaceuticals?


  Richard,



  We code pharmaceutical products based on the PBT Index (persistence in the
environment, bioaccumulation, and toxicity) for our National Unused and
Expired Medicines Registry.  This classification system, developed by our
Swedish counterpart, is used widely in Europe to categorize environmental
hazard potential of common medicines that might get into the water.  The
testing is based on standard risk assessment methods.  There are only about
300 drugs on this current list, and we are working to help the Swedish group
expand this list.  Are you familiar with this system?



  I can talk to you more in detail about our Registry and application of
this classification system.  Is anyone else collecting data on returned
consumers' pharmaceutical products?  We would love to compare data.  We now
have good data from the west and east coast and discovered that about
40%-50% of prescription drugs are never used by the consumers and usually
would be thrown away by flush down the toilet and sink.  This is a very
disturbing finding.





  Matthew C. Mireles, PhD, MPH

  President and CEO

  Community Medical Foundation for Patient Safety

  www.comofcom.com






----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--

  From: pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us
[mailto:pharmwaste-bounces at lists.dep.state.fl.us] On Behalf Of Richard
Buggeln
  Sent: Friday, March 14, 2008 8:42 AM
  To: pharmwaste at lists.dep.state.fl.us
  Subject: [Pharmwaste] Does your state have a list of
hazardouspharmaceuticals?




  Colleagues...

  Florida has a list of some 200+ hazardous pharmaceuticals...a useful aid
for hospitals and regulators.  Tennessee regulators have asked whether other
states have similar lists, perhaps even more inclusive than Florida's list.
I would appreciate hearing from you, whether or not you have a list of
hazardous pharms---and/or personal care products---so that Tennessee
Department of Environment and Conservation "knows what's out there".  I
would happy to provide you with the final compilation of information.

  Thanks for your help.

  Regards,

  Richard Buggeln, Ph.D.
  Manager, Environmental Programs &
  Tennessee Materials Exchange
  University of Tennessee
  Center for Industrial Services
  105 Student Services Bldg.
  Knoxville, TN 37996
  Phone: 865.974.9058
  fax: 865.974.1528
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