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<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'>FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: </span></b><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'>March
11, 2008<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'>CONTACT:
</span></b><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'>DEP<b>, </b>Dee Ann
Miller, (850) 245-2112 or (850) 519-2898<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'>
DOH, Susan Smith, (850) 245-4111<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span
style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'>DEP AND DOH REMIND FLORIDIANS OF
PROPER DISPOSAL METHODS FOR UNWANTED MEDICATIONS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span
style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'>--Proper disposal helps keep
pharmaceuticals out of water--<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'>TALLAHASSEE
– </span></b><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'>The Florida
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Florida Department of Health
(DOH) are reminding Floridians to properly dispose of unwanted medications.
Disposing with household trash rather than flushing down the toilet or a drain
helps reduce the amount of pharmaceutical traces in Florida’s water bodies and
drinking water.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif";color:black'>“Proper
disposal of unwanted medications helps protect Florida’s residents and visitors
as well as our natural resources,” said DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole.
“Florida's drinking water utilities have an exemplary track record in
delivering safe, affordable, high-quality, drinking water. We will
continue to work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S.
Geological Survey to study emerging chemicals and develop new criteria so that
we can continue to ensure safe water for generations to come."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'>Many
medications contain compounds, also known as microconstituents, that are used
to enhance our quality of life by protecting human health, enhancing consumer
goods, and optimizing agricultural production. Microconstituents may be
found in very low concentrations in surface water, ground water, domestic wastewater,
industrial wastewater, agricultural runoff, reclaimed water, and other waters. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'>“While the
issue of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in water is not new,
current media coverage on the topic may prompt concern among consumers,” said
State Surgeon General Ana Viamonte Ros, MD, MPH. “So far, these chemicals have
been found at extremely low concentrations and current research has not
demonstrated an impact on human health at the trace levels at which they have
been found.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'>The amount
of microconstituents can be reduced by properly disposing of unwanted
medications. While flushing them down the toilet or a drain prevents
immediate accidental ingestion, it can impact our environment because many
wastewater treatment systems, including septic tanks, are not designed to
remove many of these medications. To properly dispose of unwanted
household medications:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span
style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span
style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'>Keep the medicines in the original
container. This will help identify the contents if they are accidentally
ingested.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span
style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span
style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'>Mark out your name and prescription
number for safety.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span
style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>3.<span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span
style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'>For pills, add water or soda to
start dissolving them. For liquids, add something inedible like cat litter,
dirt or cayenne pepper.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span
style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>4.<span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span
style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'>Close the lid and secure with duct
or packing tape.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span
style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>5.<span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span
style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'>Place the bottle(s) inside an opaque
container like a coffee can or plastic laundry bottle.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span
style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>6.<span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span
style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'>Tape that container closed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span
style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>7.<span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span
style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'>Hide the container in the trash. Do
not put in the recycle bin.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'>Disposal of
unwanted medications from commercial facilities such as pharmacies, medical
facilities and veterinary operations are subject to different regulations than
those that apply to medications from household uses. Those commercial
facilities should contact DEP’s Division of Waste Management for guidance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'>For more
information on the proper disposal of unwanted medications, visit <a
href="http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/medications/default.htm">http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/medications/default.htm</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span
style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'>--30--<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
</DIV>
<DIV><BR><BR></DIV>
<DIV STYLE="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Courier New"><EM><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE="2">The Department of Environmental
Protection values your feedback as a customer. DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole is committed to continuously assessing and
improving the level and quality of services provided to you. Please take a few minutes to comment on the quality of
service you received. <eXclaimer:HTML_ONLY>Simply click on <A TARGET="_blank" HREF="http://survey.dep.state.fl.us/?refemail=Glen.Perrigan@dep.state.fl.us">this link to the DEP Customer
Survey</A>.</eXclaimer:HTML_ONLY> Thank you in advance for completing the survey.</FONT></EM></DIV>
<DIV STYLE="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Courier New"><EM><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE="2">
</FONT></EM> </DIV>
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