Pharmaceutical Pollution and Disposal of Expired, Unused, and Unwanted Medicines in the Brazilian Context
The occurrence of pharmaceuticals in the environment is an everyday recognized concern worldwide, and drugs as environmental contaminants have been detected in water and soil systems, posing risks to humans and wildlife. The presence of drugs in wastewater, groundwater, and even drinking water occur...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Xenobiotics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4713/11/2/5 |
| _version_ | 1797531813603704832 |
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| author | Letícia de Araújo Almeida Freitas Gandhi Radis-Baptista |
| author_facet | Letícia de Araújo Almeida Freitas Gandhi Radis-Baptista |
| author_sort | Letícia de Araújo Almeida Freitas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The occurrence of pharmaceuticals in the environment is an everyday recognized concern worldwide, and drugs as environmental contaminants have been detected in water and soil systems, posing risks to humans and wildlife. The presence of drugs in wastewater, groundwater, and even drinking water occurs in several countries, including Brazil, where the pharmaceutical market is expanding over the years. The adverse, harmful effects of pharmaceuticals in the environment range from the spreading of antimicrobial resistance and species survival to the interference with reproduction and increased cancer incidence in humans. Therefore, it is demanding to count on proper legislation to prevent these pollutants from entering the distinct environment compartments. In some developed countries, laws, directives, programs, and initiatives regarding drug disposal reach a mature status. In Brazil, federal laws dealing with drug residues’ management are recent, with flaws that might facilitate non-compliance with drug pollution issues. Besides, pharmacies and drugstores are not obligated to collect unneeded household medicines, while particular State laws aim to ordinate the disposal of drug residues regionally. In this review, we consider the current knowledge about pharmaceutical (drug) pollution, the recommendation and regulations on the disposal of useless medicines in some countries, and in the context of the expanding pharmaceutical market in Brazil. The awareness of emerging contaminants in the environment, besides the joint effort of authorities, consumers, and the general public nationwide, will be required to avoid pharmaceutical/drug pollution and achieve an eco-friendly environment and a sustainable society. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:49:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b7bfc69d770d4050a0ad0e113e7e87c1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2039-4705 2039-4713 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:49:07Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Xenobiotics |
| spelling | doaj.art-b7bfc69d770d4050a0ad0e113e7e87c12023-11-21T22:21:25ZengMDPI AGJournal of Xenobiotics2039-47052039-47132021-05-01112617610.3390/jox11020005Pharmaceutical Pollution and Disposal of Expired, Unused, and Unwanted Medicines in the Brazilian ContextLetícia de Araújo Almeida Freitas0Gandhi Radis-Baptista1Post-Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Dentistry and Nursing, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE 60416-030, BrazilPost-Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Dentistry and Nursing, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE 60416-030, BrazilThe occurrence of pharmaceuticals in the environment is an everyday recognized concern worldwide, and drugs as environmental contaminants have been detected in water and soil systems, posing risks to humans and wildlife. The presence of drugs in wastewater, groundwater, and even drinking water occurs in several countries, including Brazil, where the pharmaceutical market is expanding over the years. The adverse, harmful effects of pharmaceuticals in the environment range from the spreading of antimicrobial resistance and species survival to the interference with reproduction and increased cancer incidence in humans. Therefore, it is demanding to count on proper legislation to prevent these pollutants from entering the distinct environment compartments. In some developed countries, laws, directives, programs, and initiatives regarding drug disposal reach a mature status. In Brazil, federal laws dealing with drug residues’ management are recent, with flaws that might facilitate non-compliance with drug pollution issues. Besides, pharmacies and drugstores are not obligated to collect unneeded household medicines, while particular State laws aim to ordinate the disposal of drug residues regionally. In this review, we consider the current knowledge about pharmaceutical (drug) pollution, the recommendation and regulations on the disposal of useless medicines in some countries, and in the context of the expanding pharmaceutical market in Brazil. The awareness of emerging contaminants in the environment, besides the joint effort of authorities, consumers, and the general public nationwide, will be required to avoid pharmaceutical/drug pollution and achieve an eco-friendly environment and a sustainable society.https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4713/11/2/5pharmaceutical pollutiondrug pollutionactive pharmaceutical ingredientsenvironmental pollutionhazardous wastedrug disposal |
| spellingShingle | Letícia de Araújo Almeida Freitas Gandhi Radis-Baptista Pharmaceutical Pollution and Disposal of Expired, Unused, and Unwanted Medicines in the Brazilian Context Journal of Xenobiotics pharmaceutical pollution drug pollution active pharmaceutical ingredients environmental pollution hazardous waste drug disposal |
| title | Pharmaceutical Pollution and Disposal of Expired, Unused, and Unwanted Medicines in the Brazilian Context |
| title_full | Pharmaceutical Pollution and Disposal of Expired, Unused, and Unwanted Medicines in the Brazilian Context |
| title_fullStr | Pharmaceutical Pollution and Disposal of Expired, Unused, and Unwanted Medicines in the Brazilian Context |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pharmaceutical Pollution and Disposal of Expired, Unused, and Unwanted Medicines in the Brazilian Context |
| title_short | Pharmaceutical Pollution and Disposal of Expired, Unused, and Unwanted Medicines in the Brazilian Context |
| title_sort | pharmaceutical pollution and disposal of expired unused and unwanted medicines in the brazilian context |
| topic | pharmaceutical pollution drug pollution active pharmaceutical ingredients environmental pollution hazardous waste drug disposal |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2039-4713/11/2/5 |
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