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Ways to reduce pharmaceutical pollution in our streams, rivers, and drinking water
Prescription and over-the-counter medications can pose risks to aquatic life and potentially enter our drinking water supply if they are not properly disposed of.
The American Pharmacists Association, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Pennsylvania Department of State all recommend the following:
• Do not flush unused medications.
• Ask your pharmacist about take-back programs.
• When tossing unused medications, protect children and pets from the potentially negative effects by:
1. Crush or dissolve solid medications. 2. Mix with kitty litter or a solid kitchen substance 3. Place in a sealed plastic bag to reduce the poisoning risk. 4. Remove and destroy ALL identifying personal information. 5. Check for approved state or local collection programs or with area hazardous waste facilities.
This information is excerpted from a Penn State fact sheet on pharmaceutical disposal and water quality. Click here for the full publication.
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