On the
website, “Citizen Campaign for the Environment, Iburch (2015) reports on the
adverse impact that improper pharmaceutical waste disposal has on the
environment. The author states that “low levels of drugs such as antibiotics,
hormones, contraceptives and steroids are found in 80% of the rivers and
streams”. Due to this situation, these water sources are unsafe for consumption
and usage. At the same time, it harms the marine and human life by leaving them
vulnerable to such pharmaceutical waste residue, albeit at low concentrations.
Some side effects on living organisms include irregular hormonal cycle and
antibiotic resistance to drugs. Notably, male fishes were found laying eggs due
to prolonged exposure to such residue (Iburch,2015). Legislation and raising
public awareness on the proper disposal of pharmaceutical waste have been put
in place to mitigate the problem. The same author explains the cause and impact
of pharmaceutical waste disposal with myriad examples. However, the statements
put forth in the article are incomplete and unsupported.
The first reason why Iburch’s argument is incomplete
is because he overgeneralizes the idea of “unused or expired pharmaceuticals
being flushed down the toilet”. According to a pharmaceutical waste disposal guideline
that was released by the World Health Organization (1999),small amounts of
uncontrolled liquid pharmaceuticals, which do not exhibit anti-infective or
anti-neoplastic properties, can be flushed down into the sewers. This shows
that under certain circumstances, it is fine for small quantity of
pharmaceuticals to be flushed down the sewers. Iburch also fails to elaborate
on how human excretion can potentially contribute to pharmaceutical waste.
Studies by the Harvard Medical School (2011) have concluded that human waste
flushed into the sewage contains unmetabolized pharmaceuticals and this could
potentially contaminate potable water sources. In addition, the same author did
not mention anything on the root of the issue: pharmaceuticals that are purchased
in bulk were often left unconsumed. This results in these pharmaceuticals being
flushed into the sewage.
Furthermore, the examples used to illustrate the
detrimental effects of pharmaceutical waste have on living organisms are not
convincing due to the lack of statistical data. For instance, the concentration
of pharmaceutical waste present in the potable water sources is not mentioned.
Iburch states the effects of the pharmaceutical effluents have on the genetic
mutation of marine life, without factoring in some other environmental factors.
Eisenstaedt (2005) argues that different chemical compositions of water,
temperature and other variables can potentially explain the genetic mutation
seen in marine life. The lack of concrete data and research makes it hard for
readers to come to a more informed conclusion that the hormones present in the
pharmaceutical effluents are responsible for the genetic mutation seen.
In conclusion, the author carefully links the cause
and effects of improper pharmaceutical waste disposal with myriad of examples.
It would be better though if the author addresses the issue in a broader
perspective before moving into smaller details. This would give the reader a
general overview of the issue. Lastly, the lack of concrete statistical data
and overgeneralization of "flushing down unused or expired pharmaceuticals
into the sewage" make the arguments, which Iburch put forth on the website
are inconclusive and unsupported.
References :
Citizens Campaign for the Environment. (2015, March
4). Pharmaceutical Disposal.
Eisenstadt, L. (2005). Drugs in the water. Triple Point.
Harvard Medical School. (2011,June 1). Drugs in the water.
World Health Organization. (1999). Guidelines for Safe Disposal of
Unwanted Pharmaceuticals in and after Emergencies.
Retrieved from
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/medicalwaste/unwantpharm.
