Status of the Study of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs)

Many of the chemicals used in formulation of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are known to be toxic and have the potential to adversely impact the ecosystem. With the continuing increase in the use of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, and a general lack of education and legislation about disposal of unused or expired medications, a large quantity finds its way into the sewer systems or landfills. Existing wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove such toxic pollutants that cause the drugs and/or its metabolites to enter into water bodies, impairing its quality and adversely impacting aquatic life forms.

The presentation reviews the history of research on PPCPs and its impact on the ecosystem. While scientists were aware of the potential adverse impacts, it took nearly two decades before it became an issue of public concern that found an expression in the worldwide media in March, 2008. Despite this publicity there remains a general lack of legislation to control disposal of unused or expired drugs and, with the exception of a handful of European countries and a few states in the U.S.A., neither the federal government nor the remaining states have any legal mechanism in place to regulate it.

Even though great progress has been made in studying the toxicology of pharmaceuticals, not much is known about the ultimate fate of PPCPs. Yet another critical aspect of PPCPs relates to education and training of the manufacturers, prescribers, and users of medications to control improper disposal of drugs and other pharmaceutical products. Not only the patients but the entire healthcare provider community needs to understand the threats associated with PPCPs to assure that its production, storage, distribution, use, and disposal is carried out in an environmentally safe manner. Possible ways to provide such awareness are included in the presentation.