The Issue
Prescription drugs such as antibiotics, antidepressants, and hormones and over-the-counter medications, antiseptics, and veterinary medicines are all considered to be pharmaceuticals. During the past decade there have been growing questions about potential adverse effects from the environmental release of pharmaceutically active compounds. Small concentrations of hormones, antidepressants, antibiotics, and chemicals from personal care products have been founds in various waterways nationwide, including the San Francisco Bay, according to reports from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the San Francisco Bay Estuary Institute.
The major concerns to date regarding the presence of medications in surface water bodies have been interference with growth and reproduction in aquatic organisms such as fish and frogs increased bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
When unused or expired medicines are disposed of down the drain or flushed down the toilet, they flow through the sanitary sewer system to the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant (Plant). The Plant was not designed to remove pharmaceutical compounds and trace amounts may pass through the Plant and be released into the Bay.
Do not flush unused or expired medications down the toilet, place down the drain, or put in the garbage! Look for take-back and collection events by visiting www.baywise.gov or www.hhw.org or by contacting your local pharmacy and hospital.
