Not What the Doctor Ordered
You may find this astonishingly hard to believe, but the FDA (yes, the Food & Drug Administration of these United States) recommends washing old prescription drugs down the sink or flushing them down the toilet!
In some cases, this includes transdermal fentanyl patches. While this may seem like a convenient option, it can have serious implications for drinking water supplies, groundwater contamination, and pharmaceutical pollution in the environment.
Why Does the FDA Suggest This?
The pharmaceutical industry and FDA argue that not everyone has access to proper drug disposal facilities. They are primarily concerned with getting dangerous drugs like OxyContin and Percocet out of homes to prevent accidental consumption or misuse.
While their reasoning makes sense, we have to ask: Should we be contaminating our drinking water with pharmaceutical compounds?
It’s Not Their First Choice
The FDA, drug manufacturers, and even water treatment plants encourage proper disposal of drugs. Many wastewater treatment plants are not equipped to fully remove pharmaceutical substances from our water supply, leaving aquatic organisms and vulnerable populations exposed to these contaminants.
Local municipalities offer safe disposal options for unwanted pharmaceuticals—you can often dispose of them with household trash if properly sealed in a plastic bag mixed with substances like used coffee grounds or kitty litter.
By doing this, we prevent pharmaceutical contamination from affecting aquatic environments and our own health. Additionally, many communities host semiannual drug disposal events, where you can drop off leftover medications.
This prevents pharmaceuticals in the environment and helps protect drinking water supplies from contamination.
The Inconceivable Impact of Improper Disposal
It’s hard to believe that the FDA still endorses flushing certain drugs. Nursing homes and pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities have proper disposal methods, so why should we contaminate water supplies with pharmaceutical compounds from our homes?
Drugs like over-the-counter drugs, antibiotics, and even beta blockers can make their way into surface water and sewage treatment plants.
Research shows that pharmaceutical contamination is growing, and the scientific community is concerned about the cumulative impact of trace amounts of pharmaceuticals on human health and the environment.
A Hidden Threat in Our Water
It’s alarming that sewage treatment plants only remove about half of pharmaceutical substances and emerging contaminants in the water, as confirmed by a study conducted by the International Joint Commission.
The remaining substances, including antibiotics and other drugs, can affect aquatic life and cause antibiotic resistance in bacteria.
This contamination has a direct impact on male fish, as pharmaceutical compounds like progestin and estrogen from birth control pills have been found in water samples.
Trace amounts of these chemicals can alter the hormonal balance in both aquatic species and humans, especially pregnant women and other vulnerable populations.
Is Sewage Treatment Adequate?
Even though wastewater treatment plants and septic systems filter water, they can’t fully remove all pharmaceutical compounds. Pharmaceutical drugs and personal care products still end up in rivers and drinking water sources.
When over prescription of medications combines with improper disposal, it results in pharmaceuticals in the environment, which has a cumulative effect over time.
The Cumulative Effect on Your Health
While pharmaceutical contamination in tap water is usually present in very low concentrations, the cumulative effect over time can be damaging. Every time you shower or drink tap water, you might be exposed to over-the-counter drugs, antibiotics, and other chemicals.
Even at low concentrations, this exposure could have long-term effects on your well-being. AquaBliss offers an effective solution to reduce these risks.
Our multi-stage shower filters are specifically designed to reduce pharmaceutical compounds and other harmful contaminants, ensuring that your shower water is clean, safe, and refreshing.
With AquaBliss, you can protect your skin, your health, and your peace of mind from the hidden dangers lurking in your tap water.
Protect Your Water and Health
The best way to protect water quality and human health is to dispose of leftover medications properly. Encourage your neighbors to participate in local drug disposal events or take unused medications back to the pharmacy.
Proper disposal helps reduce pharmaceuticals in water and prevents further contamination of drinking water supplies. In addition, investing in an AquaBliss shower filter is a smart step to safeguard your health.
Our AquaBliss filtration systems are engineered to reduce not only pharmaceutical substances but also heavy metals, bacteria, and other contaminants. By using AquaBliss, you’ll ensure your family is showering in clean, healthy water every day.
The Environmental Impact
Don’t let pharmaceutical pollution harm your health or the environment. Whether it’s improper disposal through septic tanks or contamination from livestock operations and animal waste, every step we take to limit pharmaceuticals in water benefits us all.
Protecting aquatic environments and preserving clean drinking water should be a priority for everyone. Choose AquaBliss for an easy and effective solution to reduce pharmaceuticals and other harmful substances from your water.
Protect your loved ones and help make a positive impact on the environment. Visit our website today to learn more about how AquaBliss can transform your daily shower experience and provide you with the purest water possible.
