Released July 23, 2010
LITTLE ROCK - Flushing and burning unused prescription medications can add pollution to the air and water, according to Margaret Harris, Ph.D., an assistant professor of health with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
Harris is part of the multi-agency Be MedWise Arkansas program, which provides education on proper handling of prescription drugs and supplements.
"If you have unused prescription medications, a good option is to see if your community law enforcement agency has a 'take-back' program," Harris said. "The agencies have means to dispose of the medication in such a way that the environment isn't harmed."
The federal Environmental Protection Agency said in May that it was evaluating potential risks associated with pharmaceuticals on public health and aquatic life. Studies in the past few years have discovered dozens of medications or byproducts in treated water from public water systems as well as the local watersheds.
--continued on University of Arkansas Extension news
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