A Threat to the Environment from Practice of Drug Disposal in Thailand

Abstract

Medicine contains active pharmaceutical ingredients which may do harm to the environment when dispersed into the environment. Once people have leftover medicines, if they discard them incorrectly, these medicines will contaminate the environment. This study determined how Thai villagers stored and disposed their medicines. A survey study of 331 subjects was conducted in 4 villages of Khon Kaen suburb by interviewing about what medications they stored, how they stored and how they managed their leftover medicines. The study showed that 89.4% of people kept some kind of drugs in their houses. Neuromuscular drugs were the most common group. The study revealed that there were leftover medicines at homes and they discarded them when unwanted. The most common method of discard was trashing in to rubbish bin. This method accounted for 81.4%, 64.6% and 66.6% of solid dosage form, liquid dosage form and external use drugs respectively. Liquid dosage forms were also put into the drainage system (7.4%). These disposal methods are discussed as non environmental friendly methods as the active pharmaceutical ingredients could eventually get into surface water and then may unconsciously get back to people through tap water and drinking water. This study alerts the concern for more appropriate means of drug disposal in Thailand.

Keywords

• drug disposal
• leftover drug
• pharmaceutical in wastewater
• waste