Many pharmaceuticals such as Vicodin, Adderall, Demerol, Hydrocodone, MS Contin, Ambien can be toxic contaminants to the environment if they are not disposed of properly. These chemicals disrupt the endocrine system by mimicking hormones such as the estrogen and binding to their receptors (Stone, 1994). This causes unwanted physiological responses within both humans and animals who come in contact with the contaminants. Examples of such physiological responses are: drop in human sperm counts, decline in the number of alligators born in a Florida lake, and feminized male suckerfish in Lake Superior (Stone, 1994). The problem is that most people dispose of unused pharmaceuticals by either flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in trash (Glassmeyer et al., 2009). People do not realize that this is an improper method of pharmaceutical disposal that has severe environmental and social ramifications. Pollutants are ubiquitous in ground and surface water due to improper disposal (Kotchen, 2009).

The proper way to dispose of unused pharmaceuticals to dropping them off at RxBoxes at police departments such as the one by the DuPage county Sheriff’s Office (“Alternate RxBox Disposal Locations,” 2015). Law enforcers prevent unused pharmaceuticals from falling into wrong hands and ensure that they do not contaminate the environment.

References:

“Alternate RxBox Disposal Locations.” City of Wheaton Illinois. City of Wheaton, 30 Mar. 2015. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.

Glassmeyer, Susan T., et. al. “Disposal practices for unwanted residential medications in the United States.” Environment International 35.3 (2009):                    n. pag. Web. 11 Oct. 2015.

Kotchen, Matthew, et. al. “Pharmaceuticals in wastewater: Behavior, preferences, and willingness to pay for a disposal program.” Journal of                                    Environmental Management 90.3 (2009): n. pag. Web. 11 Oct. 2015.

Stone, R. “Environmental Estrogens Stir Debate.” Science 265.5170 (1994): 308-10. JSTOR. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.