According to a study published in June 2018 in the United States of America – Pharmaceutical manufacturing facility discharges can substantially increase the pharmaceutical load to U.S. wastewaters – drug manufacturing facilities are an important source of environmental pollution.
Full Answer
Why is wastewater from pharmaceutical manufacturing bad for the environment?
Wastewater produced in pharmaceutical manufacturing, in particular, often contains high levels of contaminants. A study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) showed higher concentrations of pharmaceuticals in the discharge from treatment plants that received wastewater from drug manufacturers.
How can in-house wastewater treatment and recycling help pharma manufacturers?
Establishing an in-house wastewater treatment and recycling process will allow pharma manufacturers to address rising operational costs while increasing profitability. Recycling and reusing fluids internally is proven to reduce maintenance, decrease haul-away costs, and prolong the usage of fluids.
Does pollution from manufacturing promote drug-resistant microorganisms?
Although pollution from manufacturing is less widespread, discharges that promote the development of drug-resistant microorganisms can still have global consequences. Risk management also differs between production and excretion in terms of accountability, incentive creation, legal opportunities, substitution possibilities and costs.
Why do you need a wastewater treatment plant?
Having a water or wastewater treatment process in place means when the time comes to dispose of wastewater and fluids, companies will have a lower volume to discard, or a concentrated stream they can treat themselves for lower cost handling at the POTW. Compared to other industries, pharmaceutical wastewater treatment is often more intensive.
Do wastewater treatment plants remove pharmaceuticals?
“Conventional wastewater treatment processes don't eliminate pharmaceuticals and hormones as effectively, resulting in the release of low levels of these compounds into the environment,” says Pedersen. “The more advanced processes, on the other hand, do a pretty good job at removing compounds.”
How does the production of medicine affect the environment?
Drug production leaves its mark on the environment in several ways. It results in large-scale carbon emissions, water depletion, pollution and biodiversity loss. Each of these effects has monumental short- and long-term implications for all life on Earth. It's vital to acknowledge and understand the consequences.
How does pharmaceutical waste affect the environment?
Pharmaceuticals in the environment is a growing problem of global concern. Drugs taken by humans and animals find their way into rivers, lakes and even drinking water and can have devastating effects on both aquatic and human health.
What happens to medicines and other pharmaceuticals in waste streams?
In hospitals, pharmaceutical waste is generally discarded down the drain or landfilled, except chemotherapy agents, which are often sent to a regulated medical waste incinerator.
Do pharmaceutical companies pollute the environment?
The pharmaceutical industry is responsible for some serious environmental impacts beyond greenhouse gas emissions. For example, the waste water from drug manufacturers in Patancheru, India has left river sediment, ground water and drinking water polluted.
What are the three main environmental factors that can affect medicines?
Conclusion: Since poor lighting, high noise levels, and inappropriate room temperature were determined as the most contributing environmental factors to medication errors, it is recommended that managers and authorities of hospitals prevent and mitigate medication errors and improve patient's safety by modifying ...
How do pharmaceuticals contribute to water pollution?
Pharmaceutical plants are often incapable of filtering out all the chemical compounds used in their manufacturing process and as such, the chemicals will seep into the surrounding freshwater systems and eventually into the oceans, lakes, streams, and rivers.
How does pharma pollute water?
The chemicals in these drugs end up in waterways after being excreted from the body or when unused medication is flushed down the toilet. Most municipal sewage treatment facilities do not remove the pharmaceutical compounds from your water, and major upgrades would be required to do so.
What waste is generated by pharmaceutical industry?
Generally Pharmaceutical waste may include: • Expired drugs • Patients' discarded personal medications; • Waste materials containing excess drugs (syringes, IV bags, tubing, vials, etc.); • Waste materials containing chemotherapy drug residues; • Open containers of drugs that cannot be used; • Containers that held ...
Why pharmaceutical waste is hazardous?
One of the basic reasons why this kind of waste must be disposed off properly is because it contains compounds that are considered a hazard to a healthy environment. Furthermore, since most pharmaceutical chemicals don't get removed from the waste-water, they tend to enter aquatic environments via the sewage system.
Is pharmaceutical waste hazardous?
According to the HSE, Hazardous waste is any waste that 'contains substances or has properties that might make it harmful to human health or the environment'. By that definition, pharmaceutical waste can be classified as hazardous.
How can pharmaceutical waste be reduced in water?
There are also ways that you can take action to reduce pharmaceutical waste in water. Advocating for improved technology at water treatment plants, stricter regulations on agricultural antibiotics and higher water standards can help reduce the levels of waste in our waters.
How much of wastewater is released into the environment?
According to the 2017 United Nations World Water Development Report, more than 80 percent of all the wastewater from industry, homes, cities and agriculture is released into the environment without adequate treatment and flows back into the ecosystem via lakes, rivers, and other bodies of surface water. This process repeats every day across the planet, polluting the environment while losing valuable nutrients and other recoverable materials in the process.
What does it mean to have a water treatment process in place?
Having a water or wastewater treatment process in place means when the time comes to dispose of wastewater and fluids, companies will have a lower volume to discard, or a concentrated stream they can treat themselves for lower cost handling at the POTW.
What is the Clean Water Act?
Compliance with ever-tightening federal regulations for wastewater treatment, handling and disposal — such as the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) — requires pharma companies to be focused on the wastewater issue.
What is the federal wastewater pretreatment regulation?
The federal wastewater pretreatment regulations for pharma, which are addressed in 40 CFR Part 439, establish standards for fermentation products, extraction products, chemical synthesis products, mixing/compounding and formulation, and research.
How does an oil water separator work?
The clean water is discharged by gravity or through an optional discharge pump to the sewer, or back into the process . Oil water separators reduce haul-away costs up to 90 percent, decrease water consumption, and increase life of soluble oils, washwater, rinse water and pressure wash-down water (or process water). 5.
Is pharmaceutical waste a contaminant?
Wastewater produced in pharmaceutical manufacturing, in particular, often contains high levels of contaminants. A study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) showed higher concentrations of pharmaceuticals in the discharge from treatment plants that received wastewater from drug manufacturers. Effluent received from pharmaceutical facilities ...
Do pharmaceutical companies have to pay for wastewater treatment?
Pharma manufacturers who do not treat and re cycle their wastewater must pay for handling, trucking and treatment by their local Publicly Operated Treatment Works (POTW). These costs can vary based on local water supplies, fuel prices, trucking prices, and the edicts of the POTW. Adding to the expense is the cost of clean water required ...
What is medical marijuana?
Medical marijuana focuses on CBD extraction and processing. This is the active ingredient in cannabis that provides the calming and healing effects that help with certain medical conditions. It does not have the psychoactive impact that THC does, or the “high” that people look for in recreational use. These medical marijuana facilities undergo a stricter, more controlled process with less pesticides, measured nutrient usage, and less environmental impact variability due to the use of grow houses. Therefore, these medical-grade facilities tend to be more regulated and have better-established Good Manufacturing Practices in place.
What is the first step in a cannabis facility?
In summary, knowledge of local regulations and the permitting process for cannabis facilities is a good first step toward recognizing a potential impact to your area or wastewater operations. Research into what others may be employing to mitigate waste generation and handle cannabis process water successfully is helpful. Finally, knowing the processes being utilized by any facility requesting permitting to discharge, either onsite or to a community system, can provide clues and information on potential wastewater characteristics and challenges.
Motivating Factors
The Path to Sustainability and Profitability
- Regardless of the motivation, it makes sense for pharma companies to adopt a formal wastewater treatment and reuse policy, especially from a monetary standpoint because wastewater disposal is expensive. Pharma manufacturers who do not treat and recycle their wastewater must pay for handling, trucking and treatment by their local Publicly Operated Treat…
The Future of Wastewater Management Is Now
- As drug developers intensify production efforts to meet the growing demand for pharmaceuticals, advancements in process water and wastewater management practices must also occur to protect both the environment and the bottom line. If practices go unchanged, the industry’s high rate of water consumption will contribute to a global water shortage. Fu...