This PowerPoint presentation is owned by the students who created it and is posted here for example purposes only. - GC team

Assessing the environmental risks of man-made drugs By: Megan Rourk, Alexandra Osetek, Christopher Chiles

Introduction Our hypothesis Importance The BIGGER picture Predictions Results Discussion Conclusion lamisil.jpg&imgrefurl= usat_x.htm&h=180&w=180&sz=9&hl=en&start=14&um=1&tbnid=4X2zVFhwThxFRM:&tbnh=101&tbnw=101&prev=

Main Research Question Is the current production and use of man-made drugs environmentally sustainable? Importance: Pharmaceutical waste is disposed of in ecosystems effecting plants, animals, soil, surface and ground water Conventional sewage plants do not remove the drug waste, and there can be many unintended consequences Aquatic life Human drinking water Agricultural water use

the BIGGER picture Unknown magnitude of consequences Hard to measure Negative Global Implications Water soluble pharmaceuticals add unnatural toxicity to ecological cycles disrupting Drinking Water Soil Human and Animal Consumption

Routes of Release of Human and Veterinary Pharmaceuticals “Environmental Department, University of York”. 2006

Predictions Pharmaceuticals have different effects on the environment depending on certain factors: Degradability Volatility Water- solubility

Advertising

More (problems?) Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible: changes in vision such as loss of vision, blurred vision, eyes being more sensitive to light, or trouble telling the difference between blue and green objects or objects having a blue color tinge to them difficulty breathing, shortness of breath chest pain or palpitations prolonged erection (lasting longer than 4 hours) skin rash, itching Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome): diarrhea dizziness flushing headache indigestion nasal congestion

Stella Model

Input of drug resides in aquatic ecosystems Sewage treatment does not remove all chemicals Longer half-lives + non-volatile nature Cannot escape the aquatic realm Pharmaceuticals affect the pH and the concentration of heavy metals in the soil Adversely affect agriculture

Not possible to track the entire effects of pharmaceuticals drugs in the biogeochemical cycle Proper disposal of pharmaceuticals is highly encouraged Label warnings are necessary In general, research and public education of this issue should be high priority