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 [HealthNews]For safety's sake, follow protocols when disposi |
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healthaegis
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作者：healthaegis 在 海归商务 发贴, 来自【海归网】 http://www.haiguinet.com
For safety's sake, follow protocols when disposing pharmaceuticals
https://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070510/SPECIALSECTION/705100380
Are there hormones, antibiotics, cancer chemotherapy and other potentially harmful drugs lurking in our environment? The federal government recently raised questions about the impact of disposing unused pharmaceuticals.
In the past, we generally were advised to flush unused and expired pharmaceuticals down the toilet. However, this could result in pharmaceutical waste downstream in the Missouri River from our sewage treatment plant or potentially could result in pharmaceuticals leaching into our groundwater from septic systems. Although there is no direct evidence linking pharmaceutical waste to harm in humans, the uncertainty has caused the government to issue guidelines regarding the proper disposal of pharmaceutical products.
Indiscriminately discarding antibiotics into our environment might cause antibiotic resistance to develop in certain disease-causing bacteria. In addition to environmental concerns, children and pets could consume improperly discarded drugs and be harmed.
Not properly discarding narcotics or other drugs can result in addictive substances landing in the hands of drug dealers and abusers.
The federal guidelines recommend that unused, unneeded or expired medications be taken out of their original containers and mixed with undesirable substances, such as used coffee grounds or cat litter. The guidelines then recommend that the mixture be put in impermeable, nondescript containers, such as empty cans or sealable bags and thrown in the trash.
Pharmaceuticals are to be flushed down the toilet only if the accompanying patient information specifically says it's safe to do so.
Some communities have pharmaceutical take-back programs that allow the public to bring in old medications to a central location for safe disposal.
Another area of concern is the safe disposal of medical waste such as used syringes and lancets. In the United States, more than 1 billion syringes, needles and lancets will be used each year for diabetes care. Used syringes and lancets can carry the risk of transmitting serious viral diseases such as hepatitis and HIV.
Garbage collectors, janitors and housekeepers are at risk if used syringes and needles are simply discarded into trash cans.
It is advised to always discard used syringes, needles and lancets in special containers called sharps containers that are designed to hold them. They can be purchased in some pharmacies or from stores that handle medical supplies.
If this isn't an option, used syringes should be discarded into strong, nonbreakable plastic or metal containers so the needles can't poke through.
The containers should have small openings on the top with a cap or lid that screws on tightly.
When the containers are full, the lids should be taped on with heavy-duty tape for extra security. The secured container can then be discarded in the trash.
The Becton Dickinson company offers a convenient service. Customers are supplied with sharps containers. When they are full, the containers are secured in special packaging and then mailed to a special facility for proper destruction.
作者：healthaegis 在 海归商务 发贴, 来自【海归网】 http://www.haiguinet.com
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 [HealthNews]For safety's sake, follow protocols when disposi -- healthaegis - (3334 Byte) 2007-5-15 周二, 03:03 (1784 reads)
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