Pharmaceutical Pollution- Causes, Prevalence and Possible Solutions

A recent paper, published in the Lancet Planetary Health, highlighted pharmaceutical pollution as an urgent issue that is often overlooked. The paper’s authors called for coordination from various stakeholders. This comes close on the heels of the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week in November.

What is pharmaceutical pollution?

• Pharmaceutical pollution, also known as drug pollution, is the pollution of the environment (especially water bodies) with pharmaceutical raw materials, drugs and their metabolites.
• These products are leaked into the environment during the manufacturing process, their use and also via improper disposal.
• This overlooked type of pollution is espe