Impact of Prescription Drugs on the Environment

Prescription drugs can affect the environment in numerous ways. From the time production begins until long after they are consumed, harmful chemicals have numerous opportunities to affect the soil, air, and water. This leads to environmental hazards and a decreased quality of life for those who come in contact with them.

The infographic below details some of the many ways modern prescription drugs are impacting the environment.  It also illustrates the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) current recommendations on the safe disposal of drugs and medications by consumers.

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Sources:

1. http://begreen.botw.org/2012/04/ditching-drugs-down-the-sink-and-into-the-drink/
2. http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/artificial-progestins-affect-fish-reproduction 
3. http://ecm.ncms.org/ERI/new/IRRpharm.htm
4. http://www.pharmamanufacturing.com/whitepapers/2005/emerging-contam-wkgrp_PharmWhitePaper.pdf
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_Persistent_Pharmaceutical_Pollutant
6. http://www.hcwh.org/us_canada/issues/pharmaceuticals/#effects
7. http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm101653.htm