Final answer:
Hazardous waste in pharmacies includes expired drugs, biomedical waste, and materials like batteries and pesticides which can be toxic, reactive, or corrosive. Improper disposal can lead to environmental pollution, with pharmaceutical residues entering aquatic environments mainly through excretion by patients. Both human and veterinary pharmaceuticals can bind to soil or be washed into water, making proper management and disposal essential.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hazardous Waste in Pharmacies
Hazardous waste generated in pharmacies can include expired pharmaceutical drugs, biomedical waste, and other materials like pesticides and certain chemicals. These substances can be dangerous when ingested or absorbed and may be reactive, ignitable, and corrosive. For example, waste clothing, plastic garden furniture, batteries, light bulbs, electrical appliances, and fertilizers are all components of hazardous waste. Additionally, toxic waste such as pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and certain medications are part of this category.
Pharmaceuticals can contribute to environmental pollution if they are disposed of improperly, such as being flushed down toilets or sinks. Most pharmaceutical residues that reach aquatic environments come from excretion by patients and may not be effectively filtered by sewage treatment plants. Proper disposal of these substances is critical to avoid potential harm to human health and the environment.
Pharmaceuticals from veterinary medicine that enter soil can also pose a different type of environmental hazard. Certain residues may strongly bind to soil particles, while more water-soluble ones can be washed into groundwater or surface waters. The proper management of these wastes is governed by regulations such as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) to minimize the risks associated with hazardous waste.