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Dangers of Flushing Drugs

AS MORE PEOPLE TAKE MORE MEDICATIONS, DRUG POLLUTION HAS BECOME AN INCREASING HAZARD. FLUSHED DOWN THE DRAIN, PRESCRIPTIONS ENTER OUR WATERWAYS IN HUGE AMOUNTS, ENDANGERING FISH AND PEOPLE.  LEARN MORE ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.  

MANY PEOPLE DISPOSE OF OLD PRESCRIPTIONS BY FLUSHING THEM DOWN THE TOILET.  BUT THOSE DRUGS MAKE THEIR WAY TO SEWAGE TREATMENT CENTERS THAT DO A GREAT JOB WITH WHAT’S SUPPOSED TO BE IN SEWAGE, BUT ALMOST NOTHING TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.  FROM THERE THE WATER GOES BACK TO LAKES AND RIVERS.  IT’S LED TO FROGS ON PROZAC, AND MALE FISH TURNED FEMALE BY BIRTH CONTROL PILLS. WORSE, MANY MUNICIPALITIES PULL THEIR DRINKING WATER FROM THESE SOURCES, SO IT’S GETTING BACK INTO PEOPLE.

FORTUNATELY, THERE IS A SIMPLE SOLUTION – INSTEAD OF FLUSHING OLD MEDICATIONS, TAKE THEM TO A HOSPITAL OR POLICE STATION, WHERE THEY DISPOSE OF DRUGS SAFELY.         

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

To learn more, read the Utah State University Extension Fact Sheet.