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Medication dumping at SNFs not a sustainable solution

LTC Liability Monitor, September 8, 2005

It is common practice for many healthcare facilities, especially nursing homes, to dispose of hundreds of unused pills, creams, and fluids by simply flushing them down the drain. This method is inexpensive, perfectly legal, and less of a hassle than biohazard bags or incineration. But water quality researchers nationwide have expressed concern about the method's long-term safety, reported The [Fort Collins] Coloradoan.

This concern is spurring a call for strict regulation of medication disposal by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Although "it's pretty well understood there are low, sustained levels of pharmaceuticals and organic contaminants in [the country's] surface waters," according to the U.S. Geological Survey, scientists have determined these low levels could over time put humans, animals, and aquatic life at risk. Humans, specifically, could develop endocrine system problems and resistance to certain antibiotics, The Coloradoan reported. The EPA is investigating the possibilities; future regulation could hold SNFs and other healthcare facilities accountable for improper disposal methods.

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