The Risks of Disposing of Medication in Drains
Many people mistakenly think that flushing medication is harmless. They assume pills break down quickly, but this isn't accurate. Instead, many medications can contaminate the water supply, creating environmental and health risks.
Flushed medications don't vanish. They may remain intact or partially dissolve, polluting water sources. Treatment systems can eliminate most pathogens, but they aren't designed to remove pharmaceuticals. Drug traces can persist in drinking water and the environment, harming aquatic creatures and affecting people.
Medication in water can interfere with animal hormones, causing breeding problems and declining populations. It can also contribute to antibiotic resistance, as remaining antibiotics in water impact bacteria.
