The EPA issued a news release today declaring their continuing interest in understanding the potential impacts of pharmaceuticals in water. The four-pronged approach announced today includes: strengthening scientific knowledge; improving public understanding; building partnerships for stewardship; and taking regulatory action when appropriate.

Specifically, EPA is seeking comment on an Information Collection Request (ICR) that is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register next week. This study will focus on unused pharmaceutical disposal methods by hospitals, long-term care facilities, hospices and veterinary hospitals. The information gathered from the study will be used to inform future potential regulatory actions, and identify best management and proper disposal practices.

According to the news release, “The agency is also commissioning the National Academy of Sciences to provide scientific advice on the potential risk to human health from low levels of pharmaceutical residues in drinking water.” A workshop will be convened by the NAS on Dec. 11-12, 2008 to seek input from scientific experts on the topic.

Additional efforts include expanding ongoing studies involving pharmaceutical residues in fish tissues, determining a methodology to determine criteria for water quality to protect aquatic species, and examining the potential occurrence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in sewage sludge and wastewater.

To comment on the Information Collection Request and to learn more about these initiatives, please visit the EPA's site Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Water.

PharmEcology® Associates, LLC of Wauwatosa, WI was founded in 2000 and provides pharmaceutical waste management consulting services to the healthcare industry through seminars, on-site risk assessments, and other custom consulting services, in addition to the PharmE® Waste Wizard and PharmE® Inventory Analysis. Contact us at 414-292-3959 or email us at info@pharmecology.com .