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. (click here for additional information)

On May 19th, 2008, EPA posted an interpretation letter which extends the previous 1994 exclusion of residual epinephrine in a used, discarded syringe to other P- and U- listed drugs, unless they exhibit another characteristic of hazardous waste, such as ignitability. (click here for additional information)

In response to last month's widely publicized reports of drugs in our water supply, the U.S. Senate's subcommittee on Transportation Safety, Infrastructure Security, and Water Quality held a hearing on "Pharmaceuticals in the Nation's Water: Assessing Potential Risks and Actions to Address the Issue." (click here for additional information)

March 15, 2008 – ASHP: EPA Inspections of Drug Disposal Practices Can Be a Learning Moment

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists continues it program to let pharmacists know that the Environmental Protection Agency is increasing its efforts to verify that hospitals are properly disposing of their pharmaceutical waste. (click here for additional information)

March 13, 2008 – AP Probe Finds Drugs In Our Water Supply

"Drugs In Our Water Supply" was the topic of discussion in three recent investigative articles published by the Associated Press. (click here for additional information)

October 23rd, 2007 – PharmEcology® Revises Status of EPI and Nitro in the PharmE® Waste Wizard

In response to USEPA's memo declaring that epinephrine salts are not P042 and therefore are not necessarily hazardous waste, PharmEcology has reviewed all epinephrine producte in its database and has determined that all formulated items are either hydrochloride, bitartrate, or borate salts of epinephrine. (click here for additional information)

October 16th, 2007 – EPA Declares Epinephrine Salts not P042!

EPA Region 1 issued a release today clarifying the scope of the hazardous waste listing for Epinephrine, Hazardous Waste Code P042. As described in the EPA release, EPA has determined that the scope of the P042 listing does not include epinephrine salts. (click here for additional information)

November 28, 2006 – PharmEcology® Announces New Relationship and Service Offerings at 2006 ASHP Clinical Midyear

PharmEcology Associates is pleased to announce the release of its PharmE® Policies and Procedures early in January, 2007 and the availability of expanded hazardous waste consulting services due to its partnership with SRC Services International, Inc. (click here for additional information)

At a time when healthcare facilities face a growing threat of liability for inappropriate disposal of pharmaceutical waste, PharmEcology® Associates, LLC, announced today that the U.S. Patent Office has issued their patent for a Pharmaceutical Hazardous Waste Identification and Management System, Patent # 7,096,161. (click here for additional information)

 

To encourage the incorporation of environmental law as it pertains to pharmaceuticals into pharmacy school curricula, PharmEcology® Associates is pleased to provide a 50 minute lecture and supporting materials, including a PowerPoint presentation with complete notes, for adaptation by Pharmacy Administration and Laboratory faculty. (click here for additional information)