In October, 2010, the EPA issued an official email indicating that Phentermine salts should not be considered hazardous under the listing for Phentermine, P046.
(click here for additional information)
In a letter dated November 4, 2011, the EPA issued additional guidance for the management of containers that have held P-listed pharmaceuticals, most commonly warfarin (P001) and nicotine (P075).
(click here for additional information)
Effective immediately, PharmEcology has re-categorized most of Bracco Diagnostics' barium sulfate contrast medium products. Based upon the latest information we have received from Bracco Diagnostics, PharmEcology now recommends that these products be disposed of as non-hazardous pharmaceutical waste.
(click here for additional information)
As part of our ongoing tracking of flu vaccines, PharmEcology presents updated disposal guidelines for this year's seasonal flu vaccines, which provides immunization for the H1N1 flu in addition to the current strains of the seasonal flu. These vaccines are now widely available and vaccination programs are well underway.
(click here for additional information)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published a draft guidance document proposing Best Management Practices for Unused Pharmaceuticals at Health Care Facilities. The EPA published this document because scientists have identified numerous pharmaceutical compounds at discernable concentrations in our nation's rivers, lakes, and drinking waters and the Agency believes existing practices at medical facilities contribute to this problem by disposing large quantities of unused pharmaceuticals down the drain. (click here for additional information)
NIOSH, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, has published an update to their 2004 alert: Preventing Occupational Exposures to Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs in Health Care Settings. This latest update adds 21 drugs to Appendix A, the list of drugs considered hazardous. The additions are either new drugs or existing drugs that have had new warnings between 2004 and 2007.
(click here for additional information)
As part of our ongoing tracking of flu vaccines, PharmEcology presents updated disposal guidelines for this year's seasonal flu vaccines, which provides immunization for the H1N1 flu in addition to the current strains of the seasonal flu. These vaccines are now widely available and vaccination programs are well underway.
(click here for additional information)
Recently, several of our clients have asked us to advise them on how to properly dispose of their H1N1 vaccines and their seasonal flu vaccines. In researching flu vaccines, we have seen conflicting recommendations regarding their proper disposal. In response to these requests and to the different recommendations we're seeing, we're providing this summary of the disposal considerations as a service to our clients and to the broader healthcare community. (click here for additional information)
PharmEcology Services, WM Healthcare Solutions, Inc is pleased to announce that our PharmE® Waste Wizard and our PharmE® Inventory Analysis now present consolidated DOT shipping descriptions to make it simpler for our customers to manage their pharmaceutical waste. (click here for additional information)
The US Environmental Protection Agency has published a list of 104 chemicals under consideration for possible regulation under the Safe Dringking Water Act. This is the EPA's third Contaminant Candidate List since the Safe Drinking Water Act was amended in 1996. For the first time, the list of potential contaminants includes several widely used pharmaceuticals. (click here for additional information)
On August 10th, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed several key environmental bills, including one that will prohibit health care institutions from flushing unused medications into public wastewater. Other legislation will track water usage by high capacity wells throughout the state. (click here for additional information)
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is requesting comment on proposed additions and deletions to the list of hazardous drugs. (click here for additional information)
WM Healthcare Solutions, Inc. (WMHS), a subsidiary of Waste Management, Inc., announced today that it has purchased substantially all of the assets of PharmEcology® Associates, LLC. (click here for additional information)
For more information on what this means to PharmEcology customers click here.
PharmEcology Associates, LLC announces a wide-ranging initiative to help organizations more effectively and efficiently manage their pharmaceutical waste. These enhancements come as the general public is becoming increasingly sensitive to the issue of drugs in our water supply and as many organizations accelerate efforts to implement pharmaceutical waste management solutions. (click here for additional information)
PharmEcology learned today that its request for an extension of the deadline, along with other organizations, has been granted. The new deadline is March 4, 2009. (click here for additional information)
The Drug Free Water Act of 2009 was introduced on January 7, 2009 by Representative Candice Miller of Michigan.. (click here for additional information)
DEA published the long-awaited request for comment on the Disposal of Controlled Substances by Persons Not Registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration in the Federal Register on Wednesday, January 21, 2009. (click here for additional information)
As of January 12, 2009, EPA may now assess fines up to $37,500 per violation per day for certain RCRA violations. . (click here for additional information)
The EPA is considering adding hazardous pharmaceutical waste to the Universal Waste Rule and asked for hospitals to provide information about how this would affect them. (click here for additional information)
To help provide a streamlined system for disposing hazardous pharmaceutical waste that is protective of public health and the environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to add hazardous pharmaceutical waste to the Universal Waste Rule. (click here for additional information)
Charlotte Smith, president of PharmEcology Associates, LLC, announced today that Northern Michigan Regional Hospital of Petoskey, MI is the first hospital to achieve “PharmE® Certification.” (click here for additional information)
Last Thursday, the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment heard pollution experts call for a new national approach to monitor the country's waters for the presence of hundreds of recently detected contaminants ranging from drugs to fire retardents. The congressional hearing immediately follows the release of Associated Press investigative reports indicating thet health facilities flush 250 million pounds of drugs down the drain and that more than 46 million Americans have detectable levels of pharmaceuticals in their drinking water. (click here for additional information)
With a series of press releases last week, the Associated Press provided additional details about the emerging problem of trace pharmaceuticals in our nation's water supply. These reports are follow-up to the original AP series last March which triggered both federal and local legislative hearings into a problem which the public is becomming more aware of by the day. (click here for additional information)
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)
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)
"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)
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)
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)
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)
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