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Pharmaceuticals in the water cycle

Raise awareness among pharmacists and doctors about possible effects

Pharmaceuticals can more and more be found in the water cycle. They may affect the aquatic environment and sources for drinking water. Although treatment processes probably will stay necessary, raising awareness amongst doctors and pharmacists to this problem may help to decrease the problem. On Saturday Oct. 30th Roberta Hofman will give a workshop on this topic for the 25th anniversary of the VJA (Society of Young Pharmacists).

Pharmaceuticals can be found in the water cycle. A recent report by RIVM and Deltares shows that yearly about 190 tons of pharmaceuticals enter the Dutch water cycle via urine and faeces. These pharmaceuticals hardly are removed by wastewater treatment plants, and thus end up in surface water. Here they can affect the aquatic environment, and besides, they are a problem for drinking water production, if this surface water is used as a source. During recent years more and more research is carried out into effective treatment processes for both WWTP effluent and drinking water production.

Raise awareness among pharmacists and doctors

The Dutch government is in favour of a chain approach, involving all parties, including doctors and pharmacists. Awareness is raised that the famous Dutch expression ‘if it doesn’t help it won’t hurt’ isn’t valid. Apart from water treatment, it is important to try to also minimize the discharge of pharmaceuticals, e.g. by prescribing as little as possible. To help pharmacists to understand the urgency of the problem, it is addressed during conferences. Roberta Hofman gave a presentation at the autumn conference of the KNMP (Royal Dutch Society to Promote Pharmacy).

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Video – 07:55
Roberta Hofman gave a presentation at the autumn conference of the KNMP (Royal Dutch Society to Promote Pharmacy)

 

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