PPCPs
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction
Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) are one of the arising pollutants in the environment particularly in the bodies of water. Pharmaceutical waste, according to the Health Care Management Manual of the Department of Health (DOH), refers to the expired, spilt and contaminated pharmaceutical products, drugs, vaccines and sera that are no longer required and need to be disposed appropriately while personal care products refer to the hygienic needs used by individuals such as soaps, shampoos, fragrances and etc.
Studies in US classified the pharmaceutical waste into two types, the hazardous and non-hazardous pharmaceutical waste. Improper disposal of these wastes will have an adverse impact not only to the environment but also to the human health. Using out-dated personal care products can cause irritation to the skin or worse skin cancer. Proper disposal of personal care products need attentions, because mishandling can affect the environment.
According to the Department of Health (DOH) Health Care Management Manual, “The management of health care waste in the country is driven by concerns about adverse health and environmental effects, uncertainty regarding regulations, and the negative perceptions by waste handlers.” Improper disposal of such materials especially medicines which consist of different chemicals could contaminate our environment.
According to Engr. Zoraida Cuadra, Health Care Waste Engineer of Department of Health, medical wastes are disposed accordingly to their type or classification. Even pharmaceutical drugs are differentiated according to its physical and toxic level. Since incineration is no longer allowed due to the harmful chemicals it will emit to the environment, DOH adopts new processes of disposing their pharmaceuticals such as inertization, encapsulation and pyrolysis, as indicated in “Health Care Management Manual Third Edition 2011” that will lessen the pollution it
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction
Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) are one of the arising pollutants in the environment particularly in the bodies of water. Pharmaceutical waste, according to the Health Care Management Manual of the Department of Health (DOH), refers to the expired, spilt and contaminated pharmaceutical products, drugs, vaccines and sera that are no longer required and need to be disposed appropriately while personal care products refer to the hygienic needs used by individuals such as soaps, shampoos, fragrances and etc.
Studies in US classified the pharmaceutical waste into two types, the hazardous and non-hazardous pharmaceutical waste. Improper disposal of these wastes will have an adverse impact not only to the environment but also to the human health. Using out-dated personal care products can cause irritation to the skin or worse skin cancer. Proper disposal of personal care products need attentions, because mishandling can affect the environment.
According to the Department of Health (DOH) Health Care Management Manual, “The management of health care waste in the country is driven by concerns about adverse health and environmental effects, uncertainty regarding regulations, and the negative perceptions by waste handlers.” Improper disposal of such materials especially medicines which consist of different chemicals could contaminate our environment.
According to Engr. Zoraida Cuadra, Health Care Waste Engineer of Department of Health, medical wastes are disposed accordingly to their type or classification. Even pharmaceutical drugs are differentiated according to its physical and toxic level. Since incineration is no longer allowed due to the harmful chemicals it will emit to the environment, DOH adopts new processes of disposing their pharmaceuticals such as inertization, encapsulation and pyrolysis, as indicated in “Health Care Management Manual Third Edition 2011” that will lessen the pollution it