Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Environmental Conservation and Management, Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Engineering Sustainability, Cyprus Open University, P.O.Box 12794, 2252, Latsia, Nicosia, Cyprus.
Department of Research and Development, I.E.S.T - EnviTech Ltd, (Institute of Environmental Technology and Sustainable Development), P.O.Box 34073, 5309, Paralimni, Cyprus.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2018 Sep;25(27):26725-26735. doi: 10.1007/s11356-017-9551-y. Epub 2017 Jun 25.
The increase in medicine and drug consumption have resulted in identifying these emerging pollutants in all aquatic compartments, ranging from surface water and groundwater resources to the marine environment. Pharmaceuticals are an indispensable part of life today. A large number of pharmaceuticals are used in a daily basis in the treatment, prevention, cure or diagnosis of diseases or to otherwise enhance people's physical or mental well-being. This paper focuses on the evaluation of the attitude of citizens in Cyprus regarding the disposal of pharmaceuticals as well as to identify the main reasons why pharmaceutical wastes are produced. The result indicted that in Cyprus, there is lack of data regarding the amount of pharmaceutical wastes that are discarded into household waste and sinks. The survey audit showed that 86.6% of men's and 83.3% of women's used pharmacy with or without doctor's recipe. Social behaviour is considered to be the most significant reason that pharmaceutical are produced. The results indicated that, citizens mainly keep unused medicines and drugs at home in case they are needed again as well as patients use to cut-off or to reduce their treatment in case that on the first 3-6 days they feel better. The survey indicated that the main disposal method of unused or expired medicines and drugs is in household waste followed from the sink and the toilet. Furthermore, the main disposal solution of unused or expired medicines and drugs remain the household bin as well as the sewage system (sink or toilet), while a percentage more than 55% of the participants indicated that they will follow a specific waste management program if existing in place. Moreover, in order to reduce the production of pharmaceutical wastes, specific prevention activities must be considered.
医药和药物消费的增加导致这些新兴污染物在所有水生环境中都有发现，包括地表水和地下水资源以及海洋环境。药品是当今生活不可或缺的一部分。大量药品每天用于治疗、预防、治愈或诊断疾病，或以其他方式增强人们的身心健康。本文重点评估塞浦路斯公民对处理药品的态度，并确定产生药品废物的主要原因。结果表明，塞浦路斯缺乏关于家庭垃圾和水槽中丢弃的药品废物数量的数据。调查审计显示，86.6%的男性和 83.3%的女性在没有医生处方的情况下使用过药房。社会行为被认为是产生药品的最主要原因。结果表明，公民主要将未使用的药物和药品保存在家中，以备再次需要，以及患者在感到好转的前 3-6 天内自行减少或停止治疗。调查显示，未使用或过期的药品和药物的主要处理方法是家庭垃圾，其次是水槽和厕所。此外，未使用或过期的药品和药物的主要处理方法仍然是家庭垃圾桶和污水系统（水槽或厕所），而超过 55%的参与者表示，如果有特定的废物管理计划，他们将遵循该计划。此外，为了减少药品废物的产生，必须考虑采取具体的预防措施。
