E-DRUG: Destruction of expired drugs (cont)
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Concerning the recent messages on destruction of expired
medicine, there are different ways expired drug can be
destroyed safely and in affordable way. A lot of care
need to taken when such task is performed so that it
will not affect or have any impact adversely on the
ecosystem.
One of the safe and affordable procedures in destruction
of pharmaceuticals is Burning. Other includes Burrying
and dilution of liquid medicine. Burning is a good
method of waste destruction which involves burning the
waste at red-heat in an incinerator. Incineration is
a way of solid waste destruction which is by burning the
waste at a very high temperature in an incinerating room.
The smoke of the burnt particles passes through
a tunnel and comes out at a very high altitude in the
atmosphere so that the smoke cannot come down and whatever
contains in the smoke will be destroyed by ultraviolet
rays in the atmosphere.
Expired drugs can also be burried.This can be
done by digging a very big hole and cover it back with
the earth later the drugs will decay and decompose into
its constituent elements after their half-life. But this
has to be done some kilometres away from an habitable area.
Liquid medicine can be destroyed by diluting in
dissolving solvent and discard it but care must be taken
not to do this near a river or any drinking stream so
that it does not contaminate aquatic life and drinking
water.
Regards,
Yomi Sijuade
Chemistry department
University of Ilorin
Kwara state
Nigeria.
Email: siju@nga.healthnet.org
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