DEVELOPMENT OF MODEL FOR HOUSEHOLD PHARMACEUTICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT

Abstract

The aim of this study is to develop a regional model of pharmaceutical waste management based on the principles of life cycle assessment. Its task is to minimize noticeable risks to human health and the environment, which are the consequence of an inadequate pharmaceutical waste management system. The research was grounded on basic eco-toxicological characteristics of ATC groups of pharmaceuticals. It is focused towards the development of a model for managing expired household medications, taking into account the fact that 90% of pharmaceutical waste is home-generated. The basis of the model comprises of multi-criteria optimization of pharmaceutical waste management process. The survey covered 2600 households in the area of the city of Nis, which is 5.24% of Serbia’s total population and 5.15% of the total number of households in Serbia. A special part of the questionnaire comprises the list of household medications according to the ATC (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical) classification system. In the households in the study area, there were 8.21 medication packages per household, of which 12.22% (slightly more than one package per household) were medicines which had expired. Based on results obtained, the projected quantities of expired medications in Serbia will be 74 920 kg / year. The main feature of a developed regional model is to allow the application of methods for treatment of small quantities of pharmaceutical waste, as recommended by the WHO. The model grounded on ATC classification system is compatible with the classification based on environmental and health risk assessment of pharmaceuticals.