Public attitudes and perceptions of risks to aquatic ecosystems related to pharmaceutical disposal

Session: Watershed and Lake Science Informing Management (1)

Victoria Campbell-Arvai, University of Michigan, [email protected]

Abstract

The environmental risks of pharmaceutical products are well-documented, including the implications for aquatic ecosystems like the Laurentian Great Lakes.  While water treatment facilities have the capacity to deal with a variety of aquatic pollutants, many pharmaceuticals (and related compounds) remain in the discharged effluent.  One solution is to improve technologies to detect and remove these compounds at the downstream (water treatment) end of the process.  However, there is also interest directed at ensuring that individuals and households properly disposal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products. While past studies have shown that citizens express concern about the negative environmental effects of pharmaceuticals, the limited behavioral research that exists suggests that the most common method of disposal is through household plumbing. This gap between attitudes and behaviors suggests an opportunity to learn more about public awareness of the issue, as well as perceived and actual barriers to proper disposal practices. The information gathered from this study of communities in Ohio's Lake Erie watershed will be used to identify more effective informational and behavioral interventions to ensure the proper disposal of pharmaceuticals.  The goal of these efforts is to reduce the volume of these compounds that reach local water treatment facilities and—ultimately—the Great Lakes.