We have compiled a list of interesting documents on the topic of pharmaceutical pollution. For any other enquiries, please contact us.
Further reading
Pharmaceutical pollution (generally):
Academic article: Broadening the perspective on reducing pharmaceutical residues in the environment, by Helwig et al. (2023) Environmental toxicology and chemistry
Policy document: Pharmaceutical strategy for Europe by the EU Commission (2020)
White paper: Reducing the environmental impact of medicines from procurement to disposal, by the European Health Management Association (2022)
Academic article: Human health and ocean pollution, by Landrigan et al. (2020) Annals of Global Health
Report: Bracing for Superbugs: Strengthening environmental action in the One Health response to antimicrobial resistance, by the United Nations Environment Programme (2023)
Working Group 1 (Population health, awareness and behaviour):
Academic article: Is an ounce of prevention worth a pound of cure? A cross-sectional study of the impact of English public health grant on mortality and morbidity, by Martin et al. (2020) BMJ Open
Academic article: ‘A pill for every ill’: Explaining the expansion in medicine use, by Busfield (2010). Social Science and Medicine
Report: A framework for NHS action on social determinants of health, by The Health Foundation (2022)
Working Group 2 (Pharmaceutical design, manufacture and licensing):
White paper: Recommendations for greener human medicines in the revision of the EU general pharmaceuticals legislation, by Stenuick (2022) Healthcare Without Harm
Academic article: Proposal for regulatory risk mitigation measures for human pharmaceutical residues in the environment, by Moermond et al. (2023) Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology
Report: EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, by the European Commission (2020)
Report: White Paper on Circular Economy, by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (2020)
Working Group 3 (Healthcare decision-making):
Report: Procuring for greener pharma, by Healthcare Without Harm (2023)
Policy brief: Environmentally-informed pharmaceutical prescribing in Scotland, by Alejandre et al. (2022) Centre of Expertise for Waters
Report: Good for you, good for us, good for everybody. A plan to reduce overprescribing to make patient care better and safer, support the NHS, and reduce carbon emissions, by the Department of Health and Social Care, UK Government (2021)
Report: Eco-directed and Sustainable Prescribing of Pharmaceuticals in the United Kingdom, by Alejandre et al (2023)
Working Group 4 (Pharmacy sales and disposal):
Academic article: Household disposal of pharmaceuticals: attitudes and risk perception in a UK sample, by Watkins et al. (2022) Journal of Materials Cycle and Waste Management
Report: Pharmaceutical Waste Reduction in the NHS, by NHS England (2015)
Report: Environmental Sustainability within Pharmacy, by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (2023)
Working Group 5 (Environmental monitoring and management):
Academic article: Pharmaceutical pollution of the world’s rivers, by Wilkinson et al. (2022) PNAS
Academic article: Pharmacology beyond the patient – the environmental risks of human drugs, by Gunnarsson et al. (2019) Environment International
Academic article: The removal of pharmaceuticals during wastewater treatment: can it be predicted accurately? By Comber et al. (2019) Science of the total Environment