Published May 30, 2025 | Version v1
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Pharmaceutical Waste: Sources, Impacts, and Mitigation Strategies

Authors/Creators

  • 1. Department of Pharmacy, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University, Piparia, Vadodara-391760, Gujarat

Description

The pharmaceutical industry, while vital for global health, contributes significantly to environmental degradation through diverse waste streams. These include hazardous chemicals, expired drugs, contaminated packaging, and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) released during production and disposal. Waste generated at various stages—from research and manufacturing to consumer-level disposal—poses risks to ecosystems and public health due to persistence, bioactivity, and incomplete treatment in conventional systems. This chapter provides an in-depth overview of pharmaceutical waste types, their sources, and the environmental implications. It further explores future needs in waste management, highlighting the role of green chemistry, circular economy models, advanced remediation technologies, regulatory harmonization, and public education. Achieving sustainable pharmaceutical waste handling requires systemic innovation and multi-sectoral collaboration aligned with global sustainability goals.

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References

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