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DR.MED 2010-2011 Project
DR.MED Challenge
Team DR.MED is an acronym that we have selected for our team. Its initials stand for Deterrence Regarding Medication in Environmental Devastation. This phrase appropriately applies to the project developed by Team DR.MED, since we are concerned over the initiation and continuation of this situation in our community. In the course of time our community has had new changes all possessing pros and cons. However one of the most compelling and interesting subjects that Team DR.MED engaged intense curiosity in was "pharmaceutical disposal." The main goal of our project is to thoroughly acknowledge this unheralded, catastrophic environmental problem and consider appropriate "Deterrence Regarding Medication in Environmental Devastation," in our community and society, in general. Furthermore, we will explore the effectiveness of current options for disposal and develop a possible prototype for future consideration.
There exists evolving evidence that supports the premise that improper pharmaceutical disposal contributes to hazardous repercussions in our already fragile environment. Our preliminary research testifies to the fact that the act of throwing contaminants out into landfills or flushing them into sewer and septic systems, in particular medication (prescription and/or, non-prescription drugs), cosmetics, and other health products, has the potential to have a cumulative and profoundly disastrous effect on our environment. Since our city, which is the seventh largest in the nation, depends on our aquifers, over which large parts of our communities are built, this is of utmost concern for environmentalist and scientists, such as those that comprise Team DR.MED.
Over the past few years, our team members have all observed a dramatic increase in the number of new human and veterinary drugs, as well as in non-regulated herbal remedies and personal care products introduced to our community's marketplace. We have several huge metropolitan medical systems, an increasing number of retirement and nursing home facilities with an aging population taking increasingly more medications, and an abundance of medical clinics serving our ever increasing population. We also have a strong illicit drug presence, unfortunately. This led Team DR. MED to believe that the issue of improper drug disposal could convert to an important community controversy. In fact, we are correct. Our research shows us that the United States is the largest medical market in the world and is continually contributing to an abundant selection of new and advanced medicines to maintain, prevent, treat or restore an organism's health. Unfortunately, these pharmaceuticals are commonly disposed of improperly. Awareness of the scope of this situation in our community gives rise to concern over medicinal disposal from various industries, organizations, and associations and as well as by our community's individuals.
Despite public awareness, unfortunately among our community there exist many misconceptions pertaining to pharmaceutical disposal. As a result of these anomalies the addition to the already massive array of chemicals and other substances present in the environment has been increasing at an alarming rate. The aforementioned concern is justified by the fact that for approximately two decades now, scientists and environmentalists have been aware of pharmaceutical contaminate traces in the environment, yet the general public is practically unaware, especially when other environmental issues and serious economic challenges plague our daily existence and receive far more publicity to promote public awareness.
There is no doubt that improper medication disposal is an emerging and potentially very dangerous environmental issue. In a concise analysis, the controversy stated is primarily caused when pharmaceuticals are thrown into the garbage, washed down the sink or flushed down the toilet. Scientists and environmentalists believe that their chemical components may accumulate and be introduced into the water supply and soil causing catastrophic effects to our surroundings. The presence of these substances in our community's environment is emerging and has caused decisive apprehension among Team DR.MED and our immediate. Although the concentration levels of these products in the environment are quite low at this time, we must be aware that they may already be sufficient to cause adverse effects in the environment and to human health. For this critical issue we, as a community and society, must comprehend that this is potentially a controversial national and international issue. Consequently we must think critically to thoroughly understand and define the problem, understand what is being done already to deter this environmental dilemma, brainstorm possible solutions, choose those possible solutions that are within our means, build test-models and prototypes with essential design features that address the problems considering the constraints of various limiting factors and the criteria to be met. After testing our possible solutions we must commence with effective communication to elicit ideas for potential improvement, redesign as needed, and report our findings to better the world.
For Team DR. MED this is an ongoing project that we will dedicate our time and energies to through research, experimental design processes, engineering design processes leading to prototype development and testing, outreach to make a significantly broad impact on public awareness, and participation in the development of and contributions to advocacy groups.
There exists evolving evidence that supports the premise that improper pharmaceutical disposal contributes to hazardous repercussions in our already fragile environment. Our preliminary research testifies to the fact that the act of throwing contaminants out into landfills or flushing them into sewer and septic systems, in particular medication (prescription and/or, non-prescription drugs), cosmetics, and other health products, has the potential to have a cumulative and profoundly disastrous effect on our environment. Since our city, which is the seventh largest in the nation, depends on our aquifers, over which large parts of our communities are built, this is of utmost concern for environmentalist and scientists, such as those that comprise Team DR.MED.
Over the past few years, our team members have all observed a dramatic increase in the number of new human and veterinary drugs, as well as in non-regulated herbal remedies and personal care products introduced to our community's marketplace. We have several huge metropolitan medical systems, an increasing number of retirement and nursing home facilities with an aging population taking increasingly more medications, and an abundance of medical clinics serving our ever increasing population. We also have a strong illicit drug presence, unfortunately. This led Team DR. MED to believe that the issue of improper drug disposal could convert to an important community controversy. In fact, we are correct. Our research shows us that the United States is the largest medical market in the world and is continually contributing to an abundant selection of new and advanced medicines to maintain, prevent, treat or restore an organism's health. Unfortunately, these pharmaceuticals are commonly disposed of improperly. Awareness of the scope of this situation in our community gives rise to concern over medicinal disposal from various industries, organizations, and associations and as well as by our community's individuals.
Despite public awareness, unfortunately among our community there exist many misconceptions pertaining to pharmaceutical disposal. As a result of these anomalies the addition to the already massive array of chemicals and other substances present in the environment has been increasing at an alarming rate. The aforementioned concern is justified by the fact that for approximately two decades now, scientists and environmentalists have been aware of pharmaceutical contaminate traces in the environment, yet the general public is practically unaware, especially when other environmental issues and serious economic challenges plague our daily existence and receive far more publicity to promote public awareness.
There is no doubt that improper medication disposal is an emerging and potentially very dangerous environmental issue. In a concise analysis, the controversy stated is primarily caused when pharmaceuticals are thrown into the garbage, washed down the sink or flushed down the toilet. Scientists and environmentalists believe that their chemical components may accumulate and be introduced into the water supply and soil causing catastrophic effects to our surroundings. The presence of these substances in our community's environment is emerging and has caused decisive apprehension among Team DR.MED and our immediate. Although the concentration levels of these products in the environment are quite low at this time, we must be aware that they may already be sufficient to cause adverse effects in the environment and to human health. For this critical issue we, as a community and society, must comprehend that this is potentially a controversial national and international issue. Consequently we must think critically to thoroughly understand and define the problem, understand what is being done already to deter this environmental dilemma, brainstorm possible solutions, choose those possible solutions that are within our means, build test-models and prototypes with essential design features that address the problems considering the constraints of various limiting factors and the criteria to be met. After testing our possible solutions we must commence with effective communication to elicit ideas for potential improvement, redesign as needed, and report our findings to better the world.
For Team DR. MED this is an ongoing project that we will dedicate our time and energies to through research, experimental design processes, engineering design processes leading to prototype development and testing, outreach to make a significantly broad impact on public awareness, and participation in the development of and contributions to advocacy groups.