Cover Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
ISSN:
0003-1488
Publication Date:
01 Mar 2018

  • 1. Daughton CG, Ternes TA. Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the environment: agents of subtle change? Environ Health Perspect 1999;107(suppl 6):907–938.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 2. Zhang Y, Geiben SU, Gal C. Carbamazepine and diclofenac: removal in wastewater treatment plants and occurrence in water bodies. Chemosphere 2008;73:1151–1161.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 3. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Pharmaceutical spending. Available at: data.oecd.org/healthres/pharmaceutical-spending.htm. Accessed Aug 10, 2017.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 4. American Pet Products Association. Pet industry market size & ownership statistics. Available at: www.americanpetproducts. org/press_industrytrends.asp. Accessed Aug 7, 2017.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 5. Downs CA, Kramarsky-Winter E, Segal R, et al. Toxicopathological effects of the sunscreen UV filter, oxybenzone (benzo-phenone-3), on coral planulae and cultured primary cells and its environmental contamination in Hawaii and the US Virgin Islands. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 2016;70:265–288.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 6. Ternes TA, Joss A, Siegrist H. Scrutinizing pharmaceuticals and personal care products in wastewater treatment. Environ Sci Technol 2004;38:392A–399A.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 7. Teleosis Institute website. Alameda County safe medication disposal initiative assessment: 2007–2014. Available at: www.teleosis.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/AlamedaCo_SafeMedDisposal_Assessnent-Final_h.pdf. Accessed Nov 8, 2015.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 8. Ruhoy IS, Daughton CG. Beyond the medicine cabinet: an analysis of where and why medications accumulate. Environ Int 2008;34:1157–1169.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 9. Memorandum of understanding. Available at: www.avma.org/PracticeManagement/Facilities/Documents/AVMA-NSGO_MOU.pdf. Accessed Dec 28, 2017.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 10. AVMA. Disposal of unwanted medications. Available at: www.avma.org/PracticeManagement/Facilities/Pages/disposal-unwanted-medications.aspx. Accessed Dec 28, 2017.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 11. Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and University of Illinois Extension. How to dispose of unwanted medicine and personal care products. Available at: web.extension.illinois.edu/unused meds/. Accessed Dec 28, 2017.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 12. AVMA. The AVMA's tips on how to dispose of pharmaceutical waste [video]. Available at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKp3phEtS2M. Accessed Dec 28, 2017.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 13. Rijken M, Beek S. About cats and dogs… reconsidering the relationship between pet ownership and health related outcomes in community-dwelling elderly. Soc Indic Res 2011;102:373–388.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 14. Berg BL, Lune H. Qualitative research methods for the social sciences. 8th ed. Boston: Pearson Education Inc, 2012.

  • 15. Robson MJ, Katsikeas CS, Bello DC. Drivers and performance outcomes of trust in international strategic alliances: the role of organizational complexity. Organ Sci 2008;19:647–665.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 16. Yeager DS, Krosnick JA, Chang L, et al. Comparing the accuracy of RDD telephone surveys and internet surveys conducted with probability and non-probability samples. Public Opin Q 2011;75:709–747.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 17. Schmidt WC. World-Wide Web survey research: benefits, potential problems, and solutions. Behav Res Methods Instrum Comput 1997;29:274–279.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 18. Tabachnick BG, Fidell LS. Using multivariate statistics. 3rd ed. New York: Harper Collins, 1996.

  • 19. Kogan LR, Schoenfeld-Tacher R, Viera AR. The Internet and health information: differences in pet owners based on age, gender, and education. J Med Libr Assoc 2012;100: 197–204.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 20. Bound JP, Voulvoulis N. Household disposal of pharmaceuticals as a pathway for aquatic contamination in the United Kingdom. Environ Health Perspect 2005;113:1705–1711.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 21. Washington Citizens for Resource Conservation. SoundStats report. January 2006. Available at: www.zerowastewashington.org/images/pdfs/med-survey.pdf. Accessed Aug 10, 2014.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 22. Musson SE, Townsend T, Seaburg K, et al. A continuous collection system for household pharmaceutical wastes: a pilot project. J Air Waste Manag Assoc 2007;57:828–835.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • 23. Masoner JR, Kolpin DW, Furlong ET, et al. Contaminants of emerging concern in fresh leachate from landfills in the conterminous United States. Environ Sci Process Impacts 2014;16:2335–2354.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

Advertisement

Editorial Type:
Special Report

Environmental stewardship practices of veterinary professionals and educators related to use and disposal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products

Jennifer Lam MS1,2, Samuel S. Chan PhD3,4, Flaxen D. L. Conway MS5, and David Stone PhD6
View More View Less
  • 1 Marine Resource Management Program, College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331.
  • | 2 Department of Oregon Sea Grant, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331.
  • | 3 Marine Resource Management Program, College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331.
  • | 4 Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331.
  • | 5 Marine Resource Management Program, College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331.
  • | 6 Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, College of Agricultural Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.252.5.596
Volume/Issue:
Volume 252: Issue 5
Online Publication Date:
01 Mar 2018
Restricted access
Reprints and Permissions Purchase Article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To document the environmental stewardship practices (decisions and actions regarding use and disposal) of pet and human pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) among pet-owning veterinary-care professionals (practicing veterinarians, veterinary students, and veterinary technicians and trainees) and environmental educators.

DESIGN Internet-based cross-sectional survey.

SAMPLE 191 pet owners (103 veterinary-care professionals and 88 environmental educators).

PROCEDURES Study participants were recruited by means of a 2-part internet survey distributed to veterinary-care professional and environmental educator networks of individuals residing in Washington state, Oregon, and southern California. Survey questions addressed motivators for environmental stewardship practices (ie, decisions and actions regarding use and disposal of pet and human PPCPs).

RESULTS Data were collected from 191 respondents; the response rate for individuals who self-selected to opt in was 78% (191/246). Of the 191 respondents, 42 (22%) stored pet pharmaceuticals indefinitely. The most common disposal method was the garbage (88/191 [46%]). Veterinary-care professionals counseled clients infrequently regarding environmental stewardship practices for PPCPs. Fifty-five percent (105/191) of all respondents preferred more environmentally friendly and clinically effective PPCPs.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results of the present survey emphasized the urgent need for improved educational resources to minimize environmental contamination from improper disposal of PPCPs. Environmental and economic motivations among pet owners in the veterinary-care and education professions indicate further opportunities for outreach and institutional support.

Supplementary Materials

    • Supplementary Appendix s1 (PDF 114 kb)

Contributor Notes

Address correspondence to Ms. Lam (lamj541@gmail.com).