DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20163279
Published: 2017-01-10

Ecopharmacology: an issue that needs urgent action

Majid Farooq, Manoj Goyal

Abstract


In recent years great concern has been expressed over the potential impact of pharmaceuticals in the environment. Pharmaceutical from various therapeutic classes have increasing being detected in the environment typically at low concentration in surface water. This has lead to development of ecopharmacovigilance (EPV). World Health Organization (WHO) defines eco pharmacovigilance as the science and activities associated with the detection, evaluation, understanding, and prevention of adverse effects of pharmaceuticals in the environment. Compared to the west EPV in India is still in infancy, there is no formal frame-work to monitor for potential adverse effects of the pharmaceuticals on the environment.

Full Text:

PDF

References


Holm G, Snape JR, Murray-Smith R, Talbot J, Taylor D, Sörme P. Implementing ecopharmacovigilance in practice: challenges and potential opportunities. Drug Safety. 2013;36(7):533-46.

Revannasiddaiah N, Kumar CA. India's progress towards ecopharmacovigilance. Drug Discov Ther. 2015;3(31):62-8.

Medhi B, Sewal RK. Ecopharmacovigilance: an issue urgently to be addressed. Indian J Pharmacol. 2012;44(5):547-9.

Srivastava B, Sinha AJ, Gaur S, Gaur S, Palaria U. Eco pharmaco vigilance: its importance and challenges. J Pharm Biomed Sci. 2014;3(3):81-7.

Boxall ABA. The environmental side effects of medication. EMBO Reports. 2004;5(12):1110-6.

Kϋmmerer K. Significance of antibiotics in the environment. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2003;52:5-7.

Lubick N. Drugs in the environment: do pharmaceutical take-back programs make a difference? Environ Health Perspect. 2010;118(5):A210-214.

Kϋmmerer K. The presence of pharmaceuticals in the environment due to human use: present knowledge and future challenges. J Environ Manage. 2009;90(8):2354-66.

WHO/DAP. Guidelines for Safe disposal of unwanted pharmaceuticals in and after emergencies. interagency guidelines. World Health Organization; 1999.




Bookmark and Share