why does the FDA prefer you not to flush old prescriptions down the toilet?

Question

I was wondering They prefer you not do flush old meds down the toilet in fear of it getting into our drinking supply and harming others in a fatal way... ok but what about poop and pee... arnt they worried or should they be MORE worried about drinking other peoples bodily fluids (EWWW))) with all the HIV and AIDs and HEP a b c and d going around the world today.... ewwww

Answer 1

The meds you refer to include hormones. Including things like oestrogen. If they dissolve in the water, it is hard to get them out as they are small molecules.

"Pee" you refer to is basically water, with some salts in, eg Na, and Ureic acid, which can be used as a substrate for some bacteria, so that is all cleaned up.

"poop" is also "eaten" by bacteria. It's filtered out, and digested, and sometimes used as manure on fields. There is nothing to worry about. Oh, and HIV, and HEP don't survive long outside of a host.

What the water boards are more concerned about is chlorine levels and bacteria contamination causing poisoning similar to food poisoning.

Answer 2

i have always discarded old medicine down the drain. it does not end up in landfills where wildlife can get a hold of it, the same goes for strays.
i have never heard of the fda telling folks not to flush their meds down the toilet.
as for aids, hep A, hep B and hep C? this is why we have correct facilities to filter and chemically alter our water supply for.
as for the hepatitis's, a is food borne, b is bodily fluids, c is by blood only and d you wont have unless you have hep B.
it has nothing really to do with water. most viruses do not last long outside the body, but you would have to worry about hcv the most as this type of virus is capable of reconstituting once fluid is involved. but again, water treatment facilities treat water so chances of a major outbreak of any disease spread through bodily waste is an almost 'null and void'.

Answer 3

There is a huge difference between biological contamination, bodily fluids and diseases, and chemical contamination, like medications. If it was easy to remove chemicals from water, we would all be drinking former salty water straight from the ocean.

The hormones that you may be flushing are a danger, but the bigger one is the antibiotics. This will lead to resistant strains.