Abstract:
Discarding medications has become a common activity in society that can put human
and environmental health at risk when done incorrectly. This work aims to collect and classify pharmaceutical waste from two university communities in Goiás. Two
collection points were designated for the collection of medicines in two different
locations: FaculdadeMais (FacMais) in Inhumas (GO) and, FacMais in Palmeiras de
Goiás (GO). 268 medicines were collected in these institutions, 164 medicines in
Inhumas (GO), classified into 35 different pharmacological classes, and 104 in
Palmeiras de Goiás (GO), which make up 17 different classes. Most medicines
collected in Inhumas were antifungal medicines 28 (18%), antiallergic medicines 22
(14%), antianemic medicines 23 (14%), multivitamins 11 (7%), medicines that act on
the central nervous system 7 (4%), antimicrobials and antibiotics 3 (2%), the majority
had expired dates 121 (74%). Regarding the medications obtained from the
collection point available at Faculdade Mais de Palmeiras (GO), the majority were
hormonal contraceptives 16 (15%), antihypertensives 14 (13%), and
analgesics/anti-inflammatories/corticoids 12 (12 %). The study revealed a large
quantity of medicines stored at home, which can contribute to environmental
contamination and affect aquatic life. These results draw attention to the lack of
pharmaceutical professionals in places such as Basic Health Units (UBS) and small
and medium-sized pharmacies, which could mitigate negative environmental and
public health impacts.
