possible. By this concept, product is manufactured by harmless method and remains
same till their complete life cycle (Eissen et al. 2008). By this strategy product can be
made in comparatively less steps, using less energy, smaller amount of raw
materials, and production of less by-products and by far they are biodegradable.
Thus this approach is sustainable and environment friendly.
Additionally, green production also focuses on biotechnology for the production
of biopharmaceuticals. In that process enzymes isolated from the microorganisms
used as biocatalyst for the manufacturing of pharmaceutical compounds. It is more
economic and eco-friendly way rather than artificial catalysts (Zaks and Dodds
1997). Due to bio-catalytic process many wastewater treatment plants now have
the potential of biodegradation. With the use of membranes waste can be collected at
large scale which eases the solid waste disposal.
For the management of waste industries, they should be also hold up for setting
up of waste management teams, drafts documentation and waste management plan
implication. There should be some incentives, formation of industrial disposal units,
and free training for the staff to promote waste management. Government should
also take action to make and imply the policies regarding pharmaceutical waste
management.
13.7 Conclusion
A wide variety of pharmaceuticals are present in the environmental matrices due to
their inadequate discharge to the environment or inefficient removal process. Even
low concentrations of pharmaceuticals can cause harmful impact to the ecosystem,
so proper elimination and management of these compounds are very important.
Biodegradation is one such sustainable technique to degrade the pharmaceuticals.
The proportion at which pharmaceuticals are eliminated from the environment
depends on the occurrence of indigenous microbial communities which are able to
degrade them. Most of the pharmaceutical groups are easily bio-transformed by
metabolic or co-metabolic pathways. Environmental factors extensively affect the
rate of transformation and bioavailability of microbial degradation. For the management of pharmaceutical waste some practical approaches should be employed at very
urgent basis. Government should also effectively establish the inexpensive and ecofriendly collection and disposal systems of pharmaceuticals. Appropriate disposal
techniques for drugs can facilitate the reduction in environmental burden of
pharmaceuticals. To decrease the load of pharmaceuticals in environment all
stakeholders, NGOs, government, researchers, pharmacist and public should come
jointly and take the action. Thus, adequate environmental strategies are required to
eliminate the exposure of pharmaceuticals for environmental and health safety.
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K. Sharma and G. Kaushik
same till their complete life cycle (Eissen et al. 2008). By this strategy product can be
made in comparatively less steps, using less energy, smaller amount of raw
materials, and production of less by-products and by far they are biodegradable.
Thus this approach is sustainable and environment friendly.
Additionally, green production also focuses on biotechnology for the production
of biopharmaceuticals. In that process enzymes isolated from the microorganisms
used as biocatalyst for the manufacturing of pharmaceutical compounds. It is more
economic and eco-friendly way rather than artificial catalysts (Zaks and Dodds
1997). Due to bio-catalytic process many wastewater treatment plants now have
the potential of biodegradation. With the use of membranes waste can be collected at
large scale which eases the solid waste disposal.
For the management of waste industries, they should be also hold up for setting
up of waste management teams, drafts documentation and waste management plan
implication. There should be some incentives, formation of industrial disposal units,
and free training for the staff to promote waste management. Government should
also take action to make and imply the policies regarding pharmaceutical waste
management.
13.7 Conclusion
A wide variety of pharmaceuticals are present in the environmental matrices due to
their inadequate discharge to the environment or inefficient removal process. Even
low concentrations of pharmaceuticals can cause harmful impact to the ecosystem,
so proper elimination and management of these compounds are very important.
Biodegradation is one such sustainable technique to degrade the pharmaceuticals.
The proportion at which pharmaceuticals are eliminated from the environment
depends on the occurrence of indigenous microbial communities which are able to
degrade them. Most of the pharmaceutical groups are easily bio-transformed by
metabolic or co-metabolic pathways. Environmental factors extensively affect the
rate of transformation and bioavailability of microbial degradation. For the management of pharmaceutical waste some practical approaches should be employed at very
urgent basis. Government should also effectively establish the inexpensive and ecofriendly collection and disposal systems of pharmaceuticals. Appropriate disposal
techniques for drugs can facilitate the reduction in environmental burden of
pharmaceuticals. To decrease the load of pharmaceuticals in environment all
stakeholders, NGOs, government, researchers, pharmacist and public should come
jointly and take the action. Thus, adequate environmental strategies are required to
eliminate the exposure of pharmaceuticals for environmental and health safety.
284
K. Sharma and G. Kaushik