Drugs are intended to cure; instead, they're becoming water contaminants

In the 1950s, the Chisso Corporation operated in the small Japanese town of Minamata.

- BY K. HEYGAAJIVAN KERNAS

During that time, the company began producing acetaldehyde, a chemical used in the manufacturing of plastics.

The production process generated mercury as a byproduct, which is a highly toxic substance.

For 34 years, the Chisso Corporation discharged its industrial waste, including mercury, directly into Minamata Bay, a primary food source for the local community.

As a result, the people of Minamata began to suffer from mercury poisoning.

Over 2,000 people died, and thousands more experienced debilitating symptoms.

The disease was also passed on to future generations, with many children born with severe deformities and neurological disorders.

How does this relate to the disposal of medicines in Malaysia?

The Minamata disaster serves as a grim reminder of how unchecked pollution can lead to catastrophic human suffering.

Similarly, improper disposal of medicines can introduce harmful chemicals into the environment, posing significant risk to human health and the ecosystem.

Several studies have examined the presence of pharmaceutical residues in Malaysia's water supply.

One notable study conducted in 2010 involved sampling tap water from 80 households in Putrajaya.

The analysis detected multiple active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in the tap water; including antibiotics (e.g. amoxicillin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, nitrofurazone and sulfamethoxazole), steroids (such as dexamethasone) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as diclofenac which is commonly used as a painkiller).

These pharmaceutical residues in tap water was linked to improper handling and disposal of pharmaceutical waste by the surrounding households.