X is for Xenobiotic

Today is ABC Wednesday and X is always the dreaded of all letters. For this round, we're featuring GO GREEN Greensboro, all things related to the environment-  and X is for xenobiotic. Xenobiotics are substances foreign to a biological system* which is what unused prescriptions are when they find their way into the water supply.

While the above photo is not readily identifyable as one from Greensboro (althought it was taken in here), we do want local residents to know that unused drugs should not be flushed down the toilet. Please find a way to dispose of drugs properly. Last fall, Greensboro had a drug take-back day for unused drugs. Sounds like this would be a good community-service event for an organization. Happy ABC Wednesday and thank you for keeping drugs and other unwanted chemicals from finding their way into Greensboro's water supply.

(And thank you to the Grimsley High School environmental science student who helped us with the never-easy X word).

*find the reference and learn more about the term, here.

Comments

[Roger Green]

About every six months, there's been a national effort to take unused drugs to police stations and other locations. Flushing them down the toilet, which HAD been recommended in the past to keep drugs away from experimenting teens, is now seen as something dangerous to the water supply.

Check this site in the early fall for the next date: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/

[Ann]

Yes, it is extremely bad on the environment for sure. Something we USED to do without thinking.
Ann

[Leslie]

We take our prescriptions containers back to the pharmacy so they can properly dispose of them.

Leslie
abcw team

[Jane T. Mitchell]

I wish everyone could see this article. We all need to be aware of the proper way to dispose of drugs.We certainly don't need xenobiotics in our water supply.

[Janis of So Cal]

I am a day late and a dollar short in posting replies this week but want to make sure I sent a big "BRAVO" out to you for this one!
Great post full of good advice. Our city water dept sends out letters a few times a year with instruction on how to dispose of all kinds of things that should not reach our water supply.

[Reader Wil]

This is something so important to think about. Thank you for this advice.
Have a great weekend.
Wil, ABCW Team.

[Jack Hart]

I thinks folks have got silly with this 'green' movement!