Discarded medicines threaten water supplies, pharmacists warn
Health authorities are urging citizens to stop discarding expired medicines into domestic garbage, warning that improper pharmaceutical disposal contaminates natural ecosystems and undermines active chemical efficacy.
Storage standards and chemical degradation
Expiration dates marked on packaging are not administrative formalities, specialists emphasize. Beyond that date, manufacturers can no longer guarantee concentration, quality, or therapeutic safety, as active compounds degrade over time and heighten the risk of adverse side effects.
“The risk of adverse reactions increases significantly. In such cases, medicines must be returned upon expiration,” said Olga, a pharmacist in Chișinău, speaking on Radio Moldova’s Zi de Zi broadcast. “Residents can bring expired medications to designated pharmacies across Chișinău and several other cities that collect them.”
Proper domestic storage is equally critical. Most treatments must be kept in dry locations below 25 degrees Celsius, while thermolabile products require continuous refrigeration. For syrups, drops, and compounded solutions, safe usage windows are often substantially shorter once unsealed.
Environmental hazards and antibiotic resistance
Flushing unused medications down sinks, toilets, or into standard landfills poses acute ecological risks. Bioactive chemical compounds seep directly into soil and groundwater reservoirs, threatening flora and fauna.
The World Health Organization warns that unmanaged antibiotic disposal directly accelerates antimicrobial resistance, diminishing the global effectiveness of vital treatments. Proper drop-off protocols are essential to isolate these hazardous chemical compounds before they enter municipal water cycles.
Moldova’s expanding collection initiatives mirror broader continental standards. A 2026 European comparative study indicated that 31 out of 35 monitored nations operate institutional take-back systems for unused medical products through licensed community pharmacies.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
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