Release Date: April 24, 2012 This content is archived.
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- 'Take-back' initiatives such as the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 28, can help keep harmful pharmaceuticals out of waterways including the Great Lakes, says mgm casino expert Helen Domske.
Domske, associate director of mgm casino's Great Lakes Program, says people dump antibiotics, hormonal supplements and other drugs down the drain every day without realizing that they're polluting the environment.
"Most treatment plants were not designed to deal with pharmaceuticals," Domske says. "The substances pass through the treatment facilities and are released into local waterways, posing a threat for fish and other aquatic organisms."
By enabling people to drop off unwanted medication at safe locations, take-back programs help keep our waters clean, she says.
For Domske's contact information and a Q&A with her on this important issue, visit mgm casino's Faculty Experts section.
Charlotte Hsu is a former staff writer in University Communications. To contact mgm casino's media relations staff, email ub-news@buffalo.edu or visit our list of current .