Environmental fate minimizing risks

Since traditionally pharmaceuticals have not been considered as environmental contaminants, the study of their presence in the environment is in some ways a new area of research which has taken off recently. Nonetheless, so far, there is little knowledge on their occurrence, fate and environmental assessment, an essential tool for the implementation of minimizing measures and risk management. Potential risks associated with releases of pharmaceuticals into the environment have become an increasingly important issue for pharmaceutical industry and environmental regulators [7, 11]. 

Product stewardship means "responsibly managing the health, safety, and environmental aspects of raw materials, intermediate, and consumer products throughout their life cycle and across the value chain in order to prevent or minimize negative impacts and maximize value" [7], Chapter 2 of this book discusses the technical tools that a product steward uses to achieve this goal. These tools include the techniques to characterize and predict the fate and transport of chemicals in the environment upon their manufacture and use. The tools also include the methods used to calculate the possible risks to human health and the environment that may result. Chapter 2 also describes the formal process of life cycle assessment, which uses these tools to evaluate the potential effects on the environment as a result of the production, use, and disposal or recycling of a product. 

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