Overview & FAQs

Pharmaceutical & Personal Care Products (PPCPs) include medicines, insect repellents, sunscreens, perfumes, soaps, fragrances and lotions.

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News Release: Pharmaceuticals Unlikely in MWRA Water

Issued on March 9, 2008, by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority.
MWRA web site

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Pharmaceuticals & Personal Care Products Workshop: PPCPs/EDCs in Wastewater 

 MassDEP workshop on "PPCPs/EDCs in Wastewater: Issues and Solutions," was held on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. 

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Testimony of MassDEP Commissioner Laurie Burt: Pharmaceuticals & Personal Care Products

May 13, 2008. Hearing of the Massachusetts Legislature's Joint Committee on Public Health, convened in response to recent reports that drinking water across the country contains these compounds.

MS Word 48 KB | PDF 29 KB

What is MassDEP doing to evaluate PPCPs & EDCs?

MassDEP has a multi-component approach for identifying potential risks of PPCPs and EDCs to human health and the environment. Learn more from the Frequently Asked Question fact sheet, October 2008

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MassDEP/Department of Public Health Summit on Pharmaceuticals

June 2008. Notes from the summit.

MS Word 106 KB | PDF 51 KB

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What can I do to help minimize my contribution to PPCPs & EDCs in the environment?

Learn how to reduce pharmaceutical waste, take back programs and proper disposal from the Frequently Asked Question fact sheet, October 2008

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Where can I get more information about PPCPs & EDCs?

Get contact information and related links from the Frequently Asked Question fact sheet, October 2008

Web page

Washtenaw County, Michigan, Pharmaceutical Take-Back Program

DontFlushDrugs.com web site

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Emerging Contaminants Fact Sheet & Overview

Emerging contaminants are hazardous materials (chemical, microbial or radiological substances) or mixtures of interest that are characterized by: a perceived or real threat to human health, public safety or environment; no currently published health standard/guideline exists or it is evolving or being re-evaluated; there is insufficient or limited available toxicological information; or, a new source, pathway, or detection limit has been discovered. Emerging contaminants may be naturally occurring or manmade.
Web page

Pharmaceuticals in the Water: A Look at an Emerging & Pressing Issue

Report by Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs intern & Brandies University student Nina Savransky.
MS Word 222 KB | PDF 161 KB

Investigating Emergent Contaminants: Pharmaceutical Impacts & Possible Solutions

2007. Prepared by Leah Bowe as part of a research project funded by the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
MS Word 223 KB | PDF 626 KB

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Pharmaceuticals & Personal Care Products in Water home page.
EPA web page

U.S. Geographical Survey (USGS) Investigations & Reports

Pharmaceuticals & Other Anthropogenic Organic Compounds in New England Water Resources, 2002-2007.
MS Word 79 KB | PDF 31 KB

American Water Works Association (AWWA) Research Foundation

Endocrine Disruptors/Pharmaceuticals & Personal Care Products Strategic Initiative
AWWA Research Foundation web site

New York State Roundtable Discussion on Managing Unused Pharmaceuticals

May 15, 2008. Notes of the proceedings. Representatives of MassDEP attended this conference.
MS Word 82 KB | PDF 47 KB

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