Pharmaceutical Wastes

  

There are many chemical and/or pharmaceutical compounds used in research or in the treatment of diseases that are also considered by the EPA to be hazardous wastes when disposed of.  Listed below are some common materials found at the University of Florida.

 

NOTE: This list is provided as a guide only and is by no means all-inclusive. Please refer to the Chemical Waste Management Guide for a more comprehensive listing of characteristic wastes and specific chemicals that are regulated as Hazardous Waste.

 

Antineoplastics

 

The 7 drugs listed below are regulated as hazardous waste for the purpose of disposal. This includes out-of-date and unused materials. Any of these materials in liquid or solid form must be collected by EH&S for disposal. They cannot be placed in biological waste containers (red bags or boxes), poured down the drain or placed in the regular trash. Sharps, pipette tips, tubing, gloves, wipes and any other items contaminated with these materials should be disposed of as biological waste.

 

Chlorambucil (Leukeran)

Melphalan (Alkeran)

Uracil Mustard

Mitomycin (Mutamycin)

Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar, Procytox)

Streptozocin (Zanosar)

Dauorubicin (Cerubidine)

 

Commonly Used Medicinal Products

 

These products, for disposal purposes, are also regulated as hazardous wastes and are commonly found in medical use or research.

 

Diethylstilbestrol                           Epinephrine

Hexachlorophene                         Nicotine

Nitroglycerine                               Phenacetin

Resorcinol                                    Reserpine

Saccharin

 

Heavy Metals

 

Arsenic, Lead and Cadmium compounds are commonly used in veterinary medicine. Barium (Barium Sulfate) is used as an x-ray contrast medium. Chromium is found in many nutritional supplements. Mercury is found in preservatives (Thimerosol), thermometers, sphygnomanometers and antiseptics (Mercurochrome). Selenium is found in ointments (selenium sulfide), shampoos and nutritional supplements. Silver can be found in burn ointments (Silvadene), styptic sticks (silver nitrate) and some antiseptics.

 

Minute quantities of these metals can make your waste a hazardous waste. The regulatory limits are 0.2 mg/l for mercury, 1.0mg/l for selenium and cadmium, 5.0 mg/l for lead, chromium, silver and arsenic and 100 mg/l for barium.

 

Other EPA Regulated Chemicals with Medicinal Uses

 

The following is a list of compounds that may have medicinal, pharmacological, research or other similar uses.

 

Chemical                                             Use

Acetone                                               pharmaceutic aid (solvent)

Acetyl Chloride                                   testing for cholesterol

Acrylonitrile                                         used in pharmaceutical mfg.

Aniline                                                 used in pharmaceutical mfg.

Azaserine                                           antifungal, antineoplastic

3- Benzyl Chloride                             used in pharmaceutical mfg.

Bromoform                                         sedative, hypnotic, antitussive

Cacodylic Acid                                  dermatologic

Carbon Tetrachloride                        anthelmintic, phamaceutic aid (solvent)

Chloral                                                 mfg. of chloral hydrate

Chlornaphazin                                    antineoplastic

p-Chloro-m-cresol                             antiseptic

2-Chloroethyl vinyl ether                    mfg of anesthetics and sedatives

Chloroform                                          anesthetic

Creosote                                             antiseptic, expectorant

Cresol                                                 antiseptic, disinfectant

Chloropropionitrile                            used in pharmaceutical synthesis

Dichlorobenzene                               germicide, used in pharmaceutical mfg

Diisopropylfluorophosphate             cholinesterase deactivator

Dimethylamine                                   used in pharmaceutical mfg.

Dimethylphenethylamine                  adrenergic

Ethyl Acetate                                      pharmaceutic aid (flavoring agent)

Ethyl Carbamate                               antineoplastic

Ethylene Oxide                                  surgical instrument sterilizer

Ethyl Ether                                          disinfectant, anesthetic

Formaldehyde                                    antiseptic, disinfectant, preservative

Hexachloroethane                              anthelmintic

Lindane                                               scabicide

Maleic Anhydride                               mfg of pharmaceuticals

Methanol                                             solvent used in the mfg. of pharmaceuticals

Methapyrilene                                     antihistaminic

3-Methylcholanthrene                        used experimentally in cancer research

Methylthiouracil                                  thyroid inhibitor

Napthtlalene                                       antiseptic, anthelmintic

Paraldehyde                                       sedative, hypnotic, controlled substance

Phenol                                                 antiseptic, anesthetic, antipruritic

Sodium Diethyl dithiocarbamate      Ni/Cd poisoning antidote

Physostigime Salicylate                     chlolinergic

Physostigime                                       chlolinergic

Potassium Silver Cyanide                 bactericide

Strychnine                                            veterinary tonic and stimulant

Tetrachloroethylene                           anthelmintic

Trichloroethylene                                inhalation anesthetic, mfg. of pharmaceuticals

Thiram                                                 antiseptic

Warfarin                                              anticoagulant

 

 

Please remember that this list is not all-inclusive; there are many regulated wastes not on this page. UF’s Chemical Waste Management Guide gives comprehensive guidance for making hazardous waste determinations.