Abstract
Lake Simcoe is a major source of fresh water supply and serves as a favorite hub for recreational activities in southern Ontario. The cold water aquatic life of this Lake is facing serious threats due to depleted levels of oxygen caused by excessive growth of algal plants. The major reason for this growth is the entrance of high phosphorus loads through heavy stream discharges in the months of January until April. The results of analysis of phosphorus concentration and flows conducted in this project shows a direct dependence of phosphorus load on flow. Although the relation of rainfall and phosphorus load could not be supported by strong statistical evidence, the flow variations have been shown to be the major cause of variations in phosphorus load. The control strategies should be focused on reducing the generation of phosphorus at source level and preventing the direct entry of heavy flushes in the lake though Best Management Practices (BMPs), including detention facilities.
Highlights
Leftover household medications have the potential to be widespread environmental contaminants when improperly disposed
British Columbia's Medications Return program is evaluated against the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) principles for an effective Extended Producer Responsibility program
Pharmaceuticals and personal care products, which will be simplified to PPCPs from this point, received little attention as environmental pollutants until reports surfaced of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) being detected in Canadian wastewater effluents, surface water, and drinking water
Summary
Leftover household medications have the potential to be widespread environmental contaminants when improperly disposed. As evidenced by a number of studies, the most common disposal methods of leftover household medications (e.g. prescription drugs and non-prescription drugs) include 'flushing down the toilet or sink, or disposing in the trash. Disposal of leftover medication to the trash will end up in the landfills and theoretically leach into groundwater and enter the drinking water supply. Pharmaceuticals and personal care products have been present in the aquatic environment as long as drugs and consumer products have been available. Pharmaceuticals and personal care products, which will be simplified to PPCPs from this point, received little attention as environmental pollutants until reports surfaced of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) being detected in Canadian wastewater effluents, surface water, and drinking water. The advances in analytical instruments, the liquid chromatographs combined with mass spectrometry, has made it possible to identify polar organic pollutants, including pharmaceuticals, at low levels in various liquid media and solid matrices (Marsalek, 2008; 117)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
