6. Enviornmental Impact of some medications

Question 1

Levels of Radioactive Waste

Answer 1

1) Low level waste (LLW)
2) Intermediate level waste (ILW)
3) High level waste (HLW)

HLW gives off large amounts of ionising radiation for a long period of time (long half-life)
LLW gives off small amounts of ionising radiation for a short period of time (short half life)

Most of the radioactive waste being produced by the medical industry is ILW & LLW

Question 2

Disposal methods of Low level waste

Answer 2

Example: Gowns, protective clothing, shoe covers, tissues, needles, mops

Stored in shielded containers until the isotopes have decayed then disposed of as non-radioactive waste (through incineration or in a landfill)

Question 3

Disposal methods of Intermediate level waste

Answer 3

Example: Cancer treatments (Radioactive sources
(Co-60, Cs-137))

Stored in shielded containers in underground repositories.

Question 4

Disposal methods of High level waste

Answer 4

YOU DO NOT USE HIGH LEVEL WASTE, BAD, BAD, GRR BAD FOR THE ENVIORNMENT BECAUSE LOOOOONG HALF LIFE

Question 5

Antibiotic Waste in the Envriornment

Answer 5

1) Antibiotics in agricultural waste (animal disease prevention)
Manure from livestock and water run-off can carry antibiotics into the soil and groundwater.

2) Improper disposal of antibiotic medicines by hospitals and households
Enters the sewage system at low concentrations

3)Antibiotics excreted by humans in urine
Sewage treatment plans do not remove antibiotics from the waste water, and so they can end up in the drinking water supply.

Question 6

Solvent Waste

Answer 6

Chemical synthesis of drugs require multiple steps.

Solvents are used as reaction media and in product recovery and purification.
Solvents must be disposed of carefully to avoid causing harm to the environment.

Question 7

Green Chemsitry Guide => PREFERED SOLVENTS

Answer 7

Water
Propan-1-ol
Ethyl Ethanoate
Methanol
Ethanol

Question 8

Green Chemistry Guide => USABLE SOLVENTS

Answer 8

Cyclohexane
Octane
Ethanenitrile
Ethanoic Acid
Methyl Benzene

Question 9

Green Chemistry Guide => UNDESIRABLE SOLVENTS

Answer 9

Pentane
Dichloromethane
Dichloroethane
Trichloromethane
Carbon Tetrachloride

Most of the undesirable solvents are known as volatile organic compounds (VOC)

Question 10

Volatile organic compounds (VOC)

Answer 10

VOCs are used as solvents due to their high volatility
It is easy to evaporate the solvent to have whats left

In enviornment VOCS cause
1) nose discomfort
2) throat discomfort
3) nausea and fatigue
4) the formation of low level ozone
5) smog

Question 11

12 Green Chemistry Principles

Answer 11

1) Prevent Waste
2) Maximise atom economy
3) Design less hazardous chemical synthesis
4) Design safer chemicals and products
5) Use safer solvents and reaction conditions
6) Increase energy efficiency
7) Use renewable feedstocks
8) Avoid chemical derivatives
9) Use catalysts, not stoichiometric reagents
10) Design chemicals & products to degrade after use
11) Analyse in real time to prevent pollution
12) Minimise the potential for accidents

Question 12

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) Synthesis

Answer 12

Oseltamivir prevents influenza virus
Synthesis of Oseltamivir requires Shikimic acid
Shikimic acid is extracted from the pods of star anise

Question 13

Shikimic acid synthesis problems

Answer 13

Star anise has a limited supply in the entire world
2005 shortage (oseltamivir)
2009 shortage (swine-flu) = PRICE DRASTIC INCREASE

Complex 10 step reaction
6-8 months to synthesise
30kg of star anise only equated to 1kg of the shikimic acid

Green chemistry comes to save the day and fixing the disastrous bad synthesis
Started providing the shikimic acid from genetically engineered bacteria
Extracted shikimic acid from pine needles