Designed To Be Benign

We rely on drugs to do exactly what they were designed to do – treat our illnesses and diseases. They do this job especially well, particularly when you consider the large class of 'designer' prescriptions each aimed a treating a specific illness or disorder. Today, we utilize a vast number of medications to help keep us health and safe. It is interesting to note, however, that out of this larger number, there are several medications that have an added benefit: they are environmentally safe. It is no longer enough to simply understand that a medication works; today we must also consider how the medications we take impact our environment.

Take a few minutes to consider some of the naturally 'green' medications. Drugs like vaccinations are inherently safe for the environment. Valproic Acid, which is used to treat epilepsy and Glufosafamide, which is used to treat pancreatic cancer, are also environmental safe. A growing number of scientists are interested in what makes these medications better – what makes them safer.

Some of the drugs we rely on to keep our bodies healthy have one notable problem – they don't degrade as well as they could. This means that, unless precautions are taken, certain elements of these drugs end up in our water supplies. While these levels are so small they are almost not worth mentioning, we are not entirely sure what their impact may be. A great example is the antibiotic amoxicillin. This is one of the most effective medications on the market – but nearly half of the prescription remains unchanged, meaning trace amounts of it will always pass through the body.

“Green” scientists are taking a close look at medications to determine what it is that makes them effective for treating human diseases and what 'protection' they offer the environment. It is hoped that this research will lead scientists to continue to develop a line of medications that will remain as effective as today's pills while not negatively impacting our environment.

Take a look at health statistics as well as figures regarding average life spans for the past 200 years and you will note a huge change. Over the past several centuries, we have developed a number of drugs that have improved both of these statistics. Now it is time to take the knowledge we have about safe and effective drugs and designed them to be benign – make them safe for the environment, not just humans.

For more related information see: Medicamentos