A new study shows troubling levels of pharmaceutical pollution in the St. Lawrence River and its largest tributaries, especially near and downstream of urban areas. Some of the compounds detected even pose a moderate-to-high risk to aquatic organisms when there's chronic exposure.
We already tax profits from pharmaceutical companies and invest in research into these exact things. Which sounds like exactly what you want? They’re even installing new waste treatment equipment to help solve the problem in Montreal.
You make it sound like it’s trivial to invent new drugs that are more biodegradable to replace existing ones, but it really really isn’t.
I think billions can accomplish a lot. Installing new water treatment technology isn’t solving the problem. Meds are used in places where this advanced water cleaning tech will never be available.
It needs to start at the drugs, and save us all a lot of grief downstream.
Do I think it’s trivial? Not at all, but I’m sure governments can pressure the industry to do more.