Core Concept
Cytostatics drugs released by patients undergoing cancer treatment pose relevant environmental and human health concerns. Because the majority of cancer treatments are performed in outbound patients, the cytostatics excretion through urine majorly occurs at the patients’ houses. As a consequence, these drugs end up in domestic waste water treatment plants that are unable to remove them, ultimately reaching the aquatic environment.
In order to avoid the cytostatics release into the environment we propose the development of a device to be used by patient’s every time they urinate. Upon the device saturation, it will be treated to allow its recyclability and to recover cytostatics that will then be properly disposed and treated. IMPACT
By removing cytostatics from urine, thus not allowing their entrance in the waste water cycle, this project will contribute: (i) to a more efficient management of pharmaceuticals released into the environment, which constitutes an important priority of the European Union (Directive 2013/39/EU); (ii) towards the implementation of environmental sustainable health systems, a strategic goal of the World Health Organization. |