Brainwaves

Original version

BBC Radio Orkney

Factual: Science & Nature: Science & Technology

Pennie Latin_Brainwaves_Brand Level

Pennie Latin explores the science behind the everyday.

Pennie Latin explores the science behind our everyday experiences and speaks to key scientists working in Scotland.

BBC Radio Shetland

BBC Radio Scotland Extra

BBC Radio Scotland FM

 Brainwaves

Brainwaves: Saving the planet one pill at a time

Saving the planet one pill at a time

BBC Radio Scotland - Brainwaves, Saving the planet one pill at a time

Pennie Latin investigates how pills and medicines are polluting our environment

Every time we take a medicine some of it gets flushed into the environment  when we go to the loo but at what cost? Is it time to stop flooding the planet with drugs?

We live in this amazing country so why would we want to just pour a cocktail of random pharmaceuticals into the environment?  As Pennie Latin discovers, to her astonishment, in Scotland we’re doing that each and every day just by taking a pee.  It’s not just peeing the medicines out either, we’re even adding to the problem when we think we’re being conscientious by flushing unwanted pills down the loo.   When you take into account the 1.4 million prescriptions dispensed in Scotland every year, that's a lot of potential for pharmaceutical pollution.

In this Brainwaves Pennie hears about a pioneering and unique collaboration involving NHS Highland, researchers from the University of the Highland and Islands and Glasgow Caledonian University, together with Scottish Water and SEPA who have come together to share wisdom, research, data and ideas for how to stop this environmental problem before it gets any worse.

Its an extraordinary story and one where we all have a part to play.

Music by Blue Dot Sessions

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Brainwaves

Saving the planet one pill at a time

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio Orkney

About BBC Radio Scotland