Household Disposal and Recycling of Medication in Saudi Arabia: A Call for Introducing Drug Take-Back Programs

Background: Inappropriate disposal practices of medicinal products by households can harm nature. Alternatively, passing unused medications to friends and family members can have undesirable consequences as the quality of the product is in question. Objective: To investigate the disposal and recycling practices of medicinal products by households in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire designed to investigate disposal and recycling practices aimed at households in Saudi Arabia. Phone interviews were conducted with healthcare providers from hospitals and community pharmacies as well as medical charity representatives. A thorough search (Jun-September 2020) for disposal and recycling policies was performed on the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and the Ministry of Health websites. Results: More than 900 participants were included in this study. Approximately 40% of respondents claimed to follow the SFDA recommendations for the disposal of unwanted medications in the wastebasket, whilst ≥6% preferred disposal via the toilet. On the other hand, 10% and 5% of households donated their unwanted over-the-counter and prescription-only medication products, respectively, to a person in need, without referring to healthcare professionals. Interviews with healthcare providers and medical charities revealed no drug take-back programs were currently available for households. The SFDA website provides a brief guide on the disposal of unwanted or expired medication. Conclusions: The absence of a clear drug disposal policy for households has created a gap allowing incorrect disposal practices that may lead to harming patients and/or the environment. The launching of drug take-back programs may lead to the provision of a clear consensus of governing bodies and healthcare providers on patient guidance for a safe drug disposal policy.

Effects of mask wearing duration and relative humidity on thermal perception in the summer outdoor built environment

During the pandemic,face masks are one of the most significant self-protection necessities,but they also cause heat stress.By using the ERA5(ECMWF Reanalysis 5th Generation)database and the local weather bureau data,the effect of mask wearing on outdoor thermal sensation has been investigated by a survey conducted in the hot summer and cold winter region of eastern China in the summer of 2020.Results show that wearing a face mask for a longer period result in a higher level of discomfort,and the primary source of discomfort is hot and stuffy feelings.The effect of relative humidity is crucial for mask wearers in warm-biased thermal environments,as mean thermal sensation vote(TSV)peaks when environmental relative humidity reaches the range of 70%to 80%and decreases after this range due to the evaporation within the microclimate created by a face mask.Meanwhile,prolonged mask wearing increases participants’hot feelings,especially in warm environments.Specifically,participants wearing face masks for less than 30 min feel hot at a physiological equivalent temperature(PET)value of 34.4℃,but those who wear them for over 60 min express hot feelings even at a PET value of 24.7℃.The participants who wear a face mask while walking slowly outdoors have similar thermal sensations to those who do not wear a mask,but are in a higher activity level.The findings demonstrate that mask wearing has a crucial impact on outdoor thermal comfort assessment in a warm-biased outdoor thermal environment.