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Attitudes and Considerations towards Pharmaceuticals-Related Environmental Issues among Finnish Population

Author

Listed:
  • Lasse Alajärvi

    (School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kuopio Campus, University of Eastern Finland, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland)

  • Johanna Timonen

    (School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kuopio Campus, University of Eastern Finland, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland)

  • Piia Lavikainen

    (School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kuopio Campus, University of Eastern Finland, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland)

  • Janne Martikainen

    (School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kuopio Campus, University of Eastern Finland, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland)

Abstract

A number of policy recommendations identify the general public as a key participant in environmentally sustainable pharmaceutical policies. However, research into pharmaceuticals-related environmental issues from the population perspective is scarce. We studied the awareness among Finnish adults ( n = 2030) of pharmaceutical residues in Finnish waterways, their perceived environmental sources, views on pharmaceuticals-related environmental issues, and their association with background characteristics. Of the respondents, 89.5% were aware of the presence of pharmaceuticals in Finnish waterways. Wastewaters from the pharmaceutical industry were most frequently, and pharmaceuticals excreted by humans least frequently, considered a major environmental source of pharmaceuticals. The vast majority of the respondents were worried about the environmental and health impact of pharmaceutical residues and emphasized issues such as the importance of environmentally sustainable actions by pharmaceutical companies and the recyclability of the pharmaceutical packaging materials. Age, education, use of prescription medicines, and environmental attitude were associated with awareness of pharmaceutical residues, while gender, age, education level, and environmental attitude were associated most frequently with pharmaceuticals-related environmental considerations. These results indicate a need for improved communication about the environmental effects of pharmaceuticals and the significance of different pharmaceutical emission sources in order to promote a more environmentally friendly, effective pharmaceutical policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Lasse Alajärvi & Johanna Timonen & Piia Lavikainen & Janne Martikainen, 2021. "Attitudes and Considerations towards Pharmaceuticals-Related Environmental Issues among Finnish Population," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-24, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:22:p:12930-:d:685216
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Höpner, Martin & Jurczyk, Bojan, 2015. "How the eurobarometer blurs the Line between research and propaganda," MPIfG Discussion Paper 15/6, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lasse Alajärvi & Aku-Ville Lehtimäki & Johanna Timonen & Janne Martikainen, 2022. "Willingness to Pay for Implementation of an Environmentally Friendly Pharmaceutical Policy in Finland—A Discrete Choice Experiment Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-13, May.
    2. Hanna Salmenperä & Sari Kauppi & Helena Dahlbo & Päivi Fjäder, 2022. "Increasing the Circularity of Packaging along Pharmaceuticals Value Chain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-17, April.

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