Article
- Medical Businesses, Beyond 3-R’s
by Myra Nissen (NCRA member)
An over-reliance on pharmaceutical and high-technology-based
medicine negatively affects the environment including the
generation of medical waste, typical office discards, and
the effects of conventional medical practices. The numbers
are of consequence, an estimated 50,000 tons of medical
waste is generated annually in California alone.1
Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), hormones,
heavy metals, and organic contaminants were found in 80%
of surface water samples taken across 30 states by USGS.2
Primary sources of water pollution by PPCPs are thought
to be the improper discarding by individuals and residue
from human excrement, not the manufacturer.3
Earlier
this month I had the privilege of visiting the Teleosis
Institute, Berkeley, to learn about their Green Health Care
Program. Teleiosis takes a community-based holistic approach.
What role does the medical community have in environmental
responsibility? Major, according to Dr. Joel Kriesberg,
Chairman of Teleosis Institute. Green Health Care accepts
that environmental health is intrinsic to human health.
The health professional’s natural role is to serve
as environmental educator, advocate, and steward.
The three-pronged program promotes Environmental Health
Advocacy (EHA), Ecologically Sustainable Medicine (ESM),
and Green Work Place (GWP). EHA assists practitioners in
becoming knowledgeable about local environmental health
issues and in recognizing the signs and symptoms of environmental
illness, thus empowering providers as Environmental Wellness
Leaders. ESM encourages providers to offer affordable and
renewable medicine choices, saving resources and money,
while emphasizing wellness in daily medical practices, and
advancing medicine with environmental integrity. GWP explores
benefits of sustainable practices such as conserving resources,
reducing waste, and generally reducing the environmental
impact on the workplace. Successful Green Health Care Professionals
are awarded Bay Area Green Business certification given
by the Bay Area Green Business Program, a Teleosis partner.
Teleiosis invites you to imagine: A health care system where
a visit to a health practitioner is healthful, educational,
and life-enhancing. A conversation with your provider informs
you of environmental issues in your community that might
impact your health or your family’s health. A health
care office that proudly showcases how reducing its impact
on the environment through conserving natural resources
and reducing waste… Making this a reality is the goal
of the Teleosis institute.
Joel can be contacted at Teleosis Institute, http://www.teleosis.org.
References:
1. McGurk, Jack. 2004. Greening of the Red-Bag Waste Stream.
California Department of Health Services. http://www.cdph.ca.gov/Pages/default.aspx
2. Health and Safety Code 120365
States Vaccinations are required for admittance to schools and child
care programs unless the parent or guardian “files with the governing
authority a letter or affidavit stating that the immunization is
contrary to his or her beliefs.
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=hsc&group=120001-121000&file=120325-120380%00
3. Daughton, Christian G., 2003. “Cradle-to-Cradle
Stewardship of Drugs for Minimizing Their Environmental
Disposition While Promoting Human Health” (in) Environmental
Health Perspectives. v. 111. n. 5. May 2003.
http://www.epa.gov/nerlesd1/chemistry/ppcp/images/green1.pdf
