Antibiotics & Viagra were detected in the Han River

The MFDS & the Ministry of Environment, must find the detected cause and solution of Viagra

As Viagra (Sildenafil) was detected in the Han River, the drinking water source, for the first time following the residual antibiotics in the soil and rivers, related government ministries are criticized for not only identifying the situation but also preparing measures to prevent recurrence.

 

It was focused on identifying whether waste medicines were the cause and preparing measures to prevent soil and water pollution through policy improvements, and consultations between ministries such as the MFDS and the Ministry of Environment seem urgent.

 

On the 17th, the National Assembly asked the government to solve the problem of "the detection of Viagra in Han River" centered on the Health and Welfare Committee.

 

Recently, Kim Hyunook's research team at University of Seoul released a paper that erectile dysfunction drugs Viagra (Sildenafil), Cialis (Tadalafil) and Levitra(Vardenafil) were detected in the Han River, a drinking water source.

 

The title is "Contribution of Sewage to Occurrence of Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors in Natural Water," which confirmed the components of erectile dysfunction drugs in both Jungnangcheon and Gangnam Tancheon in Gangbuk, Seoul.

 

The detection of antibiotics in the soil and rivers has already been confirmed, but this is the first time that erectile dysfunction drugs have been found.

 

The National Assembly also takes this issue seriously.

 

This is because soil, water pollution and ecosystem destruction issues caused by waste medicine are reported every year.

 

Currently, the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee is pending a bill called "mandatory drug guidance for pharmacists" proposed by Choi Yeon-sook.

 

a member of the People Power Party.

 

The bill allowed pharmacists to impose a fine of up to 1 million won in case of violation and mandatory guidance of the disposal drug treatment law during medication guidance.

 

The head of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety also designated waste medicine collection day every year to promote the treatment method, and included a clause that obligates waste drug containers and packaging.

 

In April, the Health and Welfare Committee decided to continue reviewing the bill.

 

It is unclear whether the bill will be reexamined due to the Viagra detection issue of Han River water.

 

Apart from the bill, the National Assembly is asking the MFDS and the Ministry of Environment to take measures to properly identify the cause of the problem and come up with measures to prevent a recurrence.

 

They want to closely analyze why erectile dysfunction drugs were detected in the Han River, whether they are related to the incident, and consider measures to prevent recurrence based on analysis of the cause.

 

The MFDS and the Ministry of Environment are expected to investigate the case.

 

"The fact that erectile dysfunction drugs were detected in the Han River, a drinking water source, is a big problem," a National Assembly official said.

 

"The MFDS and the Ministry of Environment should not delay responsibility." The official said, "If waste drugs are the cause of the Han River water crisis, we should improve policies and legislate to solve the problem." "We can't ignore the problem of detecting the active ingredients of medicine in the soil and river every year," he said.

 

"It is time for clear cause analysis and countermeasures through cooperation between ministries."