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INVESTIGATOR: Garner, K. F.; Johnson, J. U.; Okweye, P. S.; Warren, T. C.; Tadesse, W.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY
4900 MERIDIAN STREET
NORMAL, ALABAMA 35762

ADDRESSING CRITICAL AND EMERGING SAFETY ISSUES IN HUMAN, ANIMAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH THROUGH EXTENSION OUTREACH

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Evidence of PPCPs in the U.S. arose more than 20 years ago, with the discovery of aspirin, caffeine, and nicotine in wastewater treatment plants (Mesner, 2004). In 2002, U.S. Geological Survey scientists studied low-level contamination of streams by pharmaceuticals and other organic chemicals in 30 states and reported that pharmaceuticals were attributing factors to widespread wastewater pollution in the nation (Barber et al., 2002). Since then, numerous investigations have reported that pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) have been detected in surface and groundwater, soils, biosolids, and drinking water (Barnes et al., 2008) and pose significant risk to human, animal and environmental health. The potential toxicity and persistence of these drugs remain unknown, and uncertainty, poses the biggest threat to animal safety, human and aquatic life, and warrants global concern. Aquatic organisms (due to continual and multigenerational exposure to contaminated water) are also among those adversely impacted by PIE (Bligh, 2009). Major concerns also stem from the fact that humans and animals inadvertently ingest un-prescribed drugs via the consumption of fish from drug-polluted surface water or from crops grown on drug-polluted soil. The presence of unwanted medicines in the home poses even more apparent danger. Although, the human impacts of PIE are not yet definitive; the evidence from these studies substantiates the need for additional education and outreach programs to combat the problem of unwanted pharmaceuticals in the home and the environment. The UANNP unit is committed to providing programming in priority areas, such as water quality, human health, and food safety and recognizes this as a great opportunity to effect change. Although, the project's central focus is on Extension and Outreach, both education and research are incorporated to enhance outreach capabilities. The project involves the collaborative efforts of multiple institutions that collectively epitomize academic strength and excellence, and diversity among faculty, disciplines and specialties; and further leverages new collaborations and partnerships with organizations like a Partnership for a Drug Free Community and the Alabama A&M University Center of Excellence (COE) in Watershed Management to broaden Extension's reach and ensure that increased benefits and impacts are realized. The attainable results and measurable outcomes will strengthen extensions' capacity in outreach; improve environmental sustainability; increase resources to stakeholders, diversify the agricultural workforce, and improve 1890 Extension program delivery via an increase in PIE initiatives and take-back programs in the state and lessen the impact of pharmaceuticals fated to the environment; reduce soil and water pollution by PIE; increase awareness and knowledge gained on environmental issues assessed using pre/post measures; and overall, improve public health. The project also reemphasizes the critical role citizens must play in maintaining a safe, inhabitable environment.

OBJECTIVES: The overall goal of this Extension project is to build the Alabama Cooperative Extension System's (ACES) capacity to deliver new programming that addresses emerging safety issues concerning pharmaceuticals in the environment (PIE). Numerous investigations have reported that pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) pose significant risk to human, animal and environmental health. The toxicity of these chemicals makes this a topic of global concern. This project aims to advance knowledge and accentuate the benefits of using safe, effective methods to dispose of expired, unused, and unwanted pharmaceuticals. The primary objective of the project is to establish and develop the Synergistic Efforts to Reduce Pharmaceutical Impacts on the Environment (SerPIE) Program. This program will offer educational resources that enable citizens to safeguard their homes and the environment from PPCPs and empower a new generation of Agricultural Science and Extension professionals to combat emerging environmental, animal, and human health issues. Development of SerPIE will be accomplished through completion of the aforementioned objective and these six subsequent elements (I-VI): Element I. Development of a resource toolkit that features multidisciplinary curriculum, and employs interactive models that foster learning and reinforce information concerning PIE; Element II. Development of a Web-based Resource Repository (WRR) - An Open Access Tool for Extension Education; Element III. Development of partnerships to promote increased awareness, diversify and broaden collaborative linkages in establishing new initiatives and comprehensive access to public resources that will help individuals within communities understand the environmental safeguards germane to proper disposal of unwanted medicine; Element IV. Creation of training forums for extension personnel and learning forums for at-risk clientele by hosting workshops, conferences and seminars that focus on BMPs and One Health; Element V. Development of a PIE Prescreening Program that provides training to Extension Staff and generates local research-based data to support SerPIE; and Element VI. Development of an Agricultural Science Extension Mentorship Program (ASEMP) that encourages youth to enter into science and extension-related professions that focuses on concepts, like PIE. The ASEMP-SerPIE Mentorship Program will occur in Year 2 of the Project. The project being interdisciplinary, multi-institutional, and novel in its approach, will utilize innovative web-based technologies, both visual and digitally interactive to engage at-risk citizens. It is also a call to action to protect the environment and its natural resources, from the potentially harmful impacts of PIE and enhance food safety and security, human and animal health, sustainable agriculture . Expected project outputs include workshops, demonstrations, web-based training sessions, publications, a web-based resource repository and science-oriented video library, and development of research-based technology-infused educational materials.