8.4 Professor Alistair Boxall - From Prescription to Pollution: The Unseen Impact of Medicines in Our Waterways

What really happens to medicines after we swallow them? Where do they end up… and what exactly are we flushing away? Which medicines might we be taking —unknowingly—the next time we pour a glass of tap water?

In this episode, we explore the hidden life of pharmaceuticals after they leave our bodies. Professor Alistair Boxall, environmental chemist at the University of York, joins us to unpack the real impact of medicines on our rivers and waterways.

We delve into the risks these drugs pose to ecosystems, the surprising range of pharmaceuticals now detected in UK rivers, and the solutions that could help protect both wildlife and human health.
It’s a fascinating journey—from the pharmacy to the sewer pipe, and into the natural world. A story of unintended consequences… and why they matter.

Relevant resources we discuss:
-Pharmaceutical Pollution of the English National Parks
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/etc.5973

-Pharmaceutical wastewater as Emerging Contaminants (EC): Treatment technologies, impact on environment and human health https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nexus.2022.100076

-Streams of medicines: what’s hiding in the UK’s waterways? – The Guardian: Science Weekly podcast
https://www.theguardian.com/science/audio/2025/apr/08/streams-of-medicines-whats-hiding-in-the-uks-waterways-podcast

As with all of our guests, Alistair shares with us his Memory Evoking Medicine, a career anthem and book that has influenced his life. 

From Prescription to Ocean — A TEDx Talk by Jamie Hayes
We’re incredibly proud to share that Aural Apothecary co-host Jamie Hayes has taken to the TEDx stage with a thought-provoking talk:  Prescription to Ocean: The Hidden Impact of Medicines
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swCLNaAG5qY

Jamie explores a fascinating and urgent question: What happens to our medicines once they leave the prescription pad — and how do they impact the world beyond the patient? It’s a journey that connects healthcare, the environment, and our shared responsibility for the future. You’ll never think about prescribing (or taking) medicines in quite the same way again.

Please take a few minutes to watch, reflect, and share — this is a conversation worth having.

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