From Prescription to Pollution: The Impact of Pharmaceuticals on the Environment

It is no secret that the pharmaceutical industry in Canada is a thriving business. In 2021, the total value of pharmaceuticals sold reached $34.1 billion, with roughly 33,000 people employed in manufacturing these drugs (Government of Canada, 2024). Many of us rely on these medications, whether you are popping an Advil for that annoying headache, or reaching for the antihistamines for those seasonal allergies. But have you ever wondered where these consumed medications go after they’ve done their job? You might assume they’re completely used up by your body to cure your ailments, but that’s not always the case.

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CRISPR: With great power comes great responsibility

When you think of CRISPR, the gene-editing tool, you might picture a dystopian future with designer babies, or perhaps a sci-fi scenario like Peter Parker gaining superpowers from a spider bite that alters his DNA. But in reality, CRISPR is far from either of those extremes (sorry to anyone hoping to become the next Spiderman). Instead, it's becoming one of the most promising breakthroughs in medicine, and it's all happening right now.

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AI Does More Damage Than We Really Think

Black Mirror is a popular Netflix show that showcases instances of futuristic applications of technology.  It is unsettling and eerie and yet, we have already experienced some of the examples shown in Black Mirror. As we advance in technology in innovative and beautiful ways, its use for sinister and heinous motives also surfaces.

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The creepy, crawly, scaly, and slimy–the most misunderstood-y

As a former wildlife educator at an animal sanctuary, I have learned when snakes hiss, it’s not a threat but a warning – they may be shedding, digesting, or in another state of vulnerability. When they wrap around us, they are not trying to constrict us, but to soak up our warmth. After all, cold-blooded does not mean cold-hearted, it means they require external heat to regulate their body temperature.

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