The MGM Medical College and Hospital, Navi Mumbai, recently organised a national seminar on 'Environmental Pharmacology, in view of the rising environmental pollution and its effect on the human pharmacology.

Delivering the keynote address Dr YK Gupta, prof and head of the department of Pharmacology, AIIMS, Delhi, emphasised on the need for setting up facility to detect pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of biomedical waste. He has further elaborated the return of detectable levels of drugs, metabolites and API to human body through water, food, air and non-vegetarian items.

Talking at the occasion Dr Himanshu Tayade, medical advisor, Meyer Organics Pvt Ltd, explained on the details about tremendous hazards following the use of artificial colours and flavours as compared to natural alternatives in pharmaceutical preparations, especially in children.

Himanshu Tayade supported the session with examples about ban on synthetic colours in the international area as compared to their continued use in many commonly used pharmaceutical preparations in our country. He also addressed that Meyer Organics Pvt Ltd is the pioneer in this concept of adding natural colours and flavours in paediatric pharmaceutical preparations.

Earlier making the introductory remarks Dr Sudhir Dagaonkar, head of the department, pharmacology and clinical research, MGM Medical College and Hospital, presented the international data on the detectable levels of antidepressants, anti metabolites and antibiotics even after careful disposal of biomedical waste.

Dr Jaisingh Phadtare, professor, Grant Medical College and Hospital, spoke on the effects of environmental pollution on respiratory therapeutics. The programme has witnessed the participation PG medical students, the medical teachers from the institute and the practicing doctors.

The seminar took a decision to make efforts for wide spread awareness about the impact of environmental changes on human pharmacology.