Editing Composting toilet (section)

===Pharmaceutical residues===
Waste-derived compost may contain [[Prescription drug|prescription]] [[pharmaceuticals]]. Such residues are also present in conventional [[sewage treatment]] effluent. This could [[groundwater pollution|contaminate groundwater]]. Among the medications that have been found in groundwater in recent years are [[antibiotic]]s, [[antidepressant]]s, [[blood thinner]]s, [[ACE inhibitor]]s, [[calcium-channel blocker]]s, [[digoxin]], [[estrogen]], [[progesterone]], [[testosterone (medication)|testosterone]], [[Ibuprofen]], [[caffeine]], [[carbamazepine]], [[fibrate]]s and [[cholesterol]]-reducing medications.<ref>{{cite book |title= Drugs in the Water |year= 2011|publisher= Harvard Health Letter |url=http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Health_Letter/2011/June/drugs-in-the-water}}</ref> Between 30% and 95% of pharmaceuticals medications are excreted by the human body. Medications that are [[lipophilic]] (dissolved in fats) are more likely to reach groundwater by leaching from fecal wastes. Sewage treatment plants remove an average of 60% of these medications.<ref>Encyclopedia of Quantitative Risk Analysis and Assessment, Volume 1, edited by Edward L. Melnick, Brian S. Veritt, 2008</ref> The percentage of medications degraded during composting of waste has not yet been reported.