Christine Vatovec, University of Vermont (IMAGE) University of Vermont Caption University of Vermont professor Christine Vatovec follows the flow from pharmacy drug purchases to here: a wastewater treatment plant in Burlington, Vermont. She co-led a first-of-its-kind study that found that less than one percent of students surveyed reported flushing any drugs down the drain in the last year. And the team's study of the wastewater backs up what the students self-reported. This new study contradicts a common assumption of scientists that flushing is a major source of pharmaceutical pollution. Credit Andy Duback Usage Restrictions with coverage of associated story License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.