Occurrence, sources and fate of pharmaceuticals and personal care products and artificial sweeteners in groundwater

Groundwater is considered as the main source for supplying the public drinking water in many countries and regions; however, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and artificial sweeteners (ASs) found in groundwater can exert harmful effects on human health and aquatic ecosystems, and therefore, they are of persistent concern. The recent data on the occurrence of a series of PPCPs (including antibiotics, excitants and lipid regulators) and ASs often detected in groundwater are reviewed, in which the PPCPs and ASs occur in groundwater at the concentration from several nanograms to several micrograms per litre. In addition, the spatio-temporal distribution characteristics of PPCPs and ASs are discussed and the main sources and possibly pollution pathways of PPCPs and ASs in groundwater are summarised and analysed. Additionally, the adsorption, migration and degradation of PPCPs and ASs in underground environments are evaluated. Due to the long residence time in groundwater, pollutants are likely to threaten the freshwater body for decades under certain conditions. Therefore, according to the current level of pollution, it is necessary to improve and enhance the supervision on PPCP and AS pollutants and prevent and control groundwater pollution.

Automated summary

Groundwater is a main source for public drinking water in many areas, but the presence of pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and artificial sweeteners can have harmful effects on both human health and aquatic ecosystems. Monitoring and control of these pollutants in groundwater is essential to prevent long-term threats to freshwater bodies.