Persistence, environmental hazards, and mitigation of pharmaceutically active residual contaminants from water matrices

Pharmaceutical compounds are designed to elicit a biological reaction in specific organisms. However, they may also elicit a biological response in non-specific organisms when exposed to ambient quantities. Therefore, the potential human health hazards and environmental effects associated with pharmaceutically active compounds presented in aquatic environments are being studied by researchers all over the world. Owing to their broad-spectrum occurrence in various environmental matrices, direct or indirect environmental hazardous impacts, and human-health related consequences, several pharmaceutically active compounds have been categorized as emerging contaminants (ECs) of top concern. ECs are often recalcitrant and resistant to abate from water matrices. In this review, we have examined the classification, occurrence, and environmental hazards of pharmaceutically active compounds. Moreover, because of their toxicity and the inefficiency of wastewater treatment plants to remove pharmaceutical pollutants, novel wastewater remediation technologies are urgently required. Thus, we have also analyzed the recent advances in microbes assisted bioremediation as a suitable, cost-effective, and eco-friendly alternative for the decontamination of pharmaceutical pollutants. Finally, the most important factors to reach optimal bioremediation are discussed.

Automated summary

Pharmaceutical compounds can elicit biological reactions in non-specific organisms in addition to the specific organisms they are designed for. Researchers worldwide are studying the potential human health hazards and environmental effects associated with these compounds in aquatic environments. The presence of these pharmaceutically active compounds in various environmental matrices has categorized them as emerging contaminants. Due to their resistance and the inefficiency of current wastewater treatment methods, novel wastewater remediation technologies, such as microbes assisted bioremediation, are urgently needed.