Occurrence, transformation, bioaccumulation, risk and analysis of pharmaceutical and personal care products from wastewater: a review

Almost all aspects of society from food security to disease control and prevention have benefited from pharmaceutical and personal care products, yet these products are a major source of contamination that ends up in wastewater and ecosystems. This issue has been sharply accentuated during the coronavirus disease pandemic 2019 (COVID-19) due to the higher use of disinfectants and other products. Here we review pharmaceutical and personal care products with focus on their occurrence in the environment, detection, risk, and removal.

Automated summary

Pharmaceutical and personal care products have benefited various aspects of society, but they are also a major source of contamination. This issue has been magnified during the COVID-19 pandemic due to increased use of disinfectants and other products. This review examines the occurrence, detection, risk, and removal of pharmaceutical and personal care products in the environment.