Pharmaceutical wastewater as Emerging Contaminants (EC): Treatment technologies, impact on environment and human health

Abstract

A wide range of unregulated chemicals of synthetic origin or derived from natural sources, which may be a contender for future regulations are called Emerging Contaminants (ECs). The concentration of ECs ranges from ng/L to μg/L, which is comparatively smaller as compared to other pollutants present in water and wastewater. Even though the environmental concentration is low, ECs still possess a great threat to the humans and ecosystem. These compounds are being widely studied due to their potential health effects, pervasive nature, and difficult degradation through conventional techniques. Pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs) or pharmaceutical contaminants (PCs) are one of the major groups of ECs which can cause inimical effect on living organisms even at very lower concentration. These contaminants don't degrade easily and persistent for longer periods in the environment due to their stable structure. With the increase in demand of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs), there has been a sharp increase of these pollutants in water bodies. This is mainly due to the inefficiency of conventional wastewater treatment plants in treatment and removal of these PhACs. The proper identification of pharmaceutical groups and development of removal techniques is crucial in the recent times. This review represents a comprehensive summary on PCs, various groups of PCs and an overview of approaches and treatment systems available for their removal. Efficient and effective treatment methods can be useful for completely eradicating these compounds and making the water bodies safe for use. So, the investment of capital and time on research on PCs and their removal techniques can be beneficial for the future.