Impact of Pharmaceutical Contaminants in the Environment

• Published in: Environmental Contaminants Vol. 1; pp. 167 - 202
• Main Authors: Jayalakshmi, Konappan, Sangeetha, Ananda Baskaran, Sasikala, Manickam, Selvi, Chellamuthu, Paramasivam, Mariappan
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: United Kingdom Apple Academic Press 2024; Apple Academic Press, Incorporated
• Edition: 1
• Subjects: GC-MS; LC-MS; antidepressants; pharmaceuticals; antibiotics
• DOI: 10.1201/9781003412236-7
• ISBN: 9781774913970; 9781774913963; 1774913976; 1774913968

Pharmaceutical compounds are essential for human and animal health. However, their widespread use in hospitals, domestic residences, animal husbandry, aquaculture, agriculture and manufacturing industries has increased their discharge into water, soil, air, and food. Pharmaceutical contaminants are detected in ground waters, surface waters (lakes, rivers, and streams), sea water, wastewater treatment plants, soils, and sludges. These compounds have become environmental pollutants in recent years 168causing both chronic and acute harmful effects on natural flora and fauna. The pharmaceutical contaminants in the environment are most commonly extracted by using solid-phase extraction and pressurized liquid extraction and analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The pharmaceutical pollutions in the ecosystem may be minimized by the implementation of programme such as take-back strategies, pyrolysis-gasification waste treatment technology, manure composting, site-specific disposal/destruction of waste from hospital and nursing homes, and development of sustainable green pharmacy in the future.