Occurrence of pharmaceuticals in aquatic environment–a review
Barbara Gworek, Marta Kijeńska, Magdalena Zaborowska, Justyna Wrzosek, Lidia Tokarz, Jarosław Chmielewski
Abstract
ABSTRACT Pharmaceuticals are long-lasting, biologically active substances that, when discharged into the natural environment, affect ecosystem stability. The presence of increasing amounts of pharmaceuticals and their transformation products in the environment has been a subject of growing interest due to their impact on living organisms, including human health. The incidence of pharmaceuticals and their transformation products has been so far recorded in surface and ground waters, drinking water, bottom sediments, soils, wastewater, and sewage sludge, as well as in animal organisms. A wide range of pharmaceuticals, including analgesics, antibiotics, and stimulant drugs are found in water resources. The pharmaceuticals commonly present in the environment are pharmaceuticals such as diclofenac, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, paracetamol, carbamazepine, fluoxetine, gemfibrozil, clofibric acid and caffeine. The article presents issues related to the presence of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment and their content in waters.