259
© Springer Nature B.V. 2020
G. Sindona et al. (eds.), Toxic Chemical and Biological Agents, NATO Science
for Peace and Security Series A: Chemistry and Biology,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-2041-8_27
Chapter 27
Fluoroquinolones in Water: Removal
Attemps by Innovative Aops
Laura Scrano, Luca Foti, and F. Lelario
27.1 Introduction
Water pollution is becoming dramatic because of increasingly invasive and deleterious anthropic activities.
A significant number of contaminants called “Emerging Pollutants” (EPs) resulting from point and diffuse pollution are present in the aquatic environment.
These compounds, belonging to pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, surfactants, personal care products, analgesics, antibiotics, hormones and a whole range
of other pharmaceutical compounds including anti-inflammatory, anti- diabetic, and
antiepileptic drugs, are not commonly monitored but have the potential to enter the
environment and cause adverse ecological and human health effects [1].
The threat lies in the fact that the environmental and human toxinology of most
of these compounds has not been well addressed yet and many of these compounds
are not removed by the conventional WasteWater Treatment Plants (WWTPs).
Moreover, when these contaminants pass through the drinking water treatment systems undergo trasformations that generate derivative substances whose chemical
properties remain undetermined. For this reason, it is necessary to try to find lowcost and easy-to-handle alternative methods to solve this vast problem.
Fluoroquinolones, which are powerful antibiotics used in human and veterinary
medicine for the treatment of diseases and infections are among the drugs most
frequently found in environmental waters along with sulfonamides, tetracyclines
and macrolides. The synergistic action of these drugs can cause what is known as
“bacterial resistance”, which is the cause of 700,000 annually people death in
worldwide due to resistant infections according to Joint Research Center (JRC)
L. Scrano (*) · L. Foti · F. Lelario
University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
e-mail: c.alaura.scrano@unibas.it; luca.foti@unibas.it
© Springer Nature B.V. 2020
G. Sindona et al. (eds.), Toxic Chemical and Biological Agents, NATO Science
for Peace and Security Series A: Chemistry and Biology,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-2041-8_27
Chapter 27
Fluoroquinolones in Water: Removal
Attemps by Innovative Aops
Laura Scrano, Luca Foti, and F. Lelario
27.1 Introduction
Water pollution is becoming dramatic because of increasingly invasive and deleterious anthropic activities.
A significant number of contaminants called “Emerging Pollutants” (EPs) resulting from point and diffuse pollution are present in the aquatic environment.
These compounds, belonging to pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, surfactants, personal care products, analgesics, antibiotics, hormones and a whole range
of other pharmaceutical compounds including anti-inflammatory, anti- diabetic, and
antiepileptic drugs, are not commonly monitored but have the potential to enter the
environment and cause adverse ecological and human health effects [1].
The threat lies in the fact that the environmental and human toxinology of most
of these compounds has not been well addressed yet and many of these compounds
are not removed by the conventional WasteWater Treatment Plants (WWTPs).
Moreover, when these contaminants pass through the drinking water treatment systems undergo trasformations that generate derivative substances whose chemical
properties remain undetermined. For this reason, it is necessary to try to find lowcost and easy-to-handle alternative methods to solve this vast problem.
Fluoroquinolones, which are powerful antibiotics used in human and veterinary
medicine for the treatment of diseases and infections are among the drugs most
frequently found in environmental waters along with sulfonamides, tetracyclines
and macrolides. The synergistic action of these drugs can cause what is known as
“bacterial resistance”, which is the cause of 700,000 annually people death in
worldwide due to resistant infections according to Joint Research Center (JRC)
L. Scrano (*) · L. Foti · F. Lelario
University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy
e-mail: c.alaura.scrano@unibas.it; luca.foti@unibas.it