Various researchers have shown long term impacts of pharmaceuticals in environment (Mompelat et al. 2009; Boxall et al. 2012). Pharmaceuticals and their
metabolites even in trace amounts have been detected in aquatic (drinking water,
groundwater, and surface water) and terrestrial environment (Vieno et al. 2007;
Vulliet et al. 2011). A remarkable portion of pharmaceuticals is released in various
environmental sectors as parent, secondary metabolites and conjugate forms (Zhou
et al. 2012). Increasing use of pharmaceutical compounds and their frequent discharge in the environment is making stressful conditions for less efficient wastewater
treatment systems. In addition, the presence of pharmaceutical compounds can also
pose danger by reuse of treated wastewater (Behera et al. 2011). Due to partial
removal potential of WWTPs and uncontrolled discharge, assorted range of various
antibiotics have been found in surface water, groundwater, sediments, soil, and
animal manure which trigger off the detrimental effects in non-targeted organisms
(Song et al. 2010; Leung et al. 2013).
13.2.1 Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs)
Environmental occurrence of pharmaceuticals genuinely depends on the production
rate, the dosage, their usage, environmental persistence, metabolic activities along
with the removal efficiency of wastewater treatment plants (Jelic et al. 2011).
Generally, wastewater containing pharmaceutical compounds generates from
numerous sources like hospitals, health care centers, veterinary clinics, research
laboratories, households, and pharmaceutical manufacturing units and ultimately
reaches to WWTPs before discharging in the aquatic environment. Though the
removal of pharmaceuticals in WWTPs is found improper in various studies,
because of type of treatment processes, their compound specific properties,
WWTPs related factors, amount and patterns of pollutants, etc. (Gulkowska et al.
2008).
Mainly WWTPs consist of a primary kind of treatment system as physicochemical treatment and secondary treatment which comprises biological treatment initiated
by activated sludge (Douziech et al. 2018). These conventional treatment plants have
inadequate potential to eliminate pharmaceuticals from wastewater. Various refractory compounds do not degrade even by microorganisms and may reduce the
microbial activity and thus they accumulate in the food chain. Though further
research is requisite on the improvement of efficiency of traditional WWTPs
(Rivera-Utrilla et al. 2013).
13.2.2 Groundwater
Groundwater is the key contributor in many streams and rivers and consequently it is
very important for rivers and wetland habitats flora and fauna. In the past few years
the threat of emerging pollutants in groundwater contamination is increased due to
climate change, unawareness, increasing demands of pharmaceuticals, and
13 Pharmaceuticals: An Emerging Problem of Environment and Its Removal. . .
271
metabolites even in trace amounts have been detected in aquatic (drinking water,
groundwater, and surface water) and terrestrial environment (Vieno et al. 2007;
Vulliet et al. 2011). A remarkable portion of pharmaceuticals is released in various
environmental sectors as parent, secondary metabolites and conjugate forms (Zhou
et al. 2012). Increasing use of pharmaceutical compounds and their frequent discharge in the environment is making stressful conditions for less efficient wastewater
treatment systems. In addition, the presence of pharmaceutical compounds can also
pose danger by reuse of treated wastewater (Behera et al. 2011). Due to partial
removal potential of WWTPs and uncontrolled discharge, assorted range of various
antibiotics have been found in surface water, groundwater, sediments, soil, and
animal manure which trigger off the detrimental effects in non-targeted organisms
(Song et al. 2010; Leung et al. 2013).
13.2.1 Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs)
Environmental occurrence of pharmaceuticals genuinely depends on the production
rate, the dosage, their usage, environmental persistence, metabolic activities along
with the removal efficiency of wastewater treatment plants (Jelic et al. 2011).
Generally, wastewater containing pharmaceutical compounds generates from
numerous sources like hospitals, health care centers, veterinary clinics, research
laboratories, households, and pharmaceutical manufacturing units and ultimately
reaches to WWTPs before discharging in the aquatic environment. Though the
removal of pharmaceuticals in WWTPs is found improper in various studies,
because of type of treatment processes, their compound specific properties,
WWTPs related factors, amount and patterns of pollutants, etc. (Gulkowska et al.
2008).
Mainly WWTPs consist of a primary kind of treatment system as physicochemical treatment and secondary treatment which comprises biological treatment initiated
by activated sludge (Douziech et al. 2018). These conventional treatment plants have
inadequate potential to eliminate pharmaceuticals from wastewater. Various refractory compounds do not degrade even by microorganisms and may reduce the
microbial activity and thus they accumulate in the food chain. Though further
research is requisite on the improvement of efficiency of traditional WWTPs
(Rivera-Utrilla et al. 2013).
13.2.2 Groundwater
Groundwater is the key contributor in many streams and rivers and consequently it is
very important for rivers and wetland habitats flora and fauna. In the past few years
the threat of emerging pollutants in groundwater contamination is increased due to
climate change, unawareness, increasing demands of pharmaceuticals, and
13 Pharmaceuticals: An Emerging Problem of Environment and Its Removal. . .
271