226
S. Manna et al.
contaminated with PPCPs. This study also suggested that these types of pollutants
causing ecological imbalance in the region (USEPA 2014).
PPCPs are comprised of an extremely varied set of compounds to be used in agricultural practice, veterinary medicine, human health, and cosmetic care. This group of
pollutants is considered as pseudo-persistent pollutants, although their polar nature,
short half-lifetime, and trace concentrations in water (Petrovic et al. 2009). This
is because a multitude of individuals frequently used these types of chemicals and
eventually discharged into the environment. Subsequently, either due to non-treated
or insufficient wastewater treatment they come into the drinking water resources.
PPCPs contain a diverse set of functional groups such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, ketone,
and amine which make them more complex in nature. It should be noted that pharmaceuticals classified as per their active substances within subgroups of a pharmaceuticals does not signify that they always follow certain chemical behaviors. Small
changes in the chemical structure often significantly changes solubility, polarity, and
other properties of these pollutants. Distribution of these types of pollutants in air,
water, sediments, soils, and animals is largely dependent on these types of changes
(Kummerer 2009).
Several European and American countries have classified pharmaceuticals and
personal care products which includes antibiotics, bacteriostatics, analgesics, and
anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-epileptics, β-blockers, cytostatics, blood lipid regulators, hormones, musk fragrances, antidepressants, disinfectants, and antiseptics.
Detail chemical properties and corresponding toxicity data of those PPCPs have
been reported with Tables 10.1 and 10.2.
In this chapter, toxicity and fate of PPCPs have been discussed. Also, the removal
processes of PPCPs are discussed critically to understand their pros and cons.
10.2 Types of Personal Care Products and Pharmaceuticals
Found in Water
10.2.1 Personal Care Products
Among the chemicals used in the preparation of personal care products, diethyl
phthalate (DEP) is a decent example as it is used widely in cosmetic fragrance mixtures. A list of such chemicals with their health effects has been shown in Table 10.3.
It is often suspected that phthalates can disrupt the endocrine functionality by reducing the sperm count in men. Also, it is often linked with the reproductive defects
in the developing male fetus. Moreover, metabolites of phthalate often associated
with insulin resistance and obesity in men (Stahlhut et al. 2007). Report indicated
that exposure to phthalate can cause liver and kidney failure in children. Thus, the
Health Canada banned six types of phthalates in children’s toys. Manufacturers are
not bound to write itemized individual components on the product label. Rather they
listed generic term representative of a furtive combination of dozens of substances.
S. Manna et al.
contaminated with PPCPs. This study also suggested that these types of pollutants
causing ecological imbalance in the region (USEPA 2014).
PPCPs are comprised of an extremely varied set of compounds to be used in agricultural practice, veterinary medicine, human health, and cosmetic care. This group of
pollutants is considered as pseudo-persistent pollutants, although their polar nature,
short half-lifetime, and trace concentrations in water (Petrovic et al. 2009). This
is because a multitude of individuals frequently used these types of chemicals and
eventually discharged into the environment. Subsequently, either due to non-treated
or insufficient wastewater treatment they come into the drinking water resources.
PPCPs contain a diverse set of functional groups such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, ketone,
and amine which make them more complex in nature. It should be noted that pharmaceuticals classified as per their active substances within subgroups of a pharmaceuticals does not signify that they always follow certain chemical behaviors. Small
changes in the chemical structure often significantly changes solubility, polarity, and
other properties of these pollutants. Distribution of these types of pollutants in air,
water, sediments, soils, and animals is largely dependent on these types of changes
(Kummerer 2009).
Several European and American countries have classified pharmaceuticals and
personal care products which includes antibiotics, bacteriostatics, analgesics, and
anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-epileptics, β-blockers, cytostatics, blood lipid regulators, hormones, musk fragrances, antidepressants, disinfectants, and antiseptics.
Detail chemical properties and corresponding toxicity data of those PPCPs have
been reported with Tables 10.1 and 10.2.
In this chapter, toxicity and fate of PPCPs have been discussed. Also, the removal
processes of PPCPs are discussed critically to understand their pros and cons.
10.2 Types of Personal Care Products and Pharmaceuticals
Found in Water
10.2.1 Personal Care Products
Among the chemicals used in the preparation of personal care products, diethyl
phthalate (DEP) is a decent example as it is used widely in cosmetic fragrance mixtures. A list of such chemicals with their health effects has been shown in Table 10.3.
It is often suspected that phthalates can disrupt the endocrine functionality by reducing the sperm count in men. Also, it is often linked with the reproductive defects
in the developing male fetus. Moreover, metabolites of phthalate often associated
with insulin resistance and obesity in men (Stahlhut et al. 2007). Report indicated
that exposure to phthalate can cause liver and kidney failure in children. Thus, the
Health Canada banned six types of phthalates in children’s toys. Manufacturers are
not bound to write itemized individual components on the product label. Rather they
listed generic term representative of a furtive combination of dozens of substances.