ABSTRACT:The distribution of three typical pharmaceutical contaminants, caffeine, naproxen, and diclofenac was investigated in a typical municipal sewage treatment plant and the removal was analyzed in various treatment processes. The results show that all treatment units could affect the removal of pharmaceutical pollutants, of which, anaerobic tank, A 2 O biological treatment tank, and secondary clarifier had more effect than other units. It was found that activated sludge could adsorb and accumulate most of pharmaceutical contaminants.