Pharmaceutical Compounds in Aquatic Environments—Occurrence, Fate and Bioremediation Prospective

Abstract

Various contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) have been detected in different ecosystems, posing a threat to living organisms and the environment. Pharmaceuticals are among the many CECs that enter the environment through different pathways, with wastewater treatment plants being the main input of these pollutants. Several technologies for the removal of these pollutants have been developed through the years, but there is still a lack of sustainable technologies suitable for being applied in natural environments. In this regard, solutions based on natural biological processes are attractive for the recovery of contaminated environments. Bioremediation is one of these natural-based solutions and takes advantage of the capacity of microorganisms to degrade different organic pollutants. Degradation of pollutants by native microorganisms is already known to be an important detoxification mechanism that is involved in natural attenuation processes that occur in the environment. Thus, bioremediation technologies based on the selection of natural degrading bacteria seem to be a promising clean-up technology suitable for application in natural environments. In this review, an overview of the occurrence and fate of pharmaceuticals is carried out, in which bioremediation tools are explored for the removal of these pollutants from impacted environments.

A Review on Contaminants of Emerging Concern in the Environment: A Focus on Active Chemicals in Sub-Saharan Africa

“…Utilization of novel techniques in monitoring-such as chemical and biochemical nanosensors-is necessary [16,[192][193][194][195][196]. For areas facing environmental pollution, bioremediation techniques such as biosorption can be used for clean-up and, hence, restore the natural situation [197][198][199][200][201]. This can help to build functioning ecosystems and, hence, sustainability.…”

Evaluation of the Bioelectrochemical Approach and Different Electron Donors for Biological Trichloroethylene Reductive Dechlorination

“…As new sustainable and eco-friendly strategies are gaining attention [7], bioremediation technologies have been of increasing interest to the science community [8][9][10]. These technologies are based on the activity of specific microorganisms, whose metabolism can transform the contaminant into less toxic and hazardous compounds [11]. For instance, the most important microorganism involved in the degradation of chlorinated compounds is Dehalococcoides mccarty (Dhc), which can eliminate chlorine atoms (by the reductive dechlorination (RD) pathway) from the carbon skeleton of perchloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE) up to the formation of ethylene, a completely harmless Toxics 2022, 10, 37 2 of 12 molecule [12].…”

Computational Modelling and Sustainable Synthesis of a Highly Selective Electrochemical MIP-Based Sensor for Citalopram Detection

“…According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) statistics, the use of antidepressants doubled in 28 OECD countries between 2000 and 2017 [ 1 , 2 ]. Currently, their consumption levels are breaking records, and increased inputs of these compounds into environmental compartments have been reported by the scientific community [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. In the future, some authors believe that this problem of emerging concern will be amplified as an immediate effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of the communities [ 5 , 8 , 9 ].…”

“…This compound is a racemic mixture of R(−) and S(+) enantiomers, but its desired pharmacological effect appears to reside mainly in the S-enantiomer [ 13 , 14 ]. In comparison with the previously introduced tricyclic antidepressants, CTL offers advantages owing to its therapeutic profile, superior acceptability, and safety, which justifies its popularity in the treatment of major depressive disorders [ 3 , 15 , 16 ]. In parallel, there is limited information on its environmental fate and toxicity, raising concerns regarding the potential effects on exposed wildlife [ 17 , 18 , 19 ].…”