The Spreads and the Uniqueness of the Controversial Toxic Pharmaceutic Contrast Agents and Their Remediation.

Abstract

The ongoing gadolinium toxicity concerns have resulted in progressive regulations and restrictions of gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs). However, there are no regulations regulating Gd levels in the water sector to date. Therefore, the fast spreading of the anthropogenic Gd in the various hydrosphere, which serves as a source of drinking water for the populace, is worrisome. Evidently, with no hope of breaking this increasing trend any time soon due to the increasing demand for MRI administration. Sadly, conventional wastewater and advanced water treatment do not adequately remove GBCAs from water. Instead, it risks transforming them into a more toxic Gd from its chelated complex through unintentional degradation. This transformation led to undue exposure to its potential ecotoxicity and adverse human health effects like acute renal adverse reactions, acute non-renal adverse reactions, body pains, chronic skin changes, twitching or weakness, chronic eyes, and cognitive, flu-like symptoms, and digestive symptoms. Therefore, an affordable and manageable hybrid water treatment system is proposed suitable for reclamation of free and chelated Gd in aquatic environments.