A Review of Pharmaceutical Compounds as an Emerging Aquatic Pollutant

Because of the negative effects on aquatic organisms, pharmaceutical compounds in the aquatic ecosystem are becoming a growing global concern. Pharmaceutical compounds from various drug classes and metabolites have been detected in various aquatic environments and are due to the improper disposal and sewage treatment. There is information available about the acute toxicity of some pharmaceutical compounds. However, chronic toxicity and its potential consequences in aquatic organisms are poorly understood. This review focuses on the environmental concentrations of major pharmaceutical classes, their mode of action in aquatic organisms, and their Eco toxicological effects based on current knowledge about pharmaceuticals in the environment. It is concluded that more targeted Eco toxicological studies are required in the future for better and more comprehensive risk assessments of pharmaceutical compounds.