Water Contamination by Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products and Their Impact on Aquatic Organism

Abstract

In recent years, pharmaceuticals and personal care products have received increasing attention as significant contaminants in the aquatic environment, especially due to the potential threat to human populations and aquatic ecosystems. After application or use, these substances enter the aquatic environment mainly through imperfectly purified wastewater. Residues of these substances or their metabolites pose a danger to non-target species, as these substances have been designed to have an effect even at low concentrations. The life cycle of many aquatic organisms also takes place in water, and the action of these substances then results in multigenerational exposure. Although these substances are not present in high concentrations in the aquatic environment and do not cause acute toxicity, chronic exposure may occur. The aim of this review is to summarize the existing knowledge about drugs and personal care products detected in the aquatic environment and their possible effects on aquatic biota.