Residuos farmacéuticos como precursores de contaminantes emergentes en el recurso hídrico: una revisión de métodos, alternativas de tratamiento e impacto ambiental

Abstract

The presence and increase of emerging contaminants (EC) of pharmaceutical origin in water matrices have become a major environmental problem. These pharmaceutical pollutants are often persistent, come from various sources, and have gone almost unnoticed in recent years, as well as their effects on health and the environment. Therefore, it is essential to study and apply methodologies for the determination of these pollutants and, in the same way, mechanisms for their treatment that lead to a decrease in their environmental effects. This work was focused on reviewing the main methods for determining EC of pharmaceutical origin in water belonging to three therapeutic classes (antibiotics, analgesics & antihypertensives) and identifying efficient technologies for their treatment, and finally, evaluating the environmental impact. For this purpose, articles published mainly in the databases of Science Direct, Springer, Scopus, Scielo, etc. were collected. With a 5-year research window compared to the current one (2017-2021). In summary, this research and critical analysis of information play an important role as an orientation tool in the field of chemistry, when it comes to monitoring and treating emerging contaminants of pharmaceutical origin in water resources