Drug residues in water: the emerging targets in biosensing

Abstract

While bringing many benefits to society, the trace presence of pharmaceuticals (drugs, personal care products) in freshwater and water-bodies has become a worldwide issue of increasing concern. About 2.000 active pharmaceutical ingredients are being administered worldwide in prescription medicines, over-the-counter therapeutic drugs and veterinary drugs, as well as human health. Their presence is witnessed in all types of water bodies such as fresh water, surface water, ground and drinking water, sewage, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and agricultural effluents with a low concentration ranging up to ng.L-1 (ppt). These are water-soluble agents but not biodegradable, thus they can accumulate and pose a harmful effect to human health and ecosystem. These factors result in the presence of pharmaceutical traces in the raw influent of the WWTPs. Even if the Water Framework Directive requires European countries to monitor certain substances classified as "priority pollutants", measurement campaigns have highlighted diffuse and persistent pollution of surface water by drugs and PCP called emerging pollutants, refractory to conventional wastewater treatment.