2 Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in East African water resources: progress, challenges, and future

Abstract

The increased concern among environmental scientists in East Africa, and improved access to state of-the-art technologies have seen an exponential rise in scientific data on the occurrence of chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) in East African water resources and research on their removal from water. Among the recently reported CECs of interest in East Africa are pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) and per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This chapter discusses the recent data on the sources, progress, and challenges in the management of PPCPs and PFAS as emerging contaminants in the East African region. Pollution control and abatement measures are also outlined with recommendations for future studies and directions in CECs management in the continent. Both PPCPs and PFAS are reported in water resources in East African countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia with mass loading concentrations as high as above 1000 mg day−1. The findings reveal there exists still a paucity of research work in most East African nations and the underlying risks remain largely unknown.