Occurrence, fate and removal of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) in water and wastewater treatment plants—A review

Abstract

This paper reviews the occurrence of Pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) in water and wastewater worldwide as well as their fate, focusing on the removal by conventional water and wastewater treatment plants and the risk imposed to human health associated to the presence of PhACs in raw and drinking water. For this, it was assessed 23 drinking water treatment plants and 30 municipal wastewater treatment plants around the world of different capacities. Due to the high stability, intrinsic characteristics and low concentration, adsorption to the sludge and biodegradation are the most used path to remove of these compounds in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). In water treatment plants (WTP), chlorination and application of activated granular carbon are the processes associated with the highest removal of pharmaceutical compounds, but, in general, conventional WTPs are able to reduce but not completely remove PhACs in potable water. Carbamazepine, gemfizobril and fenofibrate are found to be the PhACs that risks to human health could not be excluded. This indicates the necessity of investments in advanced techniques for the treatment of water and wastewater. The results also point to the need for more studies focusing on the determination of guideline values for drinking water of more PhACs.