Abstract
Recently, the increased use of monocyclic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs has resulted in their presence in the environment. This may have potential negative effects on living organisms. The biotransformation mechanisms of monocyclic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the human body and in other mammals occur by hydroxylation and conjugation with glycine or glucuronic acid. Biotransformation/biodegradation of monocyclic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the environment may be caused by fungal or bacterial microorganisms. Salicylic acid derivatives are degraded by catechol or gentisate as intermediates which are cleaved by dioxygenases. The key intermediate of the paracetamol degradation pathways is hydroquinone. Sometimes, after hydrolysis of this drug, 4-aminophenol is formed, which is a dead-end metabolite. Ibuprofen is metabolized by hydroxylation or activation with CoA, resulting in the formation of isobutylocatechol. The aim of this work is to attempt to summarize the knowledge about environmental risk connected with the presence of over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs, their sources and the biotransformation and/or biodegradation pathways of these drugs.
Highlights
In an age of high level care of human health, many pharmaceuticals are commonly used to cure or prevent diseases and other ailments, such as headache, muscle pain, or inflammatory conditions
non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are observed in the environment in low concentrations, there is little known about the longterm effects of low concentrations of these drugs on living organisms
Metabolites of drugs are not taken into account in toxicity tests; it is difficult to evaluate the real risk of NSAIDs and their metabolites on the environment (Webb 2004)
Summary
In an age of high level care of human health, many pharmaceuticals are commonly used to cure or prevent diseases and other ailments, such as headache, muscle pain, or inflammatory conditions. In connection with the presence of NSAIDs in the environment, there is a risk of long-term exposure, causing chronic toxic effect in organisms living there This may cause negative effects for living creatures and the accumulation of drugs or their metabolites in the food chain (Carlsson et al 2006; Sosnowska et al 2009). 355 Page 2 of 13 the fact that we can find them in the environment suggests that sewage treatment plants are not currently adapted to completely remove these drugs before they reach the environment. The main aim of this work is a compilation of the actual knowledge about sources and risks connected with the presence of monocyclic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the environment. Authors describe microbiological degradation of the three most widespread painkillers, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory and over-the-counter drugs— acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol, and ibuprofen
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