Removal Of Pharmaceutical Compounds Research Articles

Sequential high-recovery nanofiltration and electrochemical degradation for the treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater

The presence of antibiotics in aquatic ecosystems poses a significant concern for public health and aquatic life, owing to their contribution to the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Effective wastewater treatment strategies are needed to ensure that discharges from pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities are adequately controlled. Here we propose the sequential use of nanofiltration (NF) for concentrating a real pharmaceutical effluent derived from azithromycin production, followed by electrochemical oxidation for thorough removal of pharmaceutical compounds. The NF membrane demonstrated its capability to concentrate wastewater at a high recovery value of 95 % and 99.7 ± 0.2 % rejection to azithromycin. The subsequent electrochemical oxidation process completely degraded azithromycin in the concentrate within 30 min and reduced total organic carbon by 95 % in 180 min. Such integrated treatment approach minimized the electrochemically-treated volume through a low-energy membrane approach and enhanced mass transfer towards the electrodes, therefore driving the process toward zero-liquid-discharge objectives. Overall, our integrated approach holds promises for cost-effective and sustainable removal of trace pharmaceutical compounds and other organics in pharmaceutical wastewater.

Removal of pharmaceutical compounds and toxicology study in wastewater using Malaysian fungal Ganoderma lucidum

Elevated usage of pharmaceutical products leads to the accumulation of emerging contaminants in sewage. In the current work, Ganoderma lucidum (GL) was used to remove pharmaceutical compounds (PCs), proposed as a tertiary method in sewage treatment plants (STPs). The PCs consisted of a group of painkillers (ketoprofen, diclofenac, and dexamethasone), psychiatrists (carbamazepine, venlafaxine, and citalopram), beta-blockers (atenolol, metoprolol, and propranolol), and anti-hypertensives (losartan and valsartan). The performance of 800 mL of synthetic water, effluent STP, and hospital wastewater (HWW) was evaluated. Parameters, including treatment time, inoculum volume, and mechanical agitation speed, have been tested. The toxicity of the GL after treatment is being studied based on exposure levels to zebrafish embryos (ZFET) and the morphology of the GL has been observed via Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). The findings conclude that GL can reduce PCs from <10% to >90%. Diclofenac and valsartan are the highest (>90%) in the synthetic model, while citalopram and propranolol (>80%) are in the real wastewater. GL effectively removed pollutants in 48 h, 1% of the inoculum volume, and 50 rpm. The ZFET showed GL is non-toxic (LC50 is 209.95 mg/mL). In the morphology observation, pellets GL do not show major differences after treatment, showing potential to be used for a longer treatment time and to be re-useable in the system. GL offers advantages to removing PCs in water due to their non-specific extracellular enzymes that allow for the biodegradation of PCs and indicates a good potential in real-world applications as a favourable alternative treatment.

Role of carbon nanotubes in remediation of pharmaceutical wastewater

AbstractThe discharge of wastewater from the pharmaceutical industry poses risks of detrimental effects on various ecosystems. The presence of hazardous substances in pharmaceutical wastewater is a matter of global concern due to its association with multiple disorders, including disruptions in endocrine hormones and significant chronic toxicity. As research in this field continues to grow, the valorization to nanotechnology‐based treatment of industrial wastewater approaches. One prominent focus of recent research is the utilization of nanomaterials, particularly carbon nanotubes (CNTs), in treating pharmaceutical wastewater, aligns with the goals of sustainable development. CNTs demonstrate potential in efficiently mineralizing pharmaceutical compounds in wastewater, offering cost‐effectiveness, ease of handling, and efficacy. Additionally, CNTs possess the capability to remediate pharmaceutical wastewater at a relatively low cost, with the advantage of being recyclable. This review provides an overview of the diverse applications of various CNTs for the removal of pharmaceutical compounds from wastewater, emphasizing the mechanisms of adsorption and degradation of these compounds using CNTs. Furthermore, it sheds light on the application of CNTs in photocatalysis as an economically viable and efficient solution.

Statistical Study of Membrane Performance for Different Pharmaceutical Compounds Removal

One of the most important emerging pollutants is pharmaceutical active compounds, which may be responsible, for example, for ecotoxicological changes and microbiological resistance. Wastewater treatment plants are not adequately equipped to remove all of the emerging pollutants contained in the wastewater. The ultrafiltration process has been proven to be effective in traditional wastewater treatment, so it is important to assess the performance of such a technique in the partial elimination of pharmaceutical compounds to avoid contamination. In this work, an assessment of ultrafiltration process operating conditions for eliminating six pharmaceutical compounds: Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, Naproxen, Diclofenac, Caffeine, and trimethoprim, present in different types of water is performed. Experimental design is a systematic and structured approach to conducting experiments, and its application can significantly improve the study of membrane technology, reducing the number of assays necessary to obtain meaningful results. The statistical principles application ensures that the results obtained are reliable and representative of the true effects of the variables being studied. Its application helps to obtain valid conclusions from the data and provides a solid basis for making decisions or recommendations regarding the tests and variables to take into account. Membrane processes can involve complex interactions between several factors. Experimental design helps to identify and understand these interactions, allowing researchers to discern the combined effects of different variables. This is crucial to accurately predict and optimize membrane performance. In this work, ANOVA analysis has been carried out in order to determine the influence of membrane cut-off, solution pH, and feed concentration, as well as their interactions, in permeate flux and the rejection index. The results obtained show similar behavior for Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Diclofenac, and Trimethoprim, being the pH the most important factor. However, no significant factors were found for the acetaminophen and the Caffeine.

Removal of pharmaceutical contaminants from hospital wastewater using constructed wetlands: a review.

AbstractPharmaceutical compounds are a significant source of environmental pollution, particularly in hospital wastewater, which contains high concentrations of such compounds. Constructed wetlands have emerged as a promising approach to removing pharmaceutical compounds from wastewater. This paper aims to review the current state of knowledge on the removal of pharmaceutical compounds from hospital wastewater using constructed wetlands, including the mechanism of removal, removal efficiency, and future prospects. Pharmaceutical contaminants have been considered to be one of the most emerging pollutants in recent years. In this review article, various studies on constructed wetlands are incorporated in order to remove the pharmaceutical contaminants. The nature of constructed wetland can be explained by understanding the types of constructed wetland, characteristics of hospital wastewater, removal mechanism, and removal efficiency. The results of the review indicate that constructed wetlands are effective in removing pharmaceutical compounds from hospital wastewater. The removal mechanism of these compounds involves a combination of physical, chemical, and biological processes, including adsorption, degradation, and uptake by wetland plants. The removal efficiency of constructed wetlands varies depending on several factors, including the type and concentration of pharmaceutical compounds, the design of the wetland system, and the environmental conditions. Further research is necessary to optimize the performance of these systems, particularly in the removal of emerging contaminants, to ensure their effectiveness and long-term sustainability.

Removal of pharmaceutical compounds from the liquid phase of anaerobic sludge in a pilot-scale high-rate algae-bacteria pond

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a pilot-scale high-rate algae-bacteria pond (HRAP) to remove pharmaceutical compounds (PhACs) from municipal centrate. The studied PhACs belonged to different classes of synthetic active compounds: antihypertensives, antiepileptics, antidepressants, neuroprotectors, and anti-inflammatory drugs. The HRAP, growing a mixed microalgal consortium made of Chlorella spp. and Scenedesmus spp., was operated in continuous mode (6 days hydraulic retention time) from May to November 2021. Removal efficiencies were high (>85 %) for Sulfamethoxazole and Lamotrigine, promising (65–70 %) for Metoprolol, Fluoxetine, and Diclofenac but low (30–40 %) for Amisulpride, Ofloxacin, Carbamazepine, and Clarithromycin. Propyphenazone and Irbesartan were not removed, and their concentrations increased after the treatment. The combination of abiotic and biotic drivers (mostly global radiation and the synergy between microalgae and bacteria metabolisms) fostered photo and biodegradation processes. Overall, results suggest that microalgae-based systems can be a valuable solution to remove PhACs from wastewater.

Photocatalytic performance of buoyant TiO2-immobilized poly(ethylene terephthalate) beads for the removal of the anticonvulsant drug pregabalin from water and leachate

The application of TiO2 nanoparticles as photocatalyst for the removal of pharmaceutical compounds from water is extensively applied as an alternative to the conventional treatment processes. However, application of TiO2 as a powder requires energy costing separation stages to remove the catalyst at the end of the process. Thus, immobilization of the catalyst can be an attractive solution. Aiming to find a good support material for TiO2, in this study, the synthesis and characterization of three different PET/TiO2 photocatalytic beads are described along with their application in the photocatalytic degradation of the anticonvulsant drug pregabalin (PGB). The PET/TiO2 beads with different contents of TiO2 filler (10 wt%, 20 wt% and 30 wt%) were synthesized by using an anti-solvent precipitation method and were characterized by different techniques, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Among the different composites, PET/TiO2 30 wt% beads proved to be the most efficient, achieving almost complete degradation of PGB within 6 h of treatment. The stability and reuse of the synthesized catalysts were also evaluated. Furthermore, the effect of matrix was examined, revealing slower kinetics in high loaded matrices like a leachate. Identification of the arising transformation products (TPs) was conducted using LC-HRMS analysis. Twenty-two TPs were identified, out of which fifteen were detected for the first time herein, stemming from hydroxylation, amidation, oxidation and oxidative deamination of PGB. Finally, the in silico prediction of their toxicity was conducted based on ECOSAR software revealing mainly the formation of non-toxic compounds. However, amidation can cause the formation of toxic/harmful by-products but they are susceptible to photocatalysis thus being eliminated until the end of treatment.

New biobased chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol/graphene oxide derivatives for the removal of pharmaceutical compounds from aqueous mixtures

The main scope of this study is synthesis, characterization and implementation of new bio-based chitosan derivatives for the removal by adsorption of pharmaceutical mixtures from aqueous matrices. Six different materials of chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol were synthesized using an increasing quantity of graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide (0.05%, 0.1% and 0.2%). A combination of different groups of pharmaceuticals was used as a model pollutant. Within this context, four non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (diclofenac, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, paracetamol), one anti-epileptic (carbamazepine) and two antihypertensives (valsartan and irbesartan) were selected. The highest adsorption capacity was exhibited by the composites with the highest concentration of GO and rGO (0.2%), while the pollutants that presented the highest adsorption removal were valsartan and diclofenac. The adsorption process was appeared to be finished after 3 h for all compounds of the studied mixture (well-fitted to pseudo-2nd order model). The results indicated that the Langmuir model offered better match for the experimental data, while the adsorption capacity of adsorbents increased with the rise of the temperature. Overall, the highest adsorption capacities achieved at pH 10 (55 °C). Desorption was accomplished by using different aqueous eluents (with pH 2–10) and organic solvents. FTIR, SEM, EDS techniques were used to characterize the composition and morphology, and for the compounds detection the UHPLC system was used.

Preparation and Modification of Activated Carbon for the Removal of Pharmaceutical Compounds via Adsorption and Photodegradation Processes: A Comparative Study

In the present research, the removal of pharmaceutical contaminants based on atenolol (AT) and propranolol (PR) using modified activated carbon (AC) in a liquid solution was studied. Two methods, adsorption and photodegradation, were used to eliminate AT and PR. First, AC was prepared from date stems and then modified via hydroxylation (AC-OH) and impregnated into titanium dioxide (AC-TiO2) separately. The removal of AT and PR was investigated in terms of experimental parameters, such as pH, concentration, temperature, and the effectiveness of the processes. The results show that the removal of AT and PR reached 92% for the adsorption method, while 94% was registered for the photodegradation process. Likewise, in optimal experimental conditions, the adsorption of AT and PR over AC-OH showed good stability and recyclability, achieving five cycles without a visible decrease in the removal capacity. The results obtained in this work suggest that the low-cost and environmentally friendly synthesis of AC-OH is suitable to be considered for wastewater treatment at the industrial scale. Interestingly, the above results open a potential pathway to determine whether adsorption or photodegradation is more suitable for eliminating wastewater-related pharmaceutical pollutants. Accordingly, the experimental results recommend adsorption as a promising, durable, eco-friendly wastewater treatment method.

Removal of pharmaceutical compounds from real urban wastewater by a continuous bio-electrochemical process at pilot scale

A coupled bio-electrochemical treatment was designed by combining a microalgae-based system with an electro-oxidation (EO) process for removing pharmaceutical compounds in real urban wastewater. First, a preliminary study was carried out at bench scale to identify the best configuration for the coupled treatment, which involved determining whether EO should be used as a pre or post-treatment of the microalgae-based system. The results showed that using EO as a post-treatment provided the best removal results for most of pharmaceuticals, with an average of 58.8% compared to 47.7% obtained with EO as a pre-treatment. Based on these results, a bio-electrochemical treatment was designed using a high rate algal pond (HRAP) followed by an EO process at pilot scale. EO process was evaluated using a Boron Doped Diamond electrode anode and cathode (BDD/BDD cell) with a current density of between 20 and 30 mA cm−2 and an electrolysis time of one hour. This coupled treatment showed removal efficiencies above 80% for hypolipidemic, analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs. However, antiepileptic drugs showed the lowest removal rate between 36.8% and 69.1%. It is noteworthy that carbamazepine and 10,11-Dihydro-10,11-dihydroxycarbamazepine (CBZ-Diol) showed almost five times the removal rate in the coupled treatment compared to HRAP alone. Overall, the coupled bio-electrochemical treatment proved to be efficient in removing the studied pharmaceutical compounds. The HRAP pre-treatment reduced the presence of organic and inorganic load by 77.4%, allowing the EO process to remove the more recalcitrant target contaminants.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Activity of Prepared MWCNT/ZnO Nanocomposite as a Model of Dyes and Pharmaceutical Compounds Removal

The photocatalytic decomposition of brilliant green (BG) dye under several conditions was studied using MWCNT/ZnO nanocomposite. Nanocomposites were prepared via utilizing a hydrothermal process. The MWCNT/ZnO nanocomposite properties were studied using techniques (FESEM, and EDX). The most important factors aff ected the photocatalytic process were studied, like mass of MWCNT/ZnO nanocomposite, concentration of brilliant green (BG) dye, light intensity. The results showed that the photolysis process was low at fi rst and then increased with time. From the results, the photocatalytic decomposition effi ciency increased with the surface weight MWCNT/ZnO nanocomposite of (0.1–0.4) g. This also showed that with an increase BG dye concentration, the photolysis effi ciency decreased, and showed that the photolysis effi ciency was improved by increasing the light intensity.

Removal of pharmaceutical compounds from aqueous solution by clay-based synthesized adsorbents: adsorption kinetics and isotherms studies

Removal of pharmaceutical compounds from aqueous solution by clay-based synthesized adsorbents: adsorption kinetics and isotherms studies

A review on microalgae-mediated biotechnology for removing pharmaceutical contaminants in aqueous environments: Occurrence, fate, and removal mechanism.

Pharmaceutical compounds in aquatic environments have been considered as emerging contaminants due to their potential risks to living organisms. Microalgae-based technology showed the feasibility of removing pharmaceutical contaminants. This review summarizes the occurrence, classification, possible emission sources, and environmental risk of frequently detected pharmaceutical compounds in aqueous environments. The efficiency, mechanisms, and influencing factors for the removal of pharmaceutical compounds through microalgae-based technology are further discussed. Pharmaceutical compounds frequently detected in aqueous environments include antibiotics, hormones, analgesic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), cardiovascular agents, central nervous system drugs (CNS), antipsychotics, and antidepressants, with a concentration ranging from ng/L to μg/L. Microalgae-based technology majorly remove the pharmaceutical compounds through bioadsorption, bioaccumulation, biodegradation, photodegradation, and co-metabolism. This review identifies the opportunities and challenges for microalgae-based technology and proposed suggestions for future studies to tackle challenges. The findings of this review advance our understanding of the occurrence and fate of pharmaceutical contaminants in aqueous environments, highlighting the potential of microalgae-based technology for pharmaceutical contaminants removal.

Photo-Fenton and Electro-Fenton performance for the removal of pharmaceutical compounds in real urban wastewater

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of Photo-Fenton (PF) and Electro-Fenton (EF) processes and find the best option for the removal of pharmaceutical compounds in a real urban effluent of wastewater treated by a chemically-enhanced primary treatment (CEPT). In both processes was used the iron residual (average 2.4 mg L−1) resulting from CEPT avoiding further iron salts addition. Central composite designs (CCD) with response surface methodology (RSM) were applied to select the operational conditions. Humic acid (HA) was the chelating agent in the PF process, where Fe3+:HA molar ratios and H2O2 concentrations were the factors. While current density and the electrolysis time were the factors in the EF process. The operational conditions selected for evaluating the removal of pharmaceutical compounds were a 1:6.8 for Fe3+:HA molar ratio and 100 mg L−1 for H2O2 in PF, and 80 mA cm−2 and 100 min for EF. EF was evaluated with a Boron Doped Diamond electrode anode and cathode (BDD/BDD cell) without the addition of supporting electrolyte. In PF, the removal efficiencies were between 24.2% and 56% for gabapentin, ibuprofen, naproxen, pentoxifylline, and venlafaxine. Compounds such as carbamazepine and fenofibric acid increased their concentration after the PF process. This increase was related to the enzymatic cleavage of glucuronides and the possible presence of •OH radical scavengers that decreased the process efficiency. By contrast, EF showed an average removal efficiency of between 53.3% and 99.9% for all identified compounds, resulting in the best option for treating this real effluent of wastewater. These results in EF could be related to a synergic effect between homogeneous •OH and BDD(•OH) that contributed to improving the oxidation of the contaminants. The electrical energy per order (EEO) was determined with values between 11.5 and 144.9 kWh log−1 m−3, suggesting a need to apply other preliminary treatments that reduce the current density (i.e., coupled treatments with the biological process).

Assessment of an electrochemical advanced oxidation system for removal of pharmaceutical compounds at the Vaudreuil-Dorion municipal wastewater treatment facility

The Advanced Oxidation System (AOS) is a versatile technology for removal of pharmaceuticals in wastewater.

Biochar-mediated removal of pharmaceutical compounds from aqueous matrices via adsorption.

Pharmaceutical is one of the noteworthy classes of emerging contaminants. These biologically active compounds pose a range of deleterious impacts on human health and the environment. This is attributed to their refractory behavior, poor biodegradability, and pseudopersistent nature. Their large-scale production by pharmaceutical industries and subsequent widespread utilization in hospitals, community health centers, and veterinary facilities, among others, have significantly increased the occurrence of pharmaceutical residues in various environmental compartments. Several technologies are currently being evaluated to eliminate pharmaceutical compounds (PCs) from aqueous environments. Among them, adsorption appears as the most viable treatment option because of its operational simplicity and low cost. Intensive research and development efforts are, therefore, currently underway to develop inexpensive adsorbents for the effective abatement of PCs. Although numerous adsorbents have been investigated for theremoval of PCs in recent years, biochar-based adsorbents have garnered tremendous scientific attention to eliminate PCs from aqueous matrices because of their decent specific surface area, tunable surface chemistry, scalable production, and environmentally benign nature. This review, therefore, attempts to provide an overview of the latest progress in the application of biochar for theremoval of PCs from wastewater. Additionally, the fundamental knowledge gaps in the domain knowledge are identified and novel strategic research guidelines are laid out to make further advances in this promising approach towards sustainable development.

Assessing the potential for nevirapine removal and its ecotoxicological effects on Coelastrella tenuitheca and Tetradesmus obliquus in aqueous environment

Remediation of the antiretroviral (ARV) drug, nevirapine (NVP) has attracted considerable scientific attention in recent years due to its frequent detection and persistence in aquatic environments and potential hazards to living organisms. Algae-based technologies have been emerging as an environmentally friendly option for the removal of pharmaceutical compounds, but their ARV drug removal potential has not been fully explored yet. This study aimed to explore the ecotoxicity and removal potential of NVP by two microalgal species, Coelastrella tenuitheca and Tetradesmus obliquus. Lower environmental concentrations (up to 200 ng L−1) of NVP enhanced the microalgal growth, and the highest dry cell weight of 941.27 mg L−1 was obtained in T. obliquus at 50 ng L−1 NVP concentration. Both microalgae showed varying removal efficiencies (19.53–74.56%) when exposed to NVP concentration levels of up to 4000 ng L−1. At the late log phase (day 8), T. obliquus removed the highest percentage of NVP (74.56%), while C. tenuitheca removed 48% at an initial NVP concentration of 50 ng L−1. Photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm and rETR) of the two microalgal species, however, was not affected by environmental concentrations of NVP (up to 4000 ng L−1) at the mid log phase of growth. SEM analysis demonstrated that both algal species produced distinct ridges on their cell surfaces after NVP uptake. In the ecotoxicity study, the calculated IC50 values of NVP (0–100 mg L−1) after 96 h of exposure were 23.45 mg L−1 (C. tenuitheca) and 18.20 mg L−1 (T. obliquus). The findings of the present study may contribute to a better understanding of the environmental hazards associated with NVP and the efficacy of microalgae in removing this pharmaceutical from aquatic environments.

Microalgae, a current option for the bioremediation of pharmaceuticals: a review.

In this review, research on the use of microalgae as an option for bioremediation purposes of pharmaceutical compounds is reported and discussed thoroughly. Pharmaceuticals have been detected in water bodies around the world, attracting attention towards the increasing potential risks to humans and aquatic biota. Unfortunately, pharmaceuticals have no regulatory standards for safe disposal in many countries. Despite the advances in new analytical techniques, the current wastewater treatment facilities in many countries are ineffective to remove the whole presence of pharmaceutical compounds and their metabolites. Though new methods are substantially effective, removal rates of drugs from wastewater make the cost-effectiveness ratio a not viable option. Therefore, the necessity for investigating and developing more adequate removal treatments with a higher efficiency rate and at a lower cost is mandatory. The present review highlights the algae-based removal strategies for bioremediation purposes, considering their pathway as well as the removal rate and efficiency of the microalgae species used in assays. We have critically reviewed both application of living and non-living microalgae biomass for bioremediation purposes considering the most commonly used microalgae species. In addition, the use of modified and immobilized microalgae biomass for the removal of pharmaceutical compounds from water was discussed. Furthermore, research considering various microalgal species and their potential use to detoxify organic and inorganic toxic compounds were well evaluated in the review. Further research is required to exploit the potential use of microalgae species as an option for the bioremediation of pharmaceuticals in water.

Evaluation of oxidation processes for pharmaceutical compounds removal

Seven oxidation processes (OPs); UV, H2O2, Fenton, and O3, and their UV combinations are applied to a mixture of 15 pharmaceutical compounds (PhCs) at environmental concentration in synthetic solution and wastewater. O3/UV achieved the best efficiency for most molecules. Overall, all treatments' performances were higher in synthetic solutions than in wastewater. Moreover, results were OPs-specific and highly dependent on the composition of the solution. Intermolecular interactions significantly affect the processes. Using acetaminophen as a model compound revealed that OPs mainly resulted in transformation rather than mineralization (< 20%) of the target molecule, except the Fenton/UV with 83% of mineralization.

Performance evaluation of constructed wetland for removal of pharmaceutical compounds from hospital wastewater: Seasonal perspective

Constructed wetland employs vegetation as a natural medium to remove pollutants from wastewater for this treatment. It is eco-friendly, sustainable, economical, low maintenance, low running cost, and easy to use. This has prompted several studies to investigate its performance in treating pollutants from the conventional to emerging contaminants category, including pharmaceutical compounds. However, there is still a lack of work on the impact of monsoons on the removal efficiency of pharmaceutically active compounds from wastewater. This study evaluated constructed wetland performance during the premonsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon seasons. A pilot-scale constructed wetland setup was established to conduct this study. The target compound included paracetamol, ibuprofen, carbamazepine, lorazepam, ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, and Fluvastatin. In the constructed wetland, for paracetamol and ibuprofen, NSAIDs concentration was observed to be 1503–6307 ngL−1 and 564–808 ngL−1. The concentrations of antibiotics, sulfamethoxazole, and ciprofloxacin were 16532–21635 ngL−1 and 734–1178 ngL−1, respectively. The carbamazepine, lorazepam, and Lutvastatin concentration range was 616–906 ngL−1, 2742–3775 ngL−1, and 694–2068 ngL−1, respectively. The hazard quotient approach was adopted to evaluate potential environmental risk from target compounds. The increase of paracetamol 33 %, ibuprofen 94 %, ciprofloxacin 242 %, Sulfamethoxazole 64 %, and carbamazepine 77 % validated the study hypothesis. However, a decrease of 15 % lorazepam and 43 % Fluvastatin inferred that dilution was inversely proportional to the removal of these compounds. The seasonal removal efficiency was in order pre-monsoon < post-monsoon < monsoon. Hospital wastewater had HQ values of 90, 100, and 130 for premonsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon, respectively. After treatment from the constructed wetland, the wastewater effluent had reduced HQ value to 53, 35, and 70 for premonsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon periods respectively. The HQ values were further reduced in tubesettler to 22, 11, and 28. Ciprofloxacin posed no significant risk. However, sulfamethoxazole posed a high risk during premonsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon season. Further works are required to analyze the removal mechanism through plant uptake, sediment bed, and biodegradation for a different season or climatic condition to present the real-time performance of constructed wetlands for treating wastewater loaded with pharmaceutical compounds.