Title : Acetaminophen-Over the counter Drug: Applications and Safety Concerns
Abstract:
Pharmaceuticals have undoubtedly lengthened life spans, cured millions from deadly diseases, and made life comfortable and free from pain. This very success has now led to their emergence as rapidly growing environmental pollutants and contaminants. Acetaminophen (4’-hudroxyacetanilide, or N-acetyl-p-aminophenol) commonly known as paracetamol, is amongst the most popular pain killers and widely used analgesic and antipyretic drug which is used for relieving pain and fever as a non-prescription drug, worldwide. Such huge consumption all over the world can be expected to result in the contamination of the environment and threat to human health. Its presence has been found in the environment which has been detected drinking water, waste water and sewage treatment plant effluents. Although chemical oxidation process is done for the treatment of waste water to remove acetaminophen but severe reaction conditions, production of secondary pollutants as by products and huge operational expenses associated, leave no choice but to find other methods of treatment. Biodegradation of pharmaceuticals by microorganisms is now being considered as an environment friendly alternative which has bearable cost. The widespread use of acetaminophen, other pharmaceutical and the scarcity of parallel and safe alternatives, its impact on the environment and on human health deserves further attention. The main aim is develop comprehensive understanding on the percolation of paracetamol in environment through uncontrolled usage its toxic effects and proposed metabolic pathways of its sustainable degradation.
Keywords:
acetaminophen; rational usage, behavioural disorders; biodegradation; aquatic environment.
