Pharmaceutical contaminants in the environment: Risk assessment challenges and remediation approaches

Title : Pharmaceutical contaminants in the environment: Risk assessment challenges and remediation approaches

Abstract:

Pharmaceuticals are essential for maintaining human health and have become an indispensable part of modern life. However, their widespread and often uncontrolled use has led to growing concerns about environmental contamination and potential risks to human health. In recent years, pharmaceutical compounds; including active ingredients, intermediates, and raw materials—have been increasingly recognized as emerging environmental pollutants. Their frequent detection in aquatic systems worldwide has drawn significant attention, as they represent a distinct class of organic contaminants. Despite this growing awareness, substantial knowledge gaps remain regarding the quantities of pharmaceuticals and their metabolites released into the environment, their active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), metabolic and transformation pathways, and their persistence or biodegradability. Pharmaceutical effluents can directly or indirectly affect human health, particularly in regions surrounding pharmaceutical manufacturing zones, where the likelihood of environmental contamination—especially of drinking water sources is elevated. Recent epidemiological evidence has indicated a possible association between paracetamol exposure and an increased risk of neurological disorders, highlighting the urgency of monitoring and managing rising pharmaceutical concentrations in environmental effluents. Conventional wastewater treatment processes are largely ineffective at removing APIs and their metabolites from aquatic environments, while advanced treatment technologies are often constrained by high energy demands, operational costs, and limited efficiency. Consequently, there is a critical need to explore and implement effective bioremediation strategies for environmental cleanup. Furthermore, transitioning toward the development and use of more biodegradable pharmaceutical compounds is essential to achieving the long-term goals of sustainable pharmacy and environmental protection.

Keywords: Pharmaceuticals, Contaminants, Environment, Paracetamol, APIs, Bioremediation, Sustainable Pharmacy, Biodegradation.

Biography:

Dr. Neha Agarwal is currently serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Navyug Kanya Mahavidyalaya, affiliated with the University of Lucknow, Lucknow, India. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Lucknow and has successfully qualified the prestigious national-level examinations UGC-CSIR-NET and GATE in Chemical Sciences. Dr. Agarwal has made significant contributions to scientific research, with numerous research papers and review articles published in reputed Scopus-indexed international journals. An active innovator, she has published seven design patents and has contributed extensively to academic publishing. She has edited several scholarly books for renowned international publishers, including CRC Press, Springer Nature, Nova Science Publishers, Apple Academic Press, and Bentham Science Publishers. She is also the author of three undergraduate textbooks aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) curriculum.

Her research interests focus on environmental chemistry, nanotechnology, wastewater treatment, green synthesis, and sustainable chemistry, with particular emphasis on the environmental fate and remediation of organic pollutants such as pharmaceuticals, dyes, and pesticides through eco-friendly and sustainable approaches. Dr. Agarwal is an active member of the global scientific community and holds professional and lifetime memberships in several prestigious organizations, including the Singapore National Institute of Chemistry (SNIC), International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), and the Association of Chemistry Teachers (ACT), India. She also serves as a reviewer and editorial board member for several reputed international journals and publishers. In recognition of her outstanding contributions to research, higher education, academic leadership, and scientific innovation, Dr. Agarwal has received numerous awards. Among her most prestigious honors is the Teacher Excellence Award, conferred by the Hon'ble Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Smt. Anandiben Patel, during the 69th Convocation of the University of Lucknow, acknowledging her exceptional contributions to teaching, research, and academic excellence.