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Constructed wetlands for the removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) from wastewater: origin, impacts, treatment methods, and SWOT analysis

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Abstract

The continuous exposure to pharmaceuticals and personal care products can lead to a series of individual antagonistic and synergistic effects and long-lasting toxicity to humans and aquatic lives. This may also lead to develo** antibiotic resistance, teratogenic, carcinogenic, and endocrine-disrupting effects. However, several PPCPs are also considered biologically active for non-target aquatic organisms, such as mosquito fish, goldfish, and the algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. Various physicochemical methods such as ozonation, photolysis, and membrane separation are recognized for the effective removal of PPCPs. However, the high operation and maintenance costs and associated ecological impacts have limited their further use. Constructed wetlands are considered eco-friendly and sustainable for the removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products together with antibiotic resistance genes. Several mechanisms such as sorption, biodegradation, oxidation, photodegradation, volatilization, and hydrolysis are occurring during the phytoremediation of PPCPs. During these processes, more than 50% of PPCPs can be eliminated through constructed wetlands. They also offer several additional benefits as obtained macrophytic biomass may be used as raw material in pulp and paper industries and a source for second-generation biofuel production. In this study, we have discussed the origin and impacts of PPCPs together with their treatment methods. We have also investigated the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with constructed wetlands during the treatment of wastewater laden with pharmaceutical and personal care products.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Department of Environmental Science, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar (Central) University, Lucknow, and the Divisional Forest Office, South Kheri Division, Lakhimpur Kheri, for providing necessary facilities throughout this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science (DES), School of Earth and Environmental Sciences (SEES), Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, UP, India, 22605

    Saroj Kumar, Bhanu Pratap, Divya Dubey & Venkatesh Dutta

  2. District Environment Committee, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Lakhimpur Kheri, UP, India, 262701

    Saroj Kumar

  3. Department of Environmental Microbiology, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences (SEES), Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, UP, India, 226025

    Adarsh Kumar

  4. District Environment Committee, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Pilibhit, UP, India, 262001

    Adarsh Kumar

  5. Faculty of Civil Engineering, Institute of Technology, Shri Ramswaroop Memorial University, Barabanki, India, 225003

    Saurabh Shukla

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Kumar, S., Pratap, B., Dubey, D. et al. Constructed wetlands for the removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) from wastewater: origin, impacts, treatment methods, and SWOT analysis. Environ Monit Assess 194, 885 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10540-8

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