IMPACT OF PHARMACEUTICAL WASTES ON HUMAN LIFE AND ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Now days, concerns about the occurrence and fate of active pharmaceutical ingredients, solvents, Intermediates and raw materials that could be present in water and wastewater including pharmaceutical industry waste water have gained increasing attention. Traditional wastewater treatment methods, such as activated sludge, are not sufficient for the complete removal of active pharmaceutical ingredients and other wastewater constituents from these waters. Environment and health are directly or indirectly affected by pharmaceutical effluents especially in the vicinity of pharma industrial zones. Though untreated or partially treated effluents released by pharma industries, drinking water sources are being polluted. Different classes of pharmaceutical compounds like analgesic, antidepressant, antihypertensive, contraceptive, antibiotic, steroids and hormones etc. have been detected in water samples from mg/L to µg/L range. Though the detected amounts are very minute but highly toxic for human, animal and aquatic lives. There is a need of regular monitoring of concentration of pharmaceutical compounds in pharmaceutical effluents entering into drinking water sources in order to save environment as well as living form of lives from health hazards. The present paper highlights such toxicity, health risk and assessment of environmental hazards due to pharmaceutical pollutants.