After effects of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) on the biosphere and their counteractive ways

Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) as emerging pollutants have attracted revelatory recognition from research organizations for two decades due to their consistent presence in wastewater. Such ubiquitous contaminants have received alarming apprehension globally for their persistence and potential peril to the health status of organisms and the natural atmosphere. These looming toxins often exist in low concentrations and have complicated structures, making it challenging for wastewater treatment plants to eliminate them; hence, highly efficient and novel eco-friendly technologies are essential for their elimination. This review discusses the source, occurrence, and fate and is followed by a comprehensive analysis of the adverse effects on aquatic biota as well as human well-being. The toxicity analysis with multiple bioassays has also been summarised in this paper. This review covers the multiple remedial technologies, like phytoremediation, and advanced treatment technologies, viz., membrane filtration, adsorption, the photo-Fenton process, and ozonation, that can be adopted in sewage treatment unit processes. We also reviewed the regulatory aspects and risk mitigation policies that are being implemented and are needed now. Thus, the goal of this paper is to provide insight into the aftermath consequences of PPCPs and offer more research that should be focused on the remedial measures of these emerging pollutants and risk-mitigating strategies.