The indiscriminate use of medications and their inadequate disposal have resulted in them being released into the environment via municipal, hospital and industrial discharges.This volume critically examines the presence of pharmaceuticals in aquatic ecosystems, the hazards they entail, and how to minimize their impact on the environment. The topics covered include: historical findings that have made the development of the discipline ecopharmacovigilance possible; the main exposure routes, fate and life cycle of pharmaceuticals in water; occurrence data and the impact on biodiversity; methods used for the detection, analysis and quantification of pharmaceuticals in water and for their removal; current legislation on the presence of emerging contaminants in water; biosensors for environmental analysis and monitoring; and the measures needed to reduce the existing problems.This book is aimed at students, academics and research workers in the fields of toxicology, ecology, microbiology and chemistry, as well as those in the pharmaceutical industry, health sector professionals, and members of government bodies involved in environmental protection and legislation.

A comprehensive review

Introduction.- Background to the emergence of ecophamacovigilance.- Pharmaceuticals reaching the environment: concepts, evidence and concerns.- Ocurrence of pharmaceuticals in the environment.- Detection of pharmaceuticals in the environment.- Ecotoxicological studies of pharmaceuticals in the environment.- Legislation to control the discharge of pharmaceuticals in the environment.- Advanced Oxidation Processes I: Ozonation and Fenton processes applied to the removal of pharmaecuticals.- Advanced Oxidation Processes II: removal of pharmaecuticals by photocatalysis.- Role of membrane on emerging contaminants removal.- Bacterial treatment to remove pharmaceuticals.- Biological methods for the detection, quantification and decontamination of environmental compartments.-  Application of nanomaterials for treatment of waste water containing pharmaceuticals.- In silico mutagenesis, docking and molecular dynamics: their role in biosensor design for environmental analysis and monitoring.- Impact of pharmaceutical waste on biodiversity.- Control of environmental pollution caused by pharmaceuticals.