15 - Challenges and future perspectives for tackling PPCPs

Abstract

The improvement in the living conditions of the world population leads to an increase in the demand for pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). Unfortunately, the massive use of these products contributes to environmental pollution since many of these products end up directly or indirectly being discharged in the environment. The appearance of personal care products in the aquatic environments, air, and soils affects the organisms living in these environments and the adverse effects found include aquatic toxicity, development of resistance in pathogenic bacteria, genotoxicity, and endocrine disruption. Several removal methods have been tested for these compounds, but their complete removal remains far from being achieved. There is also a knowledge gap regarding detection and monitoring methods that need to be addressed. This chapter highlights the challenges and future perspectives for tackling PPCPs in aspects regarding their removal, detection, and monitorization.