Radiolytic Degradation of Sulfonamide Antibiotics: A Brief Overview of Recent Advances

Sulfonamide antibiotics are widely used in both human and veterinary medicine. Although their use in human therapy has declined, they continue to pose a significant environmental threat due to their persistence in pharmaceutical formulations and subsequent release into the aquatic environment. The concentrations of these compounds in the influents and effluents of urban wastewater treatment plants (UWTPs) vary widely, depending on consumption patterns and the treatment technologies employed. Numerous studies have shown that conventional wastewater treatment methods are often insufficient for the complete removal of sulfonamides. This underscores the urgent need for more effective and reliable treatment technologies capable of removing both sulfonamide antibiotics and their transformation products. Among advanced oxidation processes, electron beam (EB) irradiation has shown particular promise. This review presents recent advances in analytical methods for detecting residues of selected sulfonamide antibiotics and explores the application of ionizing radiation—particularly gamma and EB irradiation—for their degradation in water and wastewater. The study also discusses observed changes in toxicity following treatment, offering a comprehensive perspective on the effectiveness and limitations radiation-based approaches in environmental remediation.