Comprehensive review on the ecotoxicological effects of emerging pollutants: focus on pharmaceutical compounds

Emerging Pollutants (EPs), whether synthetic or naturally occurring, present significant challenges to global populations due to their potential risks to ecological and human health. However, these pollutants are not commonly monitored in the environment. Pharmaceuticals, including those originating from healthcare facilities such as hospital effluents, are of particular concern as their release continues to increase. This comprehensive review addresses key aspects, including detection methods, fate, and potential ecological risks associated with the underlying toxicity mechanisms of EPs. Additionally, chronic toxicity tests prove instrumental in simulating long-term effects on organisms across different trophic levels, considering lower concentrations and potential outcomes such as oxidative stress, developmental delays, immobility, cell death, and mutagenic changes in future generations. Despite the abundance of EPs, only a fraction undergoes toxicological evaluation. Therefore, raising awareness about the detrimental consequences of EPs in the environment and emphasizing the urgent need for further scientific research is imperative.