From Prescription to Pollution: Assessing the Ecological Impact and Treatment Technologies for Antidepressant Contaminants

Jordana Georgin, Jivago Schumacher de Oliveira, Younes Dehmani, Noureddine El Messaoudi, Matheus de Albuquerque Carvalho, Lucas Meili, Claudete Gindri Ramos () and Dison S. P. Franco ()
Additional contact information
Jordana Georgin: Department of Civil and Environmental, Universidad de La Costa, CUC, Calle 58 #55–66, Barranquilla 080002, Atlántico, Colombia
Jivago Schumacher de Oliveira: Applied Nanomaterials Research Group (GPNAp), Nanoscience Graduate Program Franciscan University (UFN), Santa Maria 97010-032, RS, Brazil
Younes Dehmani: Institut de Chimie des Milieux et des Matériaux de Poitiers, IC2MP UMR 7285 CNRS, Université de Poitiers, 86000 Poitiers, France
Noureddine El Messaoudi: Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh 11623, Saudi Arabia
Matheus de Albuquerque Carvalho: Laboratory of Processes Applied to Water Treatment, Center of Technology, Federal University of Alagoas Campus A. C. Simões, Av. Lourival Melo Mota, Tabuleiro Dos Martins, Maceió 57072-970, AL, Brazil
Lucas Meili: Laboratory of Processes Applied to Water Treatment, Center of Technology, Federal University of Alagoas Campus A. C. Simões, Av. Lourival Melo Mota, Tabuleiro Dos Martins, Maceió 57072-970, AL, Brazil
Claudete Gindri Ramos: Department of Civil and Environmental, Universidad de La Costa, CUC, Calle 58 #55–66, Barranquilla 080002, Atlántico, Colombia
Dison S. P. Franco: Department of Civil and Environmental, Universidad de La Costa, CUC, Calle 58 #55–66, Barranquilla 080002, Atlántico, Colombia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-48

Abstract: Depression is becoming more common in the face of modern life’s obstacles. Antidepressants are a fast-expanding pharmaceutical category. Antidepressant residues in water must be closely monitored and kept at levels that do not endanger human health, just like those of other psychotropic medications. Additionally, research has shown that these pollutants severely hinder aquatic life’s ability to migrate, reproduce, and interact with one another when they enter natural ecosystems. Antidepressants released into the natural environment can therefore be expected to have an impact on exposed fish and other aquatic species. There is a lot of information available about how exposure affects fish, but much of it is for exposure levels higher than those seen in their natural habitats. Antidepressants can bioaccumulate in fish tissues, and some behavioral effects have been documented for exposures that are relevant to the environment. As a result, antidepressant residue removal methods must be incorporated into contemporary wastewater treatment plant technology. In addition to covering a wide range of suggested treatment options and their ecotoxicological consequences on non-target organisms, this study discusses recent efforts to accomplish this goal. First, a thorough analysis of the harmful impacts on non-target people is provided. This work describes a variety of adsorptive methods that can make use of modern materials like molecularly imprinted polymers or ion-exchange resins or can rely on well-known and efficient adsorbents like silicates or activated carbon. Although extractive methods are also taken into consideration, they are now impractical due to the lack of reasonably priced and ecologically suitable solvents. Lastly, sophisticated oxidation methods are discussed, such as electrochemical alternatives, UV and gamma radiation, and ozone therapy. Notably, some of these techniques could totally mineralize antidepressant toxicants, either alone or in combination. Lastly, the topic of biological treatment with microorganisms is covered. This method can be very specific, but it usually prevents full mineralization.

Keywords: fish ecotoxicology; adsorption; extractive methods; advanced oxidation processes; biological treatment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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