Pharmaceutically active compounds are newly recognized micropollutants which are ubiquitous in aquatic environment mainly due to direct discharge of treated and untreated wastewater from wastewater treatment plants. These contaminants have attracted mounted attention due to their toxic effects on aquatic life. They disrupt biological processes in non-target lower organisms upon exposure. Biodegradation, photo-degradation, and sorption are key processes which determine their fate in the environment. A variety of conventional and advanced treatment processes had been extensively investigated for the removal of pharmaceuticals from wastewater. However, due to structural complexity and varying operating parameters, complete removal seems ideal. Generally, due to high energy requirement of advanced treatment technology, it is considered cost ineffective. Transport of pharmaceutical compounds occurs via aquatic channels whereas sediments and aquatic colloids play a significant role as sinks for these contaminants. The current review provides a critical understanding of fate and toxicity of pharmaceutical compounds and highlights their vulnerability and occurrence in South Asia. Antibiotics, analgesics, and psychiatric drugs were found predominantly in the water environment of South Asian regions. Despite significant advances in understanding pharmaceuticals fate, toxicity, and associated risks since the 1990s, still substantial data gaps in terms of monitoring, human health risks, and legislation exist which presses the need to develop a more in-depth and interdisciplinary understanding of the subject.

药物活性化合物是新近公认的微污染物，在水生环境中普遍存在，这主要是由于污水处理厂直接排放了经过处理和未经处理的废水。这些污染物由于其对水生生物的毒性作用而引起了人们的广泛关注。一旦暴露，它们会破坏非目标低等生物的生物过程。生物降解，光降解和吸附是决定其在环境中命运的关键过程。为了从废水中去除药物，已经广泛研究了各种常规和先进的处理方法。但是，由于结构的复杂性和变化的操作参数，完全去除似乎是理想的。通常，由于先进处理技术对能量的高要求，它被认为是成本无效的。药物化合物的运输通过水道进行，而沉积物和水胶体在这些污染物的汇聚中起着重要作用。本综述提供了对药物化合物的命运和毒性的批判性理解，并突出了它们在南亚的脆弱性和发生率。抗生素，止痛药和精神科药物主要发现于南亚地区的水环境中。尽管自1990年代以来在理解药品的命运，毒性和相关风险方面取得了重大进展，但在监控，人类健康风险和法规方面仍然存在巨大的数据空白，这迫使人们需要对该主题进行更深入和跨学科的理解。药物化合物的运输通过水道进行，而沉积物和水胶体在这些污染物的汇聚中起着重要作用。本综述提供了对药物化合物的命运和毒性的批判性理解，并突出了它们在南亚的脆弱性和发生率。抗生素，止痛药和精神科药物主要发现于南亚地区的水环境中。尽管自1990年代以来在理解药品的命运，毒性和相关风险方面取得了重大进展，但在监控，人类健康风险和法规方面仍然存在巨大的数据空白，这迫使人们需要对该主题进行更深入和跨学科的理解。药物化合物的运输通过水道进行，而沉积物和水胶体在这些污染物的汇聚中起着重要作用。本综述提供了对药物化合物的命运和毒性的批判性理解，并突出了它们在南亚的脆弱性和发生率。抗生素，止痛药和精神科药物主要发现于南亚地区的水环境中。尽管自1990年代以来在理解药品的命运，毒性和相关风险方面取得了重大进展，但在监控，人类健康风险和法规方面仍然存在巨大的数据空白，这迫使人们需要对该主题进行更深入和跨学科的理解。