The sources, ecotoxicological impact, and potential remediation strategies of antiretroviral drugs (ARVDs) as emerging contaminants in surface waters are reviewed based on recent literature. The occurrence of ARVDs in water bodies raises concern because many communities in Africa depend on rivers for water resources. Southern Africa is a potential hotspot regarding ARVD contamination due to relatively high therapeutic application and detection thereof in water bodies. Efavirenz and nevirapine are the most persistent in effluents and are prevalent in surface water based on environmental concentrations. Whereas the highest concentration of efavirenz reported in Kenya was 12.4 µg L^–1, concentrations as high as 119 and 140 µg L^–1 have been reported in Zambia and South Africa, respectively. Concentrations of ARVDs ranging from 670 to 34 000 ng L^–1 (influents) and 540 to 34 000 ng L^–1 (effluents) were determined in wastewater treatment plants in South Africa, compared with Europe, where reported concentrations range from less than limit of detection (LOD) to 32 ng L^–1 (influents) and less than LOD to 22 ng L^–1 (effluents). The present African-based review suggests the need for comprehensive toxicological and risk assessment of these emerging pollutants in Africa, with the intent of averting environmental hazards and the development of sustainable remediation strategies. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:247–262. © 2021 SETAC

中文翻译：

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非洲地表水中的抗逆转录病毒药物：流行率、分析和潜在的补救措施

基于最近的文献综述了作为地表水中新兴污染物的抗逆转录病毒药物 (ARVD) 的来源、生态毒理学影响和潜在的补救策略。水体中 ARVD 的发生引起了人们的关注，因为非洲的许多社区依赖河流获取水资源。由于在水体中相对较高的治疗应用和检测，南部非洲是 ARVD 污染的潜在热点。根据环境浓度，依法韦仑和奈韦拉平在污水中最持久，并且在地表水中普遍存在。肯尼亚报告的依法韦仑最高浓度为 12.4 µg L ^–1，浓度高达 119 和 140 µg L ^–1赞比亚和南非分别有报道。在南非的污水处理厂测得的 ARVD 浓度范围为 670 至 34 000 ng L ^–1（进水）和 540 至 34 000 ng L ^–1（出水），而欧洲报告的浓度范围低于限值检测限 (LOD) 至 32 ng L ^–1（进水），低于 LOD 至 22 ng L ^–1（出水）。目前基于非洲的审查表明，需要对非洲这些新兴污染物进行全面的毒理学和风险评估，以期避免环境危害和制定可持续的补救战略。环境毒物化学2022；41：247–262。© 2021 SETAC