title: Photo-transformation of pharmaceutically active compounds in the aqueous environment: a review.
abstract: In the past few years, the fate and transportation of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) in aqueous environments have raised significant concerns among the public, scientists and regulatory groups. Photodegradation is an important removal process in surface waters. This review summarizes the last 10 years (2003-2013) of studies on the solar or solar-simulated photodegradation of PhACs in aqueous environments. The PhACs covered include: beta-blockers, antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), histamine H₂-receptor antagonists, lipid regulators, carbamazepine, steroid hormones, and X-ray contrast media compounds. Kinetic studies, degradation mechanisms and toxicity removal are the three major topics involved in this review. The quantum yield for the direct photolysis of PhACs and the bimolecular reaction rate constants of PhACs with reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as the ˙OH radical and singlet oxygen, are also summarized. This information is not only important to predict the PhAC photodegradation fate, but also is very useful for advanced treatment technologies, such as ozone or advanced oxidation processes.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, P. R. China. wsong@fudan.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Shuwen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Weihua
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D010126:Ozone; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000737:chemistry; D013472:Sunlight; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D010126:Ozone