Fármacos em águas residuárias: efeitos ambientais e remoção em wetlands construídos

Abstract

Emerging pollutants are daily released into water bodies, such as pharmaceuticals released by urine, and are not com- pletely removed in conventional wastewater treatment processes, leading to the need for in-depth studies for im- provements in sewage treatment plants. Dipyrone, diclofenac and paracetamol are widely used drugs in the world as anti-inflammatories, analgesics and antipyretics. In Brazil, these medicines can be purchased at low cost and with- out prescription in pharmacies. The release of these emerging pollutants can lead to damage to human health and aquatic biota. The aim of this study was to present a literature review on the removal of dipyrone, diclofenac and paracetamol in wetlands sewage treatment systems. It has been observed that constructed wetlands can remove drugs as well as in conventional stations, such as ponds or activated sludge, due to the coexistence of different phys- icochemical conditions, with both aerobic and anaerobic degradation routes. The lack of in-depth studies compar- ing the removal of dipyrone, diclofenac and paracetamol in different treatment processes does not yet indicate the most efficient technology. Constructed wetlands are systems known to be efficient in the removal of carbonaceous and nitrogenous organic matter and can be applied for decentralized treatment. New research has shown that such systems can also remove drugs with high efficiencies in both horizontal and vertical hydraulic flow configurations in order to minimize the concentrations of these pollutants in water bodies. The possibility of applying natural sewage treatment systems that can remove biologically emergent pollutants makes WCs stand out in comparison to other technologies, especially in Brazil, where it has not yet been fully exploited in municipalities and small communities.