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Journal of Clinical and Experimental Toxicology | Volume: 3
February 21-22, 2019 | Paris, France
International Conference on
Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology
Occurrence of high priority Pharmaceutical residues in hospital effluent and its treatment by
Sequencing Batch Reactors
Aastha Dhingra
Jamia Millia Islamia University, India
T
he hospital effluent is loaded with numerous chemicals,
drug residues, hormones, personal care products,
disinfectants, microbes, infectious fluids, pathogens, radio-
actives, nuclear medicine residues, etc. which adversely
impacts the environment. The objective of this study is to
analyze the hospital effluent with respect to some priority
pharmaceuticals that are environmentally relevant. This
study also highlights the treatment of these pharmaceutical
residues in Sequencing batch reactor sewage treatment
plant. The priority pharmaceuticals for this study have been
identified on the basis of 12 parameters like consumption,
toxicity, resistance to treatment, bioaccumulation potential,
physicochemical properties, occurrence in environment,
etc. The adverse impacts of these pharmaceuticals on
aquatic environment have been discussed. The five selected
pharmaceuticals belonging to different therapeutic classes
are: Furosemide; a diuretic, Diclofenac; a non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drug, Carbamazepine; antiepileptic
drug, antibiotics like Erythromycin and Ofloxacin. The
residues of these pharmaceuticals have been analyzed in
the hospital effluent of Delhi by using chromatography mass
spectroscopy. The effluent samples have been taken from
inlet, secondary clarifier and outlet from pressure filter of
the treatment plant of the hospitals. The concentration of
diclofenac was maximumat the inlet that is around 7200 ng/L
followed by ofloxacin which was 3400 ng/L and furosemide
which was 2600 ng/L. The removal rate of ofloxacin is found
66% which is maximum among these five pharmaceuticals
and minimum in case of carbamazepine i.e. only 18.7%.
Thus, it can be inferred that pharmaceutical residues ranging
from 34% to 82% is being discharged into the water bodies.
The occurrence of these pharmaceuticals in water bodies
poses a challenge for potable water supply and as they are
not being currently regulated in wastewater effluents and/or
drinking water. Thus, there is a need to identify the emerging
contaminants and impart adequate treatment at the source
to protect the water resources from contamination.
Speaker Biography
Aastha Dhingra was born and raised in Delhi, India. She has developed a passion for
interdisciplinary approaches to solve the environmental challenges. Prior to joining
PhD, she worked with Delhi Pollution Control Committee for three years. As part of her
Ph.D. studies from the Department of Applied Science and Humanities, she focuses
on quantifying emerging contaminants in the hospital effluent and the efficient
technologies for treating the wastewater. She wrote an Environmental Handbook
published by Department of Environment. She has recently authored a book titled
as “Hospital Effluent: Emerging contaminants and treatment technologies” which
is under publication. She has keen interest in issues relating to water management,
waste management, bio-medical waste and health, wastewater treatment.
e:
aastha.dhingra@yahoo.comAastha Dhingra, J Clin Exp Tox, Volume 3
DOI: 10.4066/2630-4570-C1-005