Phytoremediation of pharmaceutical compounds in soil

Frequent release and disposal of harmful pharmaceutical compounds contribute to a significant impact on the environment. Due to the stability of pharmaceutical substances, treating them using traditional wastewater treatment plants is not viable. Most often, unwanted medications are dumped into the sewage system without being properly treated, which causes them to build up in significant quantities in the sewage water. Many techniques have a few downsides, including the presence of harmful byproducts, a longer period for deterioration, and a higher cost of manufacture. Using plants and the rhizosphere’s associated microbes is an eco-friendly technique for removing, transforming, or containing hazardous substances present in soils, sediments, groundwater, surface water, and even the atmosphere. This book chapter addresses the current knowledge on the presence of different pharmaceuticals in the soil and their ecotoxicity on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Efforts have also been made to discuss the different phytoremediation techniques used for pharmaceutical removal.