Occurrence and behavior of selected pharmaceuticals during riverbank filtration in The Republic of Serbia

Occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern in different water samples from the lower part of the Danube River Middle Basin - A review

This study intends to assess the extent of the occurrence of CECs in different water types based on the literature data reported for the countries from a lower part of the Middle Danube Basin, including those belonging to the Western Balkan (WB) region and two upstream neighboring EU Member States, Croatia and Slovenia. These countries share main freshwater courses important for drinking water supply, agriculture, industry, navigation, tourism, etc, but in some of them there are low rate of wastewater treatment, impacting the chemical status of water resources in the region and probably beyond, if downstream countries are considered. The literature survey revealed 38 investigative studies reporting data on CECs in water matrices sampled in the region in the period 2008-2022. Surface water was the most frequently studied water type in WB countries, while wastewater was the dominant water type studied in Slovenia and Croatia. The most often analyzed compounds in the studies dealing with surface water and wastewater were the anti-epileptic drug carbamazepine, some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and antibiotics; pharmaceutically active compounds were also the most analyzed CECs in groundwater and drinking water. Additionally, similarities/dissimilarities among the experimental approaches in these studies were discussed in relation to the state-of-the-art research directions for the CECs surveillance in the European Union, resulting in summarized strengths and gaps in capacities for the wide-range surveillance of CECs in the lower part of the Middle Danube Basin. This is the first integral overview of the studies on CECs in waters from the countries belonging to this part of the Danube Basin, representing a valuable baseline for further enhancement of the relevant monitoring efforts and chemical status of the regional water resources, especially in countries with poor wastewater management.

Occurrence of pharmaceutically active compounds in groundwater and their effects to the human health

Groundwater contamination by pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) has been considered a public health concern worldwide. Alongside the potential toxicological risk of these organic substances, many countries still rely on groundwater for drinking water supply. Thus, this study identified a priority list of seven licit PhACs, comprising acetaminophen (ACT), tramadol (TRA), carbamazepine (CBZ), erythromycin (ERY), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), metformin (MET), and oxazepam (OXZ). Consumption, concentration, and human toxicity in silico results were collected from open access databases. These three indicators were analyzed separately and grouped through a general risk index. The consumption index (data from the USA and Brazil) indicated that ACT, TRA, and MET are the most consumed. Monitoring samples from the USA and Europe (n = 816) indicated that OXZ and ERY stand out as the higher occurrence index considering both regions, but the ranking for each region showed considerable differences. When assessing toxicological risk, an index ≥ 0.5 was attributed to CBZ, MET, OXZ, SMX, and TRA. The general risk indicated the need to be attentive to MET, OXZ, and TRA as they presented ≥ 0.5 index values for at least two indicators.

Efficiency of the bank filtration for removing organic priority substances and contaminants of emerging concern: A critical review

With growing concerns regarding the ecological and human risks of organic micropollutants (OMPs) in water, much effort has been devoted worldwide to establishing quality standards and compiling candidate and watch lists. Although bank filtration is recognized as an efficient natural water treatment in the removal of contaminants such as OMPs, the increase in exploitation requires continuous assessment of removal efficiency. This review aims to provide a critical overview of bank filtration (BF) reports on more than a hundred priority substances (PSs) and compounds of emerging concern (CECs) listed in the relevant European Union regulations. Field- and lab-scale studies analyzing the removal efficiency and its variance of individual OMPs and biological indicators using BF and the main influencing factors and their interactions, shortcomings, and future challenges are discussed in this review. The removal efficiency of EU-relevant contaminants by BF has been comprehensively investigated for only a few pollutants listed in the environmental EU regulations: pharmaceutically active compounds, (e.g., the anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac, some antibiotics (e.g., sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim)), a few pesticides (e.g., atrazine), and faecal indicators such as Escherichia coli. In many cases, the measured concentrations of PSs and CECs have not been published numerically, which hinders comprehensive statistical analysis. Although BF is one of the most cost-effective and efficient water treatments, present field and lab studies have demonstrated the diversity of site-specific factors affecting its efficiency. Even in the case of substances known to be removed by BF, the efficiency rates can vary with environmental and anthropogenic factors (e.g., hydrogeological parameters and the contamination level of infiltrating water) and abstraction well parameters (e.g., the depth, distance, and pumping volume). The published removal rate variations and influencing factors often reflect the research design (field or lab-scale), which can lead to ambiguities.

Assessing the efficacy of river bank filtration around a check dam in a non-perennial river for rural water supply in southern India

Ideal locations for bank filtration wells were identified by assessing the efficiency of river bank filtration around a check dam in a non-perennial river located in southern India. The methodology of this study includes water sampling and water level measurements from existing wells, analysis of geochemical and biological parameters, pumping tests and borehole drilling. The conservative chloride and water level measurements indicate that production wells can be positioned up to 300 m from the check dam along the groundwater flow direction. It is recommended that if wells are not receiving 50% surface water contribution, then the production wells must be chosen within 110 m. In addition, the effectiveness of a river bank in improving water quality is evaluated by examining its hydraulic conductivity of 20 to 50 m/day (estimated using borehole data and pumping tests) and travel time and analysed water quality parameters. A significant reduction in microbiological load from surface water is evident even with a short travel time of 46 days. Substantial reduction in turbidity and improved geochemical characteristics were observed in wells located within the production zones which are supported by the Schoeller plot. The above results reveal that for the non-perennial river, in order to achieve maximum benefit through bank filtration, the same well cannot be used as a production well. Based on the water level in the check dam, the direction of groundwater flow and the percentage contribution of the river, it is necessary to shift the production well.

Global groundwater vulnerability for Pharmaceutical and Personal care products (PPCPs): The scenario of second decade of 21st century

The global production of PPCPs have increased by multiple folds promoting excessive exposure of its metabolites to humans via different aquatic systems. The higher residence time of toxic precursors of these metabolites pose direct human health risk. Among the different aquatic systems, the contamination of groundwater by PPCPs is the most concerning threat. This threat is especially critical considering the lesser oxidizing potential of the groundwater as compared to freshwater/river water. A major challenge also arises due to excessive dependency of the world's population on groundwater, which is exponentially increasing with time. This makes the identification and characterization of spatial contamination hotspots highly probabilistic as compared to other freshwater systems. The situation is more vulnerable in developing countries where there is a reported inadequacy of wastewater treatment facilities, thereby forcing the groundwater to behave as the only available sequestrating sink for all these contaminants. With increased consumption of antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals compounds, these wastes have proven capability in terms of enhancing the resistance among the biotic community of the soil systems, which ultimately can become catastrophic and carcinogenic in near future. Recent studies are supporting the aforementioned concern where compounds like diclofenac (analgesic) have attained a concentration of 1.3 mgL^-1 in the aquifer systems of Delhi, India. The situation is far worse for developed nations where prolonged and indiscriminate usage of antidepressants and antibiotics have life threating consequences. It has been confirmed that certain compounds like ofloxacin (antibiotics) and bis-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate are present in some of the most sensitive wells/springs of the United States and Mexico. The current trend of the situation has been demonstrated by integrating a comparative approach of the published literatures in last three years. This review provides first-hand information report for formulating a directive policy framework for tackling PPCPs issues in the groundwater system.

Efficiency of the bank filtration technique for diclofenac removal: A review

Bank filtration (BF) has been employed for more than a century for the production of water with a better quality, and it has been showing satisfactory results in diclofenac attenuation. Considered the most administered analgesic in the world, diclofenac has been frequently detected in water bodies. Besides being persistent in the environment, this compound is not completely removed by the conventional water treatments, drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) and wastewater treatment plant (WWTPs). BF has a high complexity, whose efficiency depends on the characteristics of the observed pollutant and on the environment where the system in installed, which is why this is a topic that has been constantly studied. Nevertheless, studies present the behavior of diclofenac during the BF process. In this context, this research performed the evaluation of the factors and the biogeochemical processes that influence the efficiency of the BF technique in diclofenac removal. The aerobic conditions, higher temperatures, microbial biomass density, hydrogen potential close to neutrality and sediments with heterogeneous fractions are considered the ideal conditions in the aquifer for diclofenac removal. Nonetheless, there is no consensus on which of these factors has the greatest contribution on the mechanism of attenuation during BF. Studies with columns in laboratory and modeling affirm that the highest degradation rates occur in the first centimeters (5-50 cm) of the passage of water through the porous medium, in the environment known as hyporheic zone, where intense biogeochemical activities occur. Research has shown 100% removal efficiency for diclofenac persistent to compounds not removed during the BF process. However, half of the studies had removal efficiency that ranged between 80 and 100%. Therefore, the performance of more in-depth studies on the degradation and mobility of this compound becomes necessary for a better understanding of the conditions and biogeochemical processes which act in its attenuation.

Sustainable groundwater treatment technologies for underserved rural communities in emerging economies

Worldwide, about one out of two people depend on groundwater resources to satisfy their drinking water needs. While groundwater typically is of higher quality than surface water, pollution and geologic conditions may require treating groundwater to meet safe water quality criteria. Herein, a critical overview is presented of water treatment technologies for rural and underserved communities in emerging economies that depend on groundwater. Given that small to medium sized rural communities in emerging economies often lack the financial resources to support technologically complex and expensive centralized public water treatment systems, the focus is on proven technologies that are sustainable and acceptable by the rural population. After an overview of the underlying treatment mechanisms and the principal groundwater contaminants targeted by the traditional, advanced, and experimental water treatment technologies, we identify the groundwater quality parameters that may impact or interfere with the technology performance. We also introduce enabling environmental factors that might govern the implementation of water treatment technologies in the target communities and a brief discussion of safe storage of water after treatment to underline the importance of protecting the water from re-contamination. Our overview is further supported by tabulated summaries of the principal (dis)advantages of each technology covered herein, including cost considerations and social acceptance. Overall, our review suggests that underserved rural communities have sustainable and affordable options for cases where the quality of local groundwater resources requires treatment.

Seasonal variation of pesticides in surface water and drinking water wells in the annual cycle in western Poland, and potential health risk assessment

Drinking water wells on a riverbank filtration sites are exposed to contamination from farmlands (like pesticides) that had migrated from the contaminated river. In this study, pesticide contamination of the Warta River and riverbank filtration water at the Mosina-Krajkowo well field (Poland) were examined during the annual cycle. Among the 164 pesticides analysed, 25 were identified. The highest concentrations occurred in the river water and decreased along the flow path from the river to wells. Only the most persistent substances were detected at the farthest points. During the study, seasonal changes in pesticide concentrations and differences in the types of occurring substances were observed. Most substances and the highest concentrations were detected in May 2018, while the lowest number and the lowest concentrations were detected in February 2018. Spring is the period of increased exposure of water to pollution, which is correlated with increased pesticides use and increased rainfall. Seven toxic and persistent pesticides were found with the highest concentrations in water: isoproturon, nicosulfuron, imidacloprid, terbuthylazine, chlorotoluron, S-metalachlor, and prometryn. Pesticides are widely used in the study area; therefore, a potential health risk assessment was performed. The hazard quotient (HQ) values did not exceed one, which indicated a less significant health risk.

Impact of Artificial Infiltration on the Removal of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs during Treatment of Surface Water

The content of pharmaceuticals in natural waters is steadily increasing. Especially nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often detected in natural waters due to their widespread use. This group of compounds includes commonly used representatives, such as paracetamol and ketoprofen. The quality of natural waters determines the processes applied for the treatment of drinking water. The methods used in order to remove pharmaceuticals from treated water include adsorption and biologically active filtration. Both processes also occur during artificial infiltration (forced flow of intake surface water through the ground to the collecting wells) at surface water intakes. The processes, which occur in the soil, change the water quality characteristics to a great extent. The goal of the study was to evaluate the removal efficiency of paracetamol and ketoprofen in the process of artificial infiltration used as a pre-treatment of surface water. The studies were conducted at a field experimental installation located at the technical artificial infiltration intake. The experimental installation consisted of three metering wells (piezometers) which were located on the way between the bank of the infiltration pond and the collecting well. The collected water samples allowed to evaluate the change of selected NSAIDs concentrations during the passage of water through the ground. The analysis procedure included solid phase extraction (SPE) and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Removal of the studied NSAIDs in the infiltration process occurred with variable effectiveness throughout the year. Paracetamol was removed with annual efficiency equal to 42%, although no significant removal of ketoprofen was observed.

Legacy and Emerging Pollutants in an Urban River Stretch and Effects on the Bacterioplankton Community

River contamination is due to a chemical mixture of point and diffuse pollution, which can compromise water quality. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and emerging compounds such as pharmaceuticals and antibiotics are frequently found in rivers flowing through big cities. This work evaluated the presence of fifteen priority PAHs, eight pharmaceuticals including the antibiotics ciprofloxacin (CIP) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX), together with their main antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) and the structure of the natural bacterioplankton community, in an urbanized stretch of the river Danube. SMX and diclofenac were the most abundant chemicals found (up to 20 ng/L). ARGs were also found to be detected as ubiquitous contaminants. A principal component analysis of the overall microbiological and chemical data revealed which contaminants were correlated with the presence of certain bacterial groups. The highest concentrations of naphthalene were associated with Deltaproteobacteria and intI1 gene. Overall, the most contaminated site was inside the city and located immediately downstream of a wastewater treatment plant. However, both the sampling points before the river reached the city and in its southern suburban area were still affected by emerging and legacy contamination. The diffuse presence of antibiotics and ARGs causes particular concern because the river water is used for drinking purposes.

A Review of the Occurrence of Pharmaceutical Compounds as Emerging Contaminants in Treated Wastewater and Aquatic Environments

:

In recent years, pharmaceutical compounds have emerged as potential contaminants in the aquatic matrices of the environment. High production, consumption, and limited removal through conventional treatment processes/wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are the major causes for the occurrence of pharmaceutical compounds in wastewater and aquatic environments worldwide. A number of studies report adverse health effects and risks to aquatic life and the ecosystem because of the presence of pharmaceutical compounds in the aquatic environment. This paper provides a state-of-the-art review of the occurrence of pharmaceutical compounds in treated wastewater from various WWTPs, surface water and groundwater bodies. Additionally, this review provides comprehensive information and pointers for research in wastewater treatment and waterbodies management.

Evaluating sewer exfiltration in groundwater by pharmaceutical tracers after the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, Japan

In April 2016, a series of earthquakes (M 7.3 on the Japan Meteorological Agency scale) occurred in Kumamoto, Japan causing serious damage to underground sewerage networks. In this study, we evaluated sewer exfiltration in groundwater in the Kumamoto area after the earthquakes by using multiple tracers. We used 14 pharmaceuticals, including carbamazepine and crotamiton, and anthropogenic Gd as tracers, and we measured concentrations of these tracers from September 2016 to November 2017 seasonally. The detection frequency of caffeine, carbamazepine, crotamiton, ibuprofen, and anthropogenic Gd ranged from 29% to 45%, and the concentrations of the pharmaceuticals in the groundwater were lower than those in previous studies. The median of all pharmaceutical concentrations did not decrease, whereas the median of the sum of crotamiton and carbamazepine concentrations, which are quantitative sewage markers, decreased with time. The sewer exfiltration rates in September 2016 estimated using carbamazepine, crotamiton, and anthropogenic Gd were 0.59 ± 0.27%, 0.66 ± 0.47%, and 0.11 ± 0.18% of sewage dry weather flow, respectively, indicating that the effect of the earthquakes on sewer exfiltration was small, probably because the damaged sewers were quickly repaired. This study demonstrated that a multiple-tracer approach is useful for evaluating sewer exfiltration after major earthquakes.

Occurrence of pharmaceuticals in the Danube and drinking water wells: Efficiency of riverbank filtration

Surface waters are becoming increasingly contaminated by pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs), which is a potential risk factor for drinking water quality owing to incomplete riverbank filtration. This study examined the efficiency of riverbank filtration with regard to 111 PhACs in a highly urbanized section of the river Danube. One hundred seven samples from the Danube were compared to 90 water samples from relevant drinking water abstraction wells (DWAW) during five sampling periods. The presence of 52 PhACs was detected in the Danube, the quantification of 19 agents in this section of the river was without any precedent, and 10 PhACs were present in >80% of the samples. The most frequent PhACs showed higher concentrations in winter than in summer. In the DWAWs, 32 PhACs were quantified. For the majority of PhACs, the bank filtration efficiency was >95%, and not influenced by concentrations measured in the river. For carbamazepine lidocaine, tramadol, and lamotrigine, low (<50%) filtration efficiency was observed; however, no correlations were observed between the concentrations detected in the Danube and in the wells. These frequently occurring PhACs in surface waters have a relatively even distribution, and their sporadic appearance in wells is a function of both space and time, which may be caused by the constantly changing environment and micro-biological parameters, the dynamic operating schedule of abstraction wells, and the resulting sudden changes in flow rates. Due to the changes in the efficiency of riverbank filtration in space and time, predicting the occurrence and concentrations of these four PhACs poses a further challenge to ensuring a safe drinking water supply.

Occurrence, interactive effects and ecological risk of diclofenac in environmental compartments and biota - a review

Diclofenac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug has turned into a contaminant of emerging concern; hence, it was included in the previous Watch List of the EU Water Framework Directive. This review paper aims to highlight the metabolism of diclofenac at different trophic levels, its occurrence, ecological risks, and interactive effects in the water cycle and biota over the past two decades. Increased exposure to diclofenac not only raises health concerns for vultures, aquatic organisms, and higher plants but also causes serious threats to mammals. The ubiquitous nature of diclofenac in surface water (river, lake canal, estuary, and sea) is compared with drinking water, groundwater, and wastewater effluent in the environment. This comprehensive survey from previous studies suggests the fate of diclofenac in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and may predict its persistence in the environment. This review offers evidence of fragmentary available data for the water environment, soil, sediment, and biota worldwide and supports the need for further data to address the risks associated with the presence of diclofenac in the environment. Finally, we suggest that the presence of diclofenac and its metabolites in the environment may represent a high risk because of their synergistic interactions with existing contaminants, leading to the development of drug-resistant strains and the formation of newly emerging pollutants.

Migration of Pharmaceuticals from the Warta River to the Aquifer at a Riverbank Filtration Site in Krajkowo (Poland)

Studies on the presence of pharmaceuticals in water were carried out on the riverbank filtration site, Krajkowo–Poznań (Poland). A preliminary investigation conducted in 3 sampling points showed the presence of pharmaceuticals in both surface water and bank filtrate. Based on the above, an extended analysis was made in July, August and October 2018 and included surface water and wells located at a different distance (5–250 m) and travel time (1–150 days) from source water (Warta River). Firstly, 75 compounds (antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, psychotropic drugs, x-ray agents and β-blockers) were tested and 25 of them were detected in the river or bank filtrate. The highest concentrations were observed in source water and then were reduced along the flow path. The sampling points located close to the river (<38 m) are characterized by low removal. Higher removal is visible in wells located 64–82 m away from the river, while 250 m from the river most compounds are completely attenuated. Carbamazepine, gabapentin, tramadol, oxypurinol, fluconazole, and lamotrigine are the most common compounds. Some of the tested parameters occur only in the river water, e.g., iopromide, diclofenac, iohexol, clindamycin, fexofenadine and valsartan. The research shows that at the site, a significant attenuation of pharmaceuticals can be achieved at travel times of 40–50 days and distances of 60–80 m, although higher values are ensured when the well is located more than 250 m away.

Assessment of soil buffer capacity on nutrients and pharmaceuticals in nature-based solution applications

The ability of a soil to sustain infiltration rates and to attenuate pollutants is critical for the design and operation of Managed Aquifer Recharge/Soil Aquifer Treatment and phyto-treatment schemes, also referred to as "Blue Infrastructures". We investigated the buffering capacity of a sediment sample and a peat soil sample for nutrients and selected pharmaceutical compounds and its evolution under continuous infiltration of secondary treated wastewater (TWW) in column experiments. Samples were obtained from two blue infrastructures, the Sant'Alessio Induced River Bank Filtration plant and the San Niccolò large-scale phyto-treatment plant in Italy, and were mainly different in their organic carbon contents (0.9 and 48%, respectively). In the column experiments, a constant infiltration rate of about 0.5 L/d was maintained for 6 months. After 4 months of operation, diclofenac and carbamazepine were spiked into the TWW to evaluate their fate. Water quality was monitored by periodic water sampling from the column inflow, at sampling ports along the column length, and at the outflow. Hydraulic conductivity (K) was also monitored. The hydraulic conductivity of the Sant'Alessio sediment decreased by a factor of 10 during the first 10 days of infiltration and then stabilized, while for the San Niccolò K (initially lower) remained constant for 50 days until it decreased following a change of the redox condition in the column. The different redox conditions, due to the two different soils tested, influenced also the concentration and mobility of PO₄^3-, Fe, Mn, and NPOC, and the speciation of the redox sensitive elements (nitrogen and sulfur). NOPC and phosphate were enriched during the filtration through San Niccolò peat soil (from 2 to 4 times, respectively), while they were buffered by the Sant'Alessio sediment (from 0.2 to 0.4 times, respectively). Diclofenac removal (69% and below 20% for San Niccolò and Sant'Alessio, respectively) was related to sorption and degradation processes and it was lower than the removal of carbamazepine in both soils (76 and 35%). The buffer capacity differences between the two soils were higher for diclofenac (62%) than carbamazepine (35%). Nevertheless, since no apparent degradation of carbamazepine was detected in both soils, its persistence in the soil may have a larger impact in case of desorption, posing contamination risk to groundwater. The results highlight the importance of the soils or sediments to be used as medium in such nature-based solutions for their operations. They also offer an approach to, e.g., tailor man-made soil layers in infiltration basins. We strongly suggest that soil characteristics and test duration are carefully considered in designing these infrastructures, when nature-based processes are the choice for dealing with reuse of treated wastewater management issues.

Removal of Natural Organic Matter and Organic Micropollutants during Riverbank Filtration in Krajkowo, Poland

The aim of this article is to evaluate the removal of natural organic matter and micropollutants at a riverbank filtration site in Krajkowo, Poland, and its dependence on the distance between the wells and the river and related travel times. A high reduction in dissolved organic carbon (40–42%), chemical oxygen demand (65–70%), and colour (42–47%) was found in the riverbank filtration wells at a distance of 60–80 m from the river. A lower reduction in dissolved organic carbon (26%), chemical oxygen demand (42%), and colour (33%) was observed in a horizontal well. At greater distances of the wells from the river, the removal of pharmaceutical residues and pesticides was in the range of 52–66% and 55–66%, respectively. The highest removal of pharmaceutical residues and pesticides was found in a well located 250 m from the river and no micropollutants were detected in a well located 680 m from the river. The results provide evidence of the high efficacy of riverbank filtration for contaminant removal.

The occurrence of selected xenobiotics in the Danube river via LC-MS/MS

Having in mind that there is a general lack of monitoring plans and precaution measures in the developing countries and that the Danube is the second longest river in Europe, the estimation of the relevant concentration levels of unregulated xenobiotics is a topic of interest both on local and international level. The selected pharmaceuticals, caffeine, and benzotriazole presented in the collected water samples from seven representative locations around the territory of Novi Sad, Serbia, during 1-year period, were analyzed with the use of solid-phase extraction followed by the liquid chromatography coupled with triple quad tandem mass spectrometry. The most frequently detected compounds were caffeine and carbamazepine in the concentrations up to 621 and 22.2 ng/L, respectively, while the maximum concentration of the analyzed pharmaceuticals was obtained for ibuprofen (60.1 ng/L). The presence of benzotriazole along the analyzed section of the river was confirmed in the concentration levels up to 26.7 ng/L. Although sulfamethoxazole and desmethyldiazepam were detected at trace levels (0.22 and 3.41 ng/L, respectively); the presence of these pharmaceuticals in complex mixtures should not be neglected. Due to the frequent detection caffeine, carbamazepine, ibuprofen, and benzotriazole could be proper candidate for hydrophilic anthropogenic markers for quantification of wastewater contamination in surface water in the analyzed Danube section.

Psychoactive drugs: occurrence in aquatic environment, analytical methods, and ecotoxicity-a review

This review focused on seven psychoactive drugs being six benzodiazepines (alprazolam, bromazepam, clonazepam, diazepam, lorazepam, and oxazepam) and one antidepressant (citalopram) widely consumed by modern society and detected in different aqueous matrices (drinking water, surface water, groundwater, seawater, estuary water, influent and effluent of wastewater treatment plants). The review included 219 selected scientific papers from which 1642 data/entries were obtained, each entry corresponding to one target compound in one aqueous matrix. Concentrations of all investigated drugs in all aqueous matrices varied from 0.14 to 840,000 ng L^-1. Citalopram presented the highest concentrations in the aqueous matrices. Based on the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test, differences between wastewater influents and effluents were not significant for most wastewater categories, suggesting that conventional wastewater treatment systems as such do not remove or remove partially these compounds. High-income countries showed much lower concentrations in surface water than the group formed by upper-middle-, lower-middle-, and low-income countries. Regarding analytical methods, solid-phase extraction (SPE) was by far the most used extraction method (83%) and performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (73%) coupled to mass spectrometry (99%) the most common analytical method. Changes in behavior and in survival rates were the most common effects reported on bioindicators (aquatic species) due to the presence of these drugs in water. Concentrations of psychoactive drugs found in surface waters were most of the time within the range that caused measurable toxic effects in ecotoxicity assays.