Factors of Degradation, Transformation, and Distribution of Medicinal Substances in the Water–Bottom Sediment System

Abstract

English-language scientific publications on the natural degradation and transformation of medicinal substances in the aquatic environment under the effect of various factors are reviewed. The medicines that are most common in water are listed. The main source of pollution is shown to be poorly treated municipal sewage. The factors that affect the fate of substances in the medium and are considered in the article are the dilution or concentration due to changes in the hydrological regime or the conditions of the use of medicines, water pH, wind-wave roiling, photodegradation, bioaccumulation, etc. The analysis of foreign studies of drug contamination was used to make conclusions about the prospects of the development of these areas for use in Russian studies.