Occurrence and fate of pharmaceuticals, personal care products (PPCPs) and pesticides in African water systems: A need for timely intervention
Charles Obinwanne Okoye,
Emmanuel Sunday Okeke,
Kingsley Chukwuebuka Okoye,
Daniel Echude,
Felix Atawal Andong,
Kingsley Ikechukwu Chukwudozie,
Henrietta Ukamaka Okoye,
Chigozie Damian Ezeonyejiaku
Affiliations
Charles Obinwanne Okoye
Ecology and Environmental Biology Unit, Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Nigeria; Biofuels Institute, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China; School of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China; Organization of African Academic Doctors (OAAD), Off Kamiti Road, 25305000100, Nairobi, Kenya; Corresponding author.
Emmanuel Sunday Okeke
School of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China; Natural Science Unit, School of General Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Nigeria; Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Nigeria; Organization of African Academic Doctors (OAAD), Off Kamiti Road, 25305000100, Nairobi, Kenya; Corresponding author.
Kingsley Chukwuebuka Okoye
School of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China; Entomology Unit, Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Nigeria; Organization of African Academic Doctors (OAAD), Off Kamiti Road, 25305000100, Nairobi, Kenya
Daniel Echude
Ecology and Environmental Biology Unit, Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Nigeria; Organization of African Academic Doctors (OAAD), Off Kamiti Road, 25305000100, Nairobi, Kenya
Felix Atawal Andong
Ecology and Environmental Biology Unit, Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Nigeria
Kingsley Ikechukwu Chukwudozie
Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Nigeria; Organization of African Academic Doctors (OAAD), Off Kamiti Road, 25305000100, Nairobi, Kenya
Henrietta Ukamaka Okoye
Social Policy Unit, Department of Public Administration and Local Government, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Nigeria
Chigozie Damian Ezeonyejiaku
Bioconservation Unit, Department of Zoology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, 5025, Nigeria
The occurrence of emerging contaminants (ECs) such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products (PPCPs) and pesticides in the aquatic environment has raised serious concerns about their adverse effects on aquatic species and humans. Because of their toxicity and bioactive nature, PPCPs and pesticides have more potential to impair water systems than any other contaminants, causing several adverse effects, including antibiotic resistance, reproductive impairment, biomagnification, bioaccumulation, etc. Over 35 publications from Africa have reported on the occurrence and fate of PPCPs and pesticides in African water systems with little or no data on remediation and control. As a result, adequate intervention strategies are needed for regulating the persistence of PPCPs and pesticides in African water systems.