Chiral pharmaceuticals in the environment

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2012

Authors

Ribeiro, AR (Author) Other; Castro, PML (Author) Other; Tiritan M.E. (Author) FFUP

Journal

Title: Environmental Chemistry Letters

Vol. 10

Pages: 239-253

ISSN: 1610-3653

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 82 Citations

Scopus - 83 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-6K5

DOI: 10.1007/s10311-011-0352-0

Abstract (EN): Many pharmaceutical pollutants are chiral, existing in the environment as a single enantiomer or as mixtures of the two enantiomers. In spite of their similar physical and chemical properties, the different spatial configurations lead the enantiomers to have different interactions with enzymes, receptors or other chiral molecules, which can give diverse biological response. Consequently, biodegradation process and ecotoxicity tend to be enantioselective. Despite numerous ongoing research regarding analysis and monitorization of pharmaceutical ingredients in the environment, the fate and effects of single enantiomers of chiral pharmaceuticals (CP) in the environment are still largely unknown. There are only few chiral analytical methods to accurately measure the enantiomeric fraction (EF) in environmental matrices and during biodegradation processes. Furthermore, the ecotoxicity studies usually consider the enantiomeric pair as unique compound. We reviewed the current knowledge about CP in the environment, as well as the chiral analytical methods to determine the EF in environmental matrices. The degradation and removal processes of CP of important therapeutic classes, usually detected in the environment, and their toxicity to aquatic organisms were also reviewed. On the other hand, this review demonstrate that despite the great importance of the stereochemistry in pharmaceutical science, pharmacology and organic chemistry, this is normally neglected in environmental studies. Therefore, CP in the environment need much more attention from the scientific community, and more research within this subject is required.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 15