Toxicity and removal of pharmaceutical and personal care products: a laboratory scale study with tropical plants for treatment wetlands

Abstract The aim of the research was to evaluate response three tropical species (Heliconia psittacorum, Ciperus haspan, Hedychium coronarium), respect their tolerance and removal capacity pharmaceutical personal care products (PPCPs), namely acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen, methyl hydrojasmonate (cis – MDJM), galaxolide, tonalide, caffeine, naproxen, ketoprofen, diclofenac. study undertaken in two stages (Stage I Tolerance; Stage II Removal) 21 days each. In I, it found evidence that from 1,000 μg L−1 plants show decaying responses, being C. haspan H. with best responses adaptation. results indicated tonalide ketoprofen compounds were 99% removed during first 24 hours exposure; naproxen 80% eliminated, caffeine diclofenac presented lower rates same time. allowed identification compound blocks, PPCPs are sorbed by (acetylsalicylic MDJM, tonalide), highly photodegradable (ketoprofen, diclofenac). These findings open possibility for further about using adapted conditions, PPCP wastewaters real scale nature-based systems such as treatment wetlands.