Fate of 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, epirubicin, and daunorubicin in hospital wastewater and their elimination by activated sludge and treatment in a membrane-bio-reactor system

Occurrence, Ecotoxicology, and Treatment of Anticancer Agents as Water Contaminants

“…An improved method similar to OECD 309 used by Yu et al [48] demonstrated an approximately 50% biodegradation of 5-fluorouracil. This finding was further supported by Mahnik et al [43] adopting a method using membrane bioreactor and radio-labelled substances. In addition, as a prodrug, capecitabine can be enzymatically converted to 5-fluorouracil in the cell.…”

“…However, when they are treated with H 2 O 2 or K 2 S 2 O 8 , the generation of hydroxyl radical and sulfate radical anion significantly accelerated the removal rate of cytarabine. Other methods such as membrane bioreactor systems [43] were also tested and proved to be effective to eliminate 5-fluorouracil in hospital wastewater.…”

“…Therefore, they are less likely to be adsorbed onto sewage sludge and sediments [43,44]. They often pass through the WWTP and are released unchanged to the surface water [43].…”

Preparation, Characterization, and Evaluation of the Photocatalytic Effect of α-Fe₂O₃/SAPO-34 in the Elimination Process of the Anti-Cancer Drug Doxorubicin from Aqueous Solution

“…Moreover, by light radiation, the hydrogen peroxide molecule undergoes a cleavage to produce O 2 gas (2). According to the photocatalytic mechanism, the O 2 gas reacts with conduction band electrons through several steps and generates • OH radicals (3)(4)(5). …”

“…DOX is applied in the treatment of various cancers such as bladder, stomach, breast, ovaries, lung, thyroid, multiple myeloma, soft tissue sarcoma, leukemia, Hodgkin's lymphoma and other kinds of cancers [2]. In the pharmaceutical industry, this drug can be excreted into the environment through production excretion, formulation sites, as well as un-metabolised substances or their metabolites in urine or stool of the direct consumers of the [3]. So due to the high toxicity of this drug, it should be completely degraded before entering the environment.…”