Biodegradation Method of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products

The biodegradation process is defined as the breakdown of the chemical and synthetic materials, converting them to environmentally acceptable, nontoxic products, where with the help of microorganisms like fungi and bacteria, these materials are converted through a series of intermediates into an end product that is friendly to the environment, which shares in the solving of many critical problems that are related to environmental pollution. One of the most important biodegradable materials is pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). PPCPs are a group of micropollutants that threaten the environment and include drugs (e.g., antibiotics, painkillers, depressors, contraceptive drugs). Also included are personal care products (e.g., perfumes, cosmetics, sunscreen, hair spray), and researchers have paid extensive attention to PPCPs biodegradation and the effect of their prevalence in rivers and their severe detrimental effects on the environment and human health.