Emerging Contaminants in water: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and their potential toxic risk.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a group of chemicals used for therapeuticpurposes, involving large amounts of different active compounds administered to treat, cure orprevent diseases that afflict humans or used in agribusiness to increase growth and livestockhealth care. Thousands of tons of drugs are used annually in a disorderly manner. Since 1980,scientific research has shown the presence of drugs in the environment that are mainlyintroduced through excretion in its original form and/or its metabolites. In this paper, we reviewthe general characteristics of NSAIDs, concentrations found in the environment of aspirin(acetylsalicylic acid), diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen and acetaminophen, five of the most commonly used NSAIDs and toxicity present in some aquatic organisms. There are minimalstudies conducted in Mexico around this issue and it is necessary to know the concentrations ofdrugs in surface water and groundwater.