Worldwide, the number of people living along the coast is rapidly increasing, resulting in increased wastewater discharges, which is a major source of pharmaceuticals entering aquatic environments.

Environmental pollution by active pharmaceutical ingredients has become a serious problem in the Baltic Sea Region. Pharmaceutical residues pertain mostly to marine waters and originate from discharges from municipal wastewater treatment plants and vessels. Despite the increasing presence of pharmaceuticals in marine environments and their potential negative impacts, little research has been reported on the occurrence and removal of these contaminants in the marine ecosystem. Moreover, widely distributed and bioaccumulative contaminants could adversely affect aquatic organisms.

In this regard, complex mixtures of pharmaceuticals need to be considered regarding the impact on the environment and water treatment technology, focusing on the analysis of pollutant properties and potential.

In the project, combination methods of the solar-driven photocatalysis, fungal treatment, and biofilms will be developed to pilot in order to introduce practical and durable outputs and solutions for sustainable waters.

Through the cooperation of research institutions and non-governmental organisation from Poland, Denmark and Estonia, we are sharing our experience among us for the significant improvement of advanced wastewater treatment processes.

Thanks to the Interreg BSR support, the proposed solutions will ensure first outlines for wider use of advanced treatment processes for a better chemical state of released effluents from wastewater treatment plants in the Baltic Sea Region.