In this work, we review various PhCs detected in water treatment plants. We propose that fungi, particularly white-rot fungi (WRF), can be used for their bioremediation and describe the main mechanisms used for degrading this type of emerging pollutants; however, we also highlight the need to prospect for new fungal models. | Environmental Advances 4 2021 100071 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Environmental Advances journal homepage journal environmental-advances Fungi for the bioremediation of pharmaceutical-derived pollutants A bioengineering approach to water treatment Galit Akerman-Sanchez Keilor Rojas-Jimenez 1 Escuela de Biología Universidad de Costa Rica 11501 San Jos e Costa Rica A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T Keywords The excessive amount of pharmaceutical compounds PhCs released into aquatic environments poses a risk to Pharmaceutical compounds humans wildlife and environmental health. It is a serious problem that requires urgent attention. In this work Emerging pollutants we review various PhCs detected in water treatment plants. We propose that fungi particularly white-rot fungi White-rot fungi WRF can be used for their bioremediation and describe the main mechanisms used for degrading this type of Bioremediation Wastewater treatment plants emerging pollutants however we also highlight the need to prospect for new fungal models. A conceptual proposal is made to develop an immobilization device containing a consortium of fungal species that can be placed in wastewater treatment plants WWTP . We consider that this device would allow more efficient bioremediation of PhCs and address an environmental problem that remains neglected. Introduction bioengineering wastewater treatment plants particularly in the active sludge phase. The increased use of pharmaceuticals by modern societies is concomitant with their disposal into the environment. As a result of a Pharmaceutical-derived pollutants in water rapid advance in medical sciences and pharmacology numerous drugs have been developed in the last decades to treat humans and animals Most pharmaceuticals are hydrophilic and biologically active com frequent and rare diseases Podolsky 2018 Silva et al. 2015 . New pounds designed to be easily absorbed by the body and prevent their regulations have
