## 6 Types and Mechanisms of Removing Xenobiotics from Water
### Types of Lacase- Assisted Removing Xenobiotics from Water
#### 6.1.3 Pharmaceutical  
The worldwide annual consumption of PhACs is estimated at 100,000 tonnes or more, with the trend increasing due to disease and aging [14]. PhACs are natural or synthetic compounds used in human and animal medicine to diagnose, prevent and act toward many diseases. A wide range of medicines for humans and animals, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antibiotics, synthetic hormones and others have become essential to the health and well-being of the population, extending life expectancy. PhAC consumption is expected to increase in the coming yearsdue to the aging of the population and the improvement of health standards [13; 15]. Antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, antidepressants, antidepressants, antiepileptic drugs, lipid-lowering drugs, \(\beta\)-blockers, antiulcer drugs and antihistamines are the most commonly consumed drugs [15]. Mixtures of pharmaceuticals with their active metabolites are continuously discharged into the environment through wastewater treatment plants, municipal wastewater, wastewater from hospitals, livestock and pharmaceutical industries, the improper disposal of unused or expired pharmaceuticals, the use of manure and sludge as organic fertilizers and leachate from landfill solid waste [15]. The persistence of pharmaceuticals in the environment has become a problem with their ever-increasing production. Potential toxicological effects on nontarget organisms have been observed as a result of the continued presence of these chemicals in the environment at low concentrations (ranging from \(\mu\)g L\({}^{-1}\) to ng L\({}^{-1}\)). Some of these compounds have already been placed on the second and third watch lists, as is the case with (i) the antibiotics amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycinomycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim; (ii) the hormones 17-\(\alpha\)-ethinylestradiol (EE2), 17-\(\beta\)-estradiol (E2) and estrone (E1); (iii) the synthetic hormone notethisterone; (iv) the antidepressant venlafaxine and (v) three antifungal drugs, clotrimazole, fluconazole and miconazole [13; 217; 218; 219]. The overuse of PhACs and unsuccessful wastewater treatment has led to the accumulation of this group of chemicals in aquatic systems, which has been reflected in behavioral and physiological changes in the animals [220]. Pharmaceuticals occurring in the water affect not only fish organ development and function but also their DNA, hormone secretion and others [221]. Hormones, even in low concentrations depending on the type, can cause changes in sex characteristics and sex ratios, the feminization or masculinization of fish or impair the development of their immune system [9]. [PERSON] et al. (2019) further revealed that progesterone and estradiol have an effect on zebrafish (_Danio rerio_) locomotor activity [222]. Ibuprofen and diclofenac are the most widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the world [223; 224]. Diclofenac is a compound of low to moderate toxicity, as indicated by the increased activity of enzyme oxidative stress (glutathione s-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT)) and lipid peroxidation. Diclofenac is also an endocrine-disruptor compound (EDC). The source of PhAC in aquatic environments may be insufficiently well-treated sewage from the discharge of a sewage treatment plant or runoff from agricultural areas fertilized with manure from dairy cattle breeding [9]. Currently, such large amounts of pharmaceuticals are released into the environment that ecosystems are unable to mineralize them [15], similar to conventional wastewater treatment [14]. The solution to these inconveniences may be the use of bioremediation, which uses the ability of microorganisms and their extracellular enzymes to decompose various organic pollutants [15]. Among the advantages of PhAC biocatalysis, we can mention low energy consumption, which is mainly associated with ensuring mild reaction conditions and the production of fewer or no toxic by-products.