Diclofenac (DCF) as an emerging pollutant: Occurrence, ecotoxicity, and biodegradation strategies

Diclofenac (DCF) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with analgesic and antipyretic effects. It is an emerging pollutant that has attracted global attention due to its widespread distribution in various ecosystems and its potential risk to human and non-target organisms, such as aquatic organi...

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Main Authors: Ahmed Sayed Badawy, Ying Xu, Hao Ren, Zhenmei Lu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325009637
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author Ahmed Sayed Badawy
Ying Xu
Hao Ren
Zhenmei Lu
author_facet Ahmed Sayed Badawy
Ying Xu
Hao Ren
Zhenmei Lu
author_sort Ahmed Sayed Badawy
collection DOAJ
description Diclofenac (DCF) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with analgesic and antipyretic effects. It is an emerging pollutant that has attracted global attention due to its widespread distribution in various ecosystems and its potential risk to human and non-target organisms, such as aquatic organisms, plants, animals, and microorganisms. It also contributes to the spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens and the formation of new pollutants through its interaction with other contaminants. This comprehensive review highlights the occurrence, fate, and concentration of DCF across environmental compartments and relates the mode of toxicity, level of exposure, and route of administration as a unique approach for addressing the destructive consequence of DCF in different ecosystems. Finally, the mitigation strategy to eradicate the DCF toxicity through bioremediation is critically discussed, focusing on the diversity of DCF-degrading microorganisms, biodegradation pathways, and underlying molecular mechanisms to provide a comprehensive overview of DCF biodegradation.
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spelling doaj-art-b4e82d946a0a4bbe907f84b045bf104d2025-08-20T03:36:10ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132025-09-0130211861810.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118618Diclofenac (DCF) as an emerging pollutant: Occurrence, ecotoxicity, and biodegradation strategiesAhmed Sayed Badawy0Ying Xu1Hao Ren2Zhenmei Lu3MOE Laboratory of Biosystem Homeostasis and Protection, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, EgyptState Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, and School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, ChinaMOE Laboratory of Biosystem Homeostasis and Protection, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Corresponding authors at: MOE Laboratory of Biosystem Homeostasis and Protection, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.MOE Laboratory of Biosystem Homeostasis and Protection, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Corresponding authors at: MOE Laboratory of Biosystem Homeostasis and Protection, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.Diclofenac (DCF) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with analgesic and antipyretic effects. It is an emerging pollutant that has attracted global attention due to its widespread distribution in various ecosystems and its potential risk to human and non-target organisms, such as aquatic organisms, plants, animals, and microorganisms. It also contributes to the spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens and the formation of new pollutants through its interaction with other contaminants. This comprehensive review highlights the occurrence, fate, and concentration of DCF across environmental compartments and relates the mode of toxicity, level of exposure, and route of administration as a unique approach for addressing the destructive consequence of DCF in different ecosystems. Finally, the mitigation strategy to eradicate the DCF toxicity through bioremediation is critically discussed, focusing on the diversity of DCF-degrading microorganisms, biodegradation pathways, and underlying molecular mechanisms to provide a comprehensive overview of DCF biodegradation.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325009637DiclofenacEmerging pollutantsToxicityBiodegradationConsortia
spellingShingle Ahmed Sayed Badawy
Ying Xu
Hao Ren
Zhenmei Lu
Diclofenac (DCF) as an emerging pollutant: Occurrence, ecotoxicity, and biodegradation strategies
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Diclofenac
Emerging pollutants
Toxicity
Biodegradation
Consortia
title Diclofenac (DCF) as an emerging pollutant: Occurrence, ecotoxicity, and biodegradation strategies
title_full Diclofenac (DCF) as an emerging pollutant: Occurrence, ecotoxicity, and biodegradation strategies
title_fullStr Diclofenac (DCF) as an emerging pollutant: Occurrence, ecotoxicity, and biodegradation strategies
title_full_unstemmed Diclofenac (DCF) as an emerging pollutant: Occurrence, ecotoxicity, and biodegradation strategies
title_short Diclofenac (DCF) as an emerging pollutant: Occurrence, ecotoxicity, and biodegradation strategies
title_sort diclofenac dcf as an emerging pollutant occurrence ecotoxicity and biodegradation strategies
topic Diclofenac
Emerging pollutants
Toxicity
Biodegradation
Consortia
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325009637
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