The occurrence of emerging compounds in real urban wastewater before and after the COVID-19 pandemic in Cali, Colombia

The COVID-19 pandemic is considered one of the most significant global disasters in the last years. The rapid increase in infections, deaths, treatment, and the vaccination process has resulted in the excessive use of pharmaceuticals that have entered the environment as micropollutants. Considering the prior information about the presence of pharmaceuticals found in the wastewater of Cali, Colombia, which was collected from 2015 to 2022. The data monitored after the COVID-19 pandemic showed an increase in the concentration of analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs of up to 91%. This increase was associated with the consumption of pharmaceuticals for mild symptoms, such as fever and pain. Moreover, the increase in concentration of pharmaceuticals poses a highly ecological threat, which was up to 14 times higher than that reported before of COVID-19 pandemic. These results showed that the COVID-19 had not only impacted human health but also had an effect on environmental health. [Display omitted] •An increased concentration of analgesics/anti-inflammatory drugs was detected after the COVID-19 pandemic.•An increase in paracetamol's concentration may indicate that it was the most used for treating COVID-19 in Cali.•HQ values of analgesics/anti-inflammatory drugs increased between 2 and 14 times in 2020 and 2021.•HQ values generate concern about the effects on aquatic biota and users of the Cauca River.