# Pharmaceutical products, drugs and personal care products in European waters: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

## TL;DR

This paper outlines a protocol to systematically review and analyze the presence and concentration of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in European waters.

## Contribution

The study introduces a structured protocol for assessing contaminants in European waters using systematic review and meta-analysis methods.

## Key findings

- The protocol will evaluate the detection of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in various European water sources.
- It will use PRISMA-P and Cochrane guidelines to ensure methodological rigor in the review process.
- The findings will support policy development for water decontamination and quality improvement in Europe.

## Abstract

This study aims to describe a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis that assesses the detection and concentration of pharmaceutical products, drugs, and personal care products in European waters. This study protocol was developed following the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA-P) statement and the Cochrane Handbook of Systematic Reviews of Interventions. We will include studies conducted on European waters of various origins (watersheds, aquifers, rivers, seas, springs, wastewaters, and drinking water). A comprehensive search strategy will be implemented in the following databases: PubMed (Medline), EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science. Two independent reviewers will conduct all study selection procedures, data extraction, and methodological evaluation. Any disagreements will be referred to a third reviewer. If the studies are sufficiently homogeneous, we will conduct a meta-analysis to summarize the data. We will use the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) to assess the certainty of the evidence. The systematic review and meta-analysis will provide valuable information about the presence and concentration of these types of contaminants in water, aiding in the development of public policies regarding prevention and decontamination measures to enhancing water quality in Europe.