Leverage of <i>Eichhornia crassipes</i> in modulating pharmaceuticals and personal care products in Delhi-NCR hotspots

In the critically polluted Yamuna River, a lifeline for the Delhi-NCR region, the interplay between seasonal contaminant loads and natural phytoremediation remains poorly understood. This study presents the quantification of eight priority pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) in water with evaluation of the bioaccumulation potential in <i>Eichhornia crassipes</i> along a 22 km area in pre- and post-monsoon. Paracetamol (up to 2866.9 ± 41.60 ng/L) and mefenamic acid (up to 829.5 ± 5.48 ng/L) were the most abundant analytes found in post-monsoon with frequencies of detection (FoD) > 90%. The bioaccumulation assessment was performed in <i>E. crassipes</i> that was naturally abundant in pre-monsoon season but less so in winter, coinciding with a notable rise in PPCP concentrations. The study revealed significant uptake with the assistance of the bioaccumulation factor. The contaminant's retention and distribution in surface water are directly influenced by the seasonal dieback of <i>E. crassipes</i> in river water. Notably, seasonal analysis revealed that pre-monsoon concentrations of carbendazim were significantly higher than post-monsoon levels (<i>p</i> < 0.05). These findings emphasize the regulation of PPCP dynamics in urban rivers by the phytoremediation potential of <i>E. crassipes</i> and highlight the need for integrating natural wetland vegetation into water quality management strategies.