<p>Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have emerged as a harmful class of pollutants because of their inability to be fully degraded in wastewater treatment facilities and their innate capacity to cause physiological problems in humans, even at low concentrations. Anti-inflammatory non-steroidal medications can damage both the environmental and human health, which is a matter of global concern. NSAIDs are classified into five classes according to their manufacturing process. The most prevalent are ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, and ketoprofen which have been examined for their toxic effects in river water, groundwater, treated water, WWTP effluents, and hospital wastewater effluents. Typically, less than 1&#xa0;μg/l of NSAIDs have been detected in natural resources of water. However, higher quantities have frequently been observed in rivers receiving untreated wastewater discharge, underscoring the significance of efficient wastewater treatment. This review discusses why NSAIDs are greatly employed in medicine, and what are their threats to the environment. It also investigates the negative impact of NSAIDs on aquatic organisms, particularly when they are exposed to very low concentrations for an extended time. The findings highlight the necessity of efficient techniques to reduce their pollution and safeguard the environment and public health.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>