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Terbutaline (TBL, an β-agonists pharmaceuticals) is one of the pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), which has caused many environmental concerns due to its eco-toxicological effects in aquatic environment. In this research, density functional theory (DFT) and quantitative structure–activity relationships (QSARs) toxicity methods were performed to systematically elucidate the transformation mechanisms and ecological risk of TBL degraded by •OH and O 3. By analyzing the structure and electronic properties of TBL, the •OH-addition, H-abstraction, single electron transfer and 1, 3-cycloaddition ozonation degradation pathways were mainly investigated. The lowest energy barriers of •OH and O 3 initiated reactions in the degradation process were 7.33 and 18.49 kcal mol−1 respectively, which indicated that the •OH degradation process was more likely to occur than O 3 induced reactions from a thermodynamic perspective. The kinetic rate constants of O 3 and •OH at 298 K were calculated as 7.58 M−1 s−1 and 1.02 × 109 M−1 s−1, respectively. Furthermore, the subsequent intermediates could further transform into hydroxylation substitutes, glyoxylic acid and ketoaldehyde by-products. Based on toxicity assessments, parent reactant TBL can exhibit harmful acute and chronic toxicity to daphnid (identified by LC 50 33.2 mg L−1 and ChV 2.34 mg L−1). The toxicity of most of the degradation products was reduced to harmless level compared with the parent reactant TBL. This work provided a molecular level understanding for evaluating the contribution of O 3 and •OH to the removal of TBL from wastewater by theoretical calculations. [Display omitted] • The degradation mechanisms of terbutaline by.•OH and O 3 in aquatic environment were studied by theoretical calculation methods. • The main degradation mechanism was proposed as an.•OH-addition reaction on the C1 site of aromatic ring of terbutaline. • The calculated total rate constants of.•OH and O 3 -initiated reaction were 1.02 × 109 M−1 s−1 and 7.58 M−1 s−1 during the degradation of terbutaline at 298K. • The eco-toxicity of degradation by-products were changed compared by terbutaline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]