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Interactions of microplastics, antibiotics and antibiotic resistant genes within WWTPs

Evdokia Syranidou1, Nicolas Kalogerakis1

  • 1School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece.

The Science of the Total Environment
|September 12, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Microplastics (MPs) sorb antibiotics, influencing antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) and bacteria (ARB). Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) concentrate these MPs, antibiotics, and ARB/ARGs, potentially releasing them into the environment.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Microbiology
  • Chemistry

Background:

  • Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants found in diverse environmental matrices.
  • MPs interact with environmental chemicals and microorganisms, altering ecosystem dynamics.
  • The sorption of antibiotics onto MPs is a key process influencing their environmental fate.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To overview the interactions and factors affecting antibiotic sorption on MPs.
  • To present the interplay between MPs, antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs), and microbial hosts.
  • To discuss the role of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the MP-antibiotic-ARB/ARG nexus.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review on MP-antibiotic interactions.
  • Analysis of factors influencing sorption processes.
  • Discussion of the plastisphere resistome and WWTP roles.

Main Results:

  • Distinct interactions occur between MPs and antibiotics, influenced by various factors.
  • MPs can facilitate the spread of ARGs by interacting with microbial hosts.
  • WWTPs act as convergence points for MPs, antibiotics, and ARB/ARGs.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding MP-antibiotic interactions is crucial for environmental risk assessment.
  • WWTPs play a significant role in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance via MPs.
  • Further research is needed to mitigate the environmental impact of MPs carrying antibiotics and ARGs.
Keywords:
Antibiotic resistant bacteriaAntibiotic resistant genesAntibioticsMicroplasticsWastewater treatment plants

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