Distribution pattern analysis of multiple antibiotics in the soil-rice system using a QuEChERS extraction method.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Agricultural Science

Background:

• Antibiotics are frequently detected in agricultural environments, posing risks to ecosystems.
• Simultaneous analysis of diverse antibiotics in soil and crops is challenging due to varying properties.
• Understanding antibiotic transport in the soil-rice system is crucial for risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a "quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe" (QuEChERS) method for simultaneous antibiotic analysis.
• To investigate the distribution and ecological risk of antibiotics in a soil-rice system near a poultry farm.
• To provide guidance on antibiotic environmental behavior and risk management.

Main Methods:

• Developed and optimized a QuEChERS method for extracting tetracyclines (TCs) and fluoroquinolones (FQs).
• Analyzed antibiotic residues in soil, rice roots, stems, leaves, and grains using optimized method.
• Assessed ecological risks using risk quotient (RQ) values.

Main Results:

• The QuEChERS method demonstrated high linearity (R² > 0.995), recovery (70.3-124.6%), and sensitivity (0.005-0.21 ng/g).
• Enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, oxytetracycline, and doxycycline were detected in soil and rice tissues.
• Enrofloxacin and doxycycline exhibited higher ecological risks in soil; all three were concentrated in rice roots.

Conclusions:

• The developed QuEChERS method is effective for simultaneous antibiotic analysis in the soil-rice system.
• Antibiotic contamination poses ecological risks and leads to accumulation in rice, particularly in roots.
• Findings offer crucial insights into antibiotic environmental fate and inform risk mitigation strategies.