Estimating macrolide antibiotics use in a typical region of Taihu Lake Basin, China through wastewater-based...

Numerous macrolide antibiotics (MLs) have been widely utilized in the fields of disease treatment, aquaculture, and livestock industry. These antibiotics are metabolized in the human body and subsequently enter wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) through domestic wastewater. However, residues may enter natural water bodies, potentially exerting adverse effects on human health. This highlights necessity of understanding antibiotic usage patterns in proximity to water supply sources. Taihu Lake, a significant freshwater reservoir in China, is currently facing a serious issue of antibiotic pollution predicament. In this study, wastewater samples were collected from a WWTP located in the Taihu Lake Basin over six-month period under varying ambient temperatures (October 2022 to March 2023). The concentrations of four MLs-erythromycin, roxithromycin, azithromycin, and clarithromycin-were determined. To estimate the population served by the WWTP during the sampling period, a multi-parameter model was employed. Furthermore, the per capita consumption levels of MLs were estimated with wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE). Notably, all four antibiotics were detected in the collected wastewater samples. Erythromycin exhibited the highest consumption level at 3849.0 ± 1843.1 mg/1000 inh/d, followed by Azithromycin (2229.1 ± 981.5 mg/1000 inh/d) and Roxithromycin (1511.2 ± 774.3 mg/1000 inh/d), yet clarithromycin had the lowest consumption level at 33.8 ± 39.9 mg/1000 inh/d. A significant increase in antibiotic usage was observed in January 2023 that the other sampling months, accompanying with low ambient temperatures. The data set on MLs consumption provides valuable insights for evaluating antibiotic usage patterns under varying temporal and climatic conditions.