Riverine Antibiotics from Animal Production and Wastewater

Riverine antibiotics
have gained significant attention due to their
ecological and human health impacts. Here, we assess the distribution
of antibiotic concentrations in rivers globally and identify the driving
forces behind antibiotic pollution. We have collated a data set of
antibiotics detected in rivers globally, encompassing 21 distinct
antibiotics from 287 unique rivers, distributed across 128 sub-basins.
We also collated data sets of antibiotics in manure and wastewater
treatment plants (WWTPs) and analyzed the relationships between riverine
antibiotics and anthropogenic indicators. Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and
trimethoprim (TMP) exhibited the highest average concentrations in
studied rivers and WWTPs, particularly in Africa. Conversely, tetracyclines
(TCs) were most frequently detected in manure. TCs in rivers are strongly
correlated to animal production, particularly with cattle and pig
farming. In Africa, humans’ widespread use of antibiotics,
combined with insufficient wastewater treatment, were correlated to
high concentrations of sulfonamides(SAs), fluoroquinolones(FQs), and
Macrolides (MLs) antibiotics in rivers. In Asia, the application
of extensive antibiotics in livestock possibly elevated riverine TCs.
Our results provide new insights into the global action required to
achieve SDG6 on clean water and sanitation, emphasizing the need for
enhanced wastewater treatment and controlled antibiotic use.