We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Impacts of disinfectant and antipyretic on aged ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer microplastics in hospital wastewater: Resistance genes, microbial community and carbon source metabolism
Summary
Researchers examined how two common hospital chemicals — a disinfectant (benzethonium chloride) and a painkiller (acetaminophen) — affect the microplastic particles made of ethylene-vinyl acetate that end up in hospital wastewater. Aged EVA microplastics exposed to these chemicals became better carriers for antibiotic resistance genes and promoted more microbial colonization than fresh plastics, raising concerns about hospitals as sources of resistance gene spread through microplastics. This highlights a under-studied pathway by which microplastics in healthcare settings could contribute to the global antibiotic resistance crisis.
Global transmission of resistance genes (RGs) by non-antibiotic substances and microplastics (MPs) pollution deserves in-depth research and discussion. The impacts of the existence of benzethonium chloride (BZC) and acetaminophen (APAP) on pristine and aged ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) MPs in hospital wastewater had not been studied. In this study, RGs, microbial community composition and carbon source metabolism activity were explored on EVA plastisphere in hospital wastewater containing BZC and APAP. After aging treatment, EVA MPs showed an increase in particle size, cracks on the surface and changes in functional groups. Moreover, aged EVA MPs became an excellent carrier and transmitter of RGs and accelerated microbial colonization after soaking in wastewater containing BZC and APAP. The abundances of RGs in wastewater containing pollutants were 6.19-665.49 times higher than those in wastewater without pollutants. These results indicated that the coexistence of BZC and APAP had higher environmental risk compared with single existence. Furthermore, quaternary ammonium compounds RGs were enriched in wastewater and on plastisphere with the presence of BZC. Network analysis demonstrated that Nitrosomonas (5.76-25.25 %) and pathogen Legionella (0.01-40.75 %) had high abundances in wastewater and on plastisphere and the potential to transfer multiple RGs. This study will fill the knowledge gap on the changes in microbial community structure, RGs transmission and carbon source metabolism of pristine and aged EVA MPs in wastewater containing BZC and APAP.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Effects of polyvinyl chloride microplastics and benzylalkyldimethylethyl compounds on system performance, microbial community and resistance genes in sulfur autotrophic denitrification system
Researchers found that PVC microplastics and a common disinfectant chemical in wastewater treatment systems promoted the spread of antibiotic resistance genes, with the disinfectant having an even stronger effect than the microplastics. The microplastic surfaces harbored disease-causing bacteria that carried these resistance genes. This is concerning because wastewater treatment plants could be releasing both microplastics and antibiotic-resistant pathogens into waterways, potentially threatening human health.
Contribution of microplastic particles to the spread of resistances and pathogenic bacteria in treated wastewaters
Researchers studied microplastic particles collected from treated wastewater effluents and found that MPs harbored significantly higher loads of antibiotic resistance genes and pathogenic bacteria compared to surrounding water, suggesting MPs facilitate their environmental spread.
Microplastics and Antibiotic Resistance: The Magnitude of the Problem and the Emerging Role of Hospital Wastewater
This review examines how microplastics in water can carry antibiotic-resistant bacteria and spread resistance genes, especially through hospital wastewater. Microplastics provide a surface where bacteria easily form colonies and share resistance genes, creating a potential threat to human health. The authors call for better wastewater management to reduce this emerging risk.
Microplastics enhanced the resistant genes spread under disinfectant replacement exposure in partial nitrification-anammox systems
Researchers investigated how alternating disinfectant exposure affects the spread of antibiotic resistance genes on microplastic biofilms in wastewater treatment systems. They found that switching between different disinfectants increased the risk of resistance gene transmission, with PET and polyethylene microplastics serving as vectors for both resistant bacteria and nitrogen-removing microorganisms. The study raises concerns that microplastics in wastewater systems may accelerate the spread of antimicrobial resistance under common disinfection practices.
Responses of bacterial communities and resistance genes on microplastics to antibiotics and heavy metals in sewage environment
Polyvinyl chloride microplastics in sewage enriched pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes on their surfaces, and the presence of heavy metals and antibiotics altered but did not eliminate this enrichment over time. The findings suggest microplastics in wastewater environments could facilitate the spread of antibiotic resistance through the microbial community.