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Evidence of Antibiotic Resistant Genes Sorbed to Microplastics in Biosolids and Mobilized to Runoff
Summary
A field experiment found that microplastics in land-applied biosolids carry antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) that survive soil application and are transported into runoff water — with surface spreading of biosolids mobilizing far more ARG-laden microplastics into runoff than incorporation into soil. This is one of the first field studies to document this pathway, raising concern that microplastics may be amplifying the spread of antibiotic resistance from agricultural land into waterways.
Evidence of Antibiotic Resistant Genes Sorbed to Microplastics in Biosolids and Mobilized to RunoffAbstractMicroplastics (MPs) with accumulated Antibiotic Resistant Genes (ARGs) can be captured in biosolids and contaminate the terrestrial environment through biosolids land application. A field experiment with land-applied biosolids combined with rainfall simulations was conducted to control the biosolids loading, biosolids application methods, and rainfall events. The attached ARGs on MPs were analyzed from soil and runoff samples. Through biosolids application, some ARGs were significantly increased; tetW on MPs in soil increased 5-10 times. In runoff from biosolids-amended plots, the relative abundance of ARGs on MPs increased by 159% and 34%, as compared to the abundance in soil for spreading and incorporating plots, respectively. The biosolids application method affected the mobility of MPs and their associated ARGs to runoff, with surface spreading having the greatest mobility.Antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) have potential risk to human health but cannot be efficiently removed by wastewater treatment and may even be proliferated. Microplastics (MPs) with accumulated ARGs can be captured in biosolids and contaminate the terrestrial environment through biosolids land application. This is one of the first field studies to investigate the transport of ARGs on MPs from biosolids to land and runoff.SpeakerSturm, BelindaPresentation time10:30:0011:00:00Session time10:30:0012:00:00SessionMicroplastics Interaction with Pathogens and Other MicroconstituentsSession locationRoom S502 - Level 5TopicDisinfection and Public Health, Intermediate Level, Microconstituents and Contaminants of Emerging Concern (Non-PFAS), Research and InnovationTopicDisinfection and Public Health, Intermediate Level, Microconstituents and Contaminants of Emerging Concern (Non-PFAS), Research and InnovationAuthor(s)Sturm, BelindaAuthor(s)B. Sturm 1; Z. Li 1 ; Y. Hiripitiyage 2; B. Sturm 1;Author affiliation(s)University of Kansas 1; University of Kansas 1 ; University of Kansas 2;SourceProceedings of the Water Environment FederationDocument typeConference PaperPublisherWater Environment FederationPrint publication date Oct 2023DOI10.2175/193864718825159183Volume / Issue Content sourceWEFTECCopyright2023Word count15