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Real-Time Detection of Heavy Metals and Some Other Pollutants in Wastewater Using Chemical Sensors: A Strategy to Limit the Spread of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
Summary
This review examines advances in real-time chemical sensors for detecting heavy metals and other pollutants in wastewater, framed as a strategy to limit the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Researchers explain that heavy metals promote antibiotic resistance through co-selection mechanisms, making early pollutant detection critical. The study evaluates electrochemical, optical, and biosensor technologies and suggests that integrating real-time monitoring into water treatment systems could help curb the environmental spread of resistant bacteria.
The increasing presence of heavy metals in wastewater is a growing environmental and public health concern, particularly due to their role in promoting the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) through co-selection mechanisms. This review explores recent advances in real-time detection of heavy metals and some other pollutants using chemical sensors as a strategic tool to limit ARB proliferation. It provides an overview of sensor types, including electrochemical, optical, biosensors, and molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) sensors, and assesses their suitability for monitoring pollutants in complex wastewater matrices. Emphasis is placed on the integration of these technologies with Internet of Things (IoT) platforms, portable and autonomous systems, and data-driven approaches for multi-metal detection, selectivity enhancement, and predictive analysis. The review also discusses current challenges such as sensor stability, interference, and cost-efficiency, and outlines future directions in real-time environmental monitoring and antibiotic resistance control. Overall, chemical sensor-based monitoring offers a promising, scalable solution for safeguarding ecosystems and public health in the face of growing antimicrobial resistance.
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