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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Collaborative removal of microplastics, bacteria, antibiotic resistance genes, and heavy metals in a full-scale wastewater treatment plant
ClearUnveiling the Interactions Between the Antibiotic Resistome and Microplastics Influenced by Trace Elements and PPCPs in Wastewater Treatment Plants
Researchers monitored wastewater treatment plants containing microplastics, trace elements, and pharmaceutical/personal care products, finding that these co-occurring pollutants interact to influence the survival and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and resistance genes through the treatment process.
Antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors in the plastisphere in wastewater treatment plant effluent: Health risk quantification and driving mechanism interpretation
Researchers found that microplastics in treated wastewater carry significantly more disease-causing bacteria, antibiotic resistance genes, and virulence factors on their surfaces compared to the surrounding water. This means microplastics released from wastewater treatment plants into rivers and lakes could spread antibiotic-resistant infections, posing a direct risk to communities that rely on these water sources.
Antibiotic resistance fate in the full-scale drinking water and municipal wastewater treatment processes: A review
This review examines how antibiotic-resistant bacteria and resistance genes move through drinking water and wastewater treatment processes, finding that conventional treatment does not fully eliminate resistance. Microplastics in water systems act as surfaces that harbor and potentially transfer antibiotic resistance genes, making microplastic removal from water treatment an important co-benefit for antibiotic resistance management.
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.
Research progress on the origin, fate, impacts and harm of microplastics and antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater treatment plants
This review explores how microplastics and antibiotic resistance genes interact in wastewater treatment plants, where they can survive treatment and enter the environment together. The concern for human health is that these contaminants can travel through the food chain, potentially increasing illness from antibiotic-resistant infections.
Antibiotic resistance genes, antibiotic residues, and microplastics in influent and effluent wastewater from treatment plants in Norway, Iceland, and Finland
Researchers used Oxford Nanopore metagenomic sequencing, qPCR, HPLC, and µFTIR spectroscopy to simultaneously track antibiotic resistance genes, antibiotic residues, and microplastics in wastewater treatment plant influents and effluents in Norway, Iceland, and Finland. Sequencing identified 193 unique ARGs, with patterns suggesting that treatment processes affect ARG abundance but do not eliminate them, and that MPs co-occur with resistance-promoting conditions.
Antibiotic resistance genes, antibiotic residues, and microplastics in influent and effluent wastewater from treatment plants in Norway, Iceland, and Finland
Researchers analyzed antibiotic resistance genes, antibiotic residues, and microplastics in wastewater from treatment plants in Norway, Iceland, and Finland. They found that many resistance genes were carried on mobile DNA elements that can spread between bacteria, and that polyethylene microplastics were the dominant plastic type present. The study shows that even in countries with advanced wastewater treatment, microplastics and antibiotic resistance genes can persist and be released into the environment.
The dangerous transporters: A study of microplastic-associated bacteria passing through municipal wastewater treatment
This study characterized bacterial communities attached to microplastics sampled from multiple stages of a municipal wastewater treatment plant, finding that diverse bacteria including potential pathogens and antibiotic-resistant strains remained attached to microplastics through all treatment steps. The results suggest microplastics could transport hazardous bacteria through wastewater treatment and into receiving environments.
Coexistence of Microplastics and Heavy Metals in Wastewater Treatment Plants of Delhi, India: Occurrence, Transport, Potential Interactions, and Associated Environmental Implications
A study of five Delhi wastewater treatment plants found that while they removed about 70% of microplastics by number, a substantial quantity is still discharged in treated effluent and concentrated in sludge that may reach agricultural land. Elongated fibrous microplastics were disproportionately hard to remove, and co-occurrence with heavy metals was documented, amplifying the potential toxicological impact on receiving water bodies.
Characteristics and removal efficiency of microplastics in sewage treatment plant of Xi'an City, northwest China
Researchers systematically tracked microplastic transport, characteristics, and removal through both the sewage and sludge treatment streams of a Chinese wastewater treatment plant. The study found that while most microplastics were removed from effluent, substantial quantities accumulated in sludge.
The Pollution Characteristics and Fate of Microplastics in Typical Wastewater Treatment Systems in Northern China
Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination at two wastewater treatment plants in Zhengzhou, China, finding overall removal efficiencies of about 93 and 96 percent respectively. Fibers and fragments were the most common microplastic shapes detected, with much of the removed material ending up concentrated in sewage sludge. The study raises concerns that while treatment processes are effective at reducing waterborne microplastics, the contaminated sludge may redistribute the pollution when applied to agricultural land.
The Role of Wastewater Treatment Plants in Dissemination of Antibiotic Resistance: Source, Measurement, Removal and Risk Assessment
This review examines how wastewater treatment plants handle antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their resistance genes, finding that current treatment processes do not fully remove them. Different levels of treatment show varying removal rates, and resistant bacteria can still be found in treated water released into the environment. While not directly about microplastics, the findings are relevant because microplastics in wastewater can carry antibiotic-resistant bacteria into waterways.
Abundance and removal characteristics of microplastics at a wastewater treatment plant in Zhengzhou
Researchers investigated microplastic abundance and removal efficiency across treatment stages at a wastewater treatment plant in Zhengzhou, China, sampling sewage at each processing section to track migration and fate of microplastics. The study characterized removal rates and identified which treatment stages were most effective at capturing microplastic contaminants.
Microplastic biofilm, associated pathogen and antimicrobial resistance dynamics through a wastewater treatment process incorporating a constructed wetland
This study tracked how microplastic-associated biofilms, pathogens, and antibiotic resistance genes changed through a wastewater treatment process that included a constructed wetland. While the treatment reduced some pathogens, certain antibiotic resistance genes persisted on microplastic surfaces even after treatment. This means microplastics leaving treatment plants could carry drug-resistant bacteria into rivers and lakes, potentially affecting downstream drinking water sources.
Microplastics shape microbial interactions and affect the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes in different full-scale wastewater treatment plants
A study of three full-scale wastewater treatment plants found that microplastics were associated with increased spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), with microplastic surfaces appearing to facilitate microbial interactions that promote ARG transfer. This is a significant public health concern because wastewater plants that fail to fully remove microplastics may also be inadvertently accelerating the dissemination of antibiotic resistance into receiving waterways.
[Occurrence Characteristics of Microplastics and Metal Elements in the Surface Water of Huangpu River and Their Associations with Metal Resistance Genes].
This Chinese study analyzed microplastic concentrations and metal elements in surface water samples from the Huangpu River, also examining their associations with metal resistance genes in microbial communities. Microplastics in urban rivers can carry both heavy metals and antibiotic resistance genes, amplifying public health risks.
Occurrence and Characteristics of Microplastics in a Wastewater Treatment Plant
Researchers sampled the inflow, outflow, and sludge of a Chinese wastewater treatment plant, finding up to 44 microplastic particles per liter in incoming water — mostly polyester fibers. The plant removed about 96% of microplastics, but the remaining fraction was still discharged into receiving waterways.
The occurence of pharmaceuticals and other micropollutants in wastewater treatment plant in the aspect of interaction with microplastics
Researchers analysed the occurrence of antibiotics, virucidal, and fungicidal pharmaceuticals in raw and treated sewage at a wastewater treatment plant in southern Poland, examining their removal efficiency and potential interactions with microplastics present in the effluent. The study found that pharmaceutical micropollutants persisted through treatment to varying degrees, raising concerns about combined contamination pathways when microplastics act as co-vectors for these compounds.
Impact of wastewater treatment plant effluent discharge on the antibiotic resistome in downstream aquatic environments: a mini review
This review summarizes how wastewater treatment plants release antibiotic-resistant bacteria and resistance genes into rivers and lakes through their treated water. Current treatment processes cannot fully remove these resistance factors, allowing them to spread in downstream water bodies and potentially reach humans through drinking water and the food chain. The review is relevant to microplastics research because microplastics in wastewater can serve as surfaces where resistant bacteria grow and spread.
Unveiling the Interactions Between the Antibiotic Resistome and Microplastics Influenced by Trace Elements and PPCPs in Wastewater Treatment Plants
This study investigated how microplastics, trace elements (copper and zinc), and pharmaceuticals/personal care products interact in wastewater treatment plants to influence the spread of antibiotic resistance genes. The findings revealed that co-occurrence of these pollutants promoted the persistence and spread of the antibiotic resistome beyond what any individual contaminant caused.
Sustainable removal of contaminants of emerging concern from wastewater by the living membrane bioreactor: effect of the co-occurrence of microplastics and antibiotics
Researchers investigated a living membrane bioreactor (LMBR) for removing the antibiotic ofloxacin and oxidized polyethylene microplastics from urban wastewater, finding that the biological membrane effectively retained both contaminants of emerging concern and that microplastics acted as antibiotic carriers, with their co-presence influencing overall removal efficiency.
The interplay between antimicrobial resistance genes and emerging contaminants in wastewater treatment plants: Key players in One Health
Researchers reviewed how wastewater treatment plants interact with antibiotic-resistant bacteria and emerging contaminants including microplastics, finding that microplastics and heavy metals help antibiotic resistance genes spread through microbial communities. This makes treatment plants hotspots for creating harder-to-treat bacterial strains, posing a broad public health risk that connects environmental pollution to human medicine.
Effectiveness of conventional municipal wastewater treatment plants in microplastics removal: Insights from multiple analytical techniques
Researchers evaluated the effectiveness of conventional municipal wastewater treatment plants in removing microplastics across multiple treatment stages, finding removal efficiencies of 70–90% but documenting that billions of particles still pass through in final effluent daily.
Fragmented Microplastics Synergize with Biological Treatment To Potentiate Antibiotic Resistance Dissemination during Sewage Treatment
Researchers used metagenomic sequencing and high-throughput qPCR across a full sewage treatment chain to show that fragmented microplastics preferentially concentrate clinically relevant antibiotic resistance genes, with MP-bound genes contributing up to 43% of intracellular resistance genes detected in treated effluent, and Acinetobacter emerging as a key resistance indicator.