Antibiotic resistance in wastewater treatment plants: Tackling the black box

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2018

Authors

Manaia, CM (Author) Other; Rocha, J (Author) Other; Scaccia, N (Author) Other; Marano, R (Author) Other; Radu, E (Author) Other; Biancullo, F (Author) Other; Cerqueira, F (Author) Other; Fortunato, G (Author) Other; Iakovides, IC (Author) Other; Zammit, I (Author) Other; Kampouris, I (Author) Other; Ivone Vaz Moreira (Author) FEUP; Olga C Nunes (Author) ICBAS

Journal

Title: Environment International

Vol. 115

Pages: 312-324

ISSN: 0160-4120

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 33 Citations

Scopus - 147 Citations

Associated Projects

LEPABE - Laboratório de Engenharia de Processos, Ambiente, Biotecnologia e Energia

LEPABE-2-ECO-INNOVATION - LEPABE-2-ECO-INNOVATION

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00N-VP3

DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.03.044

Abstract (EN): Wastewater is among the most important reservoirs of antibiotic resistance in urban environments. The abundance of carbon sources and other nutrients, a variety of possible electron acceptors such as oxygen or nitrate, the presence of particles onto which bacteria can adsorb, or a fairly stable pH and temperature are examples of conditions favouring the remarkable diversity of microorganisms in this peculiar habitat. The wastewater microbiome brings together bacteria of environmental, human and animal origins, many harbouring antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Although numerous factors contribute, mostly in a complex interplay, for shaping this microbiome, the effect of specific potential selective pressures such as antimicrobial residues or metals, is supposedly determinant to dictate the fate of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and ARGs during wastewater treatment. This paper aims to enrich the discussion on the ecology of ARB& ARGs in urban wastewater treatment plants (UWTPs), intending to serve as a guide for wastewater engineers or other professionals, who may be interested in studying or optimizing the wastewater treatment for the removal of ARB& ARGs. Fitting this aim, the paper overviews and discusses: i) aspects of the complexity of the wastewater system and/ or treatment that may affect the fate of ARB& ARGs; ii) methods that can be used to explore the resistome, meaning the whole ARB & ARGs, in wastewater habitats; and iii) some frequently asked questions for which are proposed addressing modes. The paper aims at contributing to explore how ARB& ARGs behave in UWTPs having in mind that each plant is a unique system that will probably need a specific procedure to maximize ARB& ARGs removal.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 13