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Mitigating Antimicrobial Resistance Risks When Using Reclaimed Municipal Wastewater for Agriculture

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Antibiotic Resistance in the Environment

Part of the book series: The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry ((HEC,volume 91))

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Abstract

The global need for food is posing a serious threat to water security. Treated wastewater can be used as an alternative water supply to mitigate our reliance on nonrenewable waters (defined as water that cannot be replenished within our life span). However, concerns related to emerging contaminants such as antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) can impede efforts to push for widespread use of treated wastewater in agricultural irrigation. This chapter aims to provide a better understanding of the potential concerns by first using case studies in two countries that have already practiced water reuse. Second, we collate and analyze data that suggests that wastewater treatment plants able to achieve at least 8-log reduction in microbiological contaminants may suffice as appropriate intervention barriers for ARB dissemination to the environment. This chapter also recognizes that extracellular DNA-carrying ARGs may not be effectively removed even with membrane-based treatment. There is therefore a need to assess whether extracellular DNA may accumulate in agricultural soils due to repeated use of treated wastewater and to determine the concentrations of extracellular DNA needed to significantly increase horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in the natural environment. Given the large knowledge gaps that hinder an accurate assessment of the associated risks, it would be prudent to adopt the precautionary principle and to implement appropriate intervention strategies and best management practices that minimize the impacts and concerns arising from the reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture.

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Acknowledgment

This review paper is supported by KAUST Baseline Funding BAS/1/1033-01-01 awarded to P.Y.H.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Water Desalination and Reuse Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia

    Pei-Ying Hong, Changzhi Wang & David Mantilla-Calderon

Authors
  1. Pei-Ying Hong
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  2. Changzhi Wang
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  3. David Mantilla-Calderon
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pei-Ying Hong .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto, Portugal

    Célia M. Manaia

  2. University of South Australia, South Australia, Australia

    Erica Donner

  3. Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto, Portugal

    Ivone Vaz-Moreira

  4. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia

    Peiying Hong

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Hong, PY., Wang, C., Mantilla-Calderon, D. (2020). Mitigating Antimicrobial Resistance Risks When Using Reclaimed Municipal Wastewater for Agriculture. In: Manaia, C., Donner, E., Vaz-Moreira, I., Hong, P. (eds) Antibiotic Resistance in the Environment . The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, vol 91. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/698_2020_473

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