Abstract
With the extensive production and use of antibiotics for medicinal and veterinary purposes, antibiotics and genes that code for antibiotic resistance are now present in various environmental media with higher frequencies of occurrence and at higher concentrations than before. Particularly, China has led the world in the production and consumption of antibiotics, which might lead to higher pollution levels of antibiotic resistance genes and pose a threat to human health. Here, we review the sources of antibiotic resistance genes in China, and their spatial distribution and pollution levels in surface water, e.g., in lakes and rivers, atmosphere, and soil. Statistics indicate that higher levels of antibiotics and related antibiotic resistance genes were detected in eastern China compared with other regions, and that tetracycline and sulfanilamide resistance genes are the most prevalent. The absolute concentrations of antibiotic resistance genes are 102 − 105 copies per milliliter of water, 104–108 copies per gram of soil, and 104–106 copies per cubic meter of atmosphere. We also analyze the pollution status and fate of antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater treatment processes. Then, the biological and abiotic factors affecting the transfer and distribution of antibiotic resistance genes are elucidated. We discuss the risks of antibiotic resistance genes for ecological safety and human health.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grants 51878321, 21866017, and 42067056), and the Foundation for Distinguished Young Talents of Yunnan Province (grant 202101AV070006).
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Supplementary file1: Supplementary data for this article can be found in the attached Supplementary Information. There are five Tables and one Figure in the Supplementary Information attachment. Table S1 Representatives of antibiotic resistance genes; Table S2 Detection methods of antibiotic resistance genes; Table S3 Distribution of antibiotic resistance genes in some major lakes in China and abroad; Table S4 Distribution and abundance of antibiotic resistance genes in some rivers worldwide; Table S5 Distribution of antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater treatment plants; Figure S1 Main types of antibiotics and their molecular structures in environmental media.
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Xu, Z., Jia, Y., Huang, B. et al. Spatial distribution, pollution characteristics, and health risks of antibiotic resistance genes in China: a review. Environ Chem Lett 21, 2285–2309 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-023-01605-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-023-01605-2