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Are microplastics in aquaculture an undeniable driver in accelerating the spread of antibiotic resistance genes?

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Abstract

Aquaculture products have been a key source of protein in the human food supply. Contamination by microplastics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) directly affects food quality and safety. Plastic fishing gear and the long-term misuse of antibiotics result in the persistent residue, migration, and spread of microplastics and ARGs in the aquaculture environment, causing in ecological imbalance and endangering human security. Microplastics can act as “petri dishes” for the reproduction, communication, and spread of ARGs, which adds an additional layer of complexity to the global issues surrounding microplastics and ARGs. Aquaculture has become an important source of microplastics and ARGs in natural waters. Accordingly, this paper mainly discusses the contribution of aquaculture to the presence of microplastics and ARGs in aquatic ecosystems. Microplastics and ARGs can (1) affect the production and quality of aquatic products; (2) influence the development and reproduction of aquatic organisms; and (3) accelerate the spread of resistant bacteria. How to eliminate microplastics and ARGs and block their transmission has become a worldwide problem. Actually, further research is required to understand the scale and scope of these effects.

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Funding

The study is financially supported by the Program for Shanghai Tongji Gaotingyao Environmental Science & Technology Development Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, Anhui, 243002, People’s Republic of China

    Ruixin Jin, Jiahao Zhang, Yifei Zhao, Shiwei Liu & Maocai Shen

Authors
  1. Ruixin Jin
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  2. Jiahao Zhang
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  3. Yifei Zhao
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  4. Shiwei Liu
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  5. Maocai Shen
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Contributions

Ruixin Jin: writing, methodology, analysis, and original draft; JiahaoZhang: writing, review and editing; Yifei Zhao: review and editing Shiwei Liu: analysis, review, and editing; Maocai Shen: review and editing.

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Correspondence to Maocai Shen.

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Jin, ., Zhang, J., Zhao, Y. et al. Are microplastics in aquaculture an undeniable driver in accelerating the spread of antibiotic resistance genes?. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 114685–114689 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-30412-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-30412-z

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