Anthropocentric perspective on climate variability: the destination of antibiotics in the Tigris river is not restricted

Abstract

This study aimed to detect antibiotics in water, particulate, plant, and sediment in the Tigris River within Baghdad City, in addition to their spatiotemporal variations, and related physicochemical parameters. Five sites were selected in the river. Three target antibiotics (tetracycline, gentamycin, and ciprofloxacin) were detected in water, particulate, plant, and sediment of the river at all selected sites. The results clearly showed that the concentrations of target antibiotics were sediment > water > plant > particulate. Site 3 is considered as a risk site where high concentrations of all antibiotics during the wet and dry seasons were recorded. Tetracycline was recorded as a high concentration among other antibiotics in the river. Spearman's correlation and principal component analysis showed only a weak correlation between dissolved oxygen and the electric conductivity of the river's sediment with target antibiotics. To our knowledge, this was the first study of antibiotic traces in the Tigris River ecosystem. Lack of wastewater management, absence of antibiotic treatment, and less public awareness of antibiotic consumption are the main causes of antibiotic risk in the river ecosystem.