Effect of wastewater colloids on membrane removal of antibiotic resistance genes

Breazeal, Maria V. Riquelme; Novak, John T.; Vikesland, Peter J.; Pruden, Amy

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2012.09.044

Cited by 142 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…Thermophilic anaerobic sludge digestion appears particularly promising and may achieve superior ARG removal relative to mesophilic digestion, potentially because of the much narrower host ecology of the microorganisms (Diehl and LaPara 2010; Ma et al 2011). More advanced treatment technologies (e.g., membrane separation) could be applied to retain bacterial cells, including their genetic material (Riquelme Breazeal et al 2013). In addition, ozone has been proposed to disinfect ARBs and destroy ARGs (Dodd 2012).…”

Section: Issues and Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Management Options for Reducing the Release of Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance Genes to the Environment

Pruden

Larsson²,

Amézquita³

et al. 2013

Environ Health Perspect

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699

376

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Background: There is growing concern worldwide about the role of polluted soil and water environments in the development and dissemination of antibiotic resistance.Objective: Our aim in this study was to identify management options for reducing the spread of antibiotics and antibiotic-resistance determinants via environmental pathways, with the ultimate goal of extending the useful life span of antibiotics. We also examined incentives and disincentives for action.Methods: We focused on management options with respect to limiting agricultural sources; treatment of domestic, hospital, and industrial wastewater; and aquaculture.Discussion: We identified several options, such as nutrient management, runoff control, and infrastructure upgrades. Where appropriate, a cross-section of examples from various regions of the world is provided. The importance of monitoring and validating effectiveness of management strategies is also highlighted. Finally, we describe a case study in Sweden that illustrates the critical role of communication to engage stakeholders and promote action.Conclusions: Environmental releases of antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria can in many cases be reduced at little or no cost. Some management options are synergistic with existing policies and goals. The anticipated benefit is an extended useful life span for current and future antibiotics. Although risk reductions are often difficult to quantify, the severity of accelerating worldwide morbidity and mortality rates associated with antibiotic resistance strongly indicate the need for action.

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Section: Issues and Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Management Options for Reducing the Release of Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance Genes to the Environment

Pruden

Larsson²,

Amézquita³

et al. 2013

Environ Health Perspect

Self Cite

699

376

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Membrane (100 kDa) filtration of wastewater spiked with plasmid-associated ARGs resulted in 1-to 2-log reduction of ARGs. 28 Therefore, a membrane bioreactor could result in ARGs removal due to physical filtration alone. During the biological process, ARGs increased in an aerobic bioreactor in one full-scale study, but were significantly lower in MBR filtrate compared to the wastewater treated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Removal of antibiotic resistance genes in an anaerobic membrane bioreactor treating primary clarifier effluent at 20 °C

Kappell

Kimbell

Seib

et al. 2018

Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol.

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Anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBR) play a key role in future plans for sustainable wastewater treatment and resource recovery because they have no energy-intensive oxygen transfer requirements and can produce biomethane for renewable energy. Recent research results show that they can meet relatively stringent discharge limits with respect to BOD 5 and TSS when treating municipal wastewater primary effluent. Sustainable used water recovery plans should also consider removal of unregulated pollutants. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) represent an important emerging contaminant due to public health concerns surrounding the spread of infections resistant to common antibiotics. Conventional activated sludge processes have demonstrated mixed results regarding ARG removal. The objective of this research was to determine the impact of an AnMBR on ARG removal when treating municipal primary clarifier effluent at 20°C. AnMBR treatment resulted in 3.3 to 3.6 log reduction of ARG and the horizontal gene transfer determinate, intI1, copies in filtrate. Membrane treatment significantly decreased the total biomass as indicated by a decrease in 16S rRNA gene concentration. Microbial community analysis via Illumina sequencing revealed that the relative abundance of putative pathogens was higher in membrane filtrate compared to primary effluent although the overall bacterial 16S rRNA gene concentrations was lower in filtrate. Membrane treatment also substantially reduced microbial diversity in filtrate compared to anaerobic reactor contents.Mainstream anaerobic wastewater treatment is a promising technology for sustainable water resource recovery. Anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) can meet relatively stringent BOD 5 and TSS regulatory standards (BOD 5 <10 mg L −1 , TSS <10 mg L −1 ) for municipal wastewater at temperatures as low as 10°C. The research reported herein demonstrated that AnMBR technology can also significantly reduce antibiotic resistance gene copies.

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“…Both MBRs in the aforementioned studies employed membranes with pore sizes in the ultrafiltration (UF) range, which are generally larger than the average plasmid that would represent extracellular ARGs. However, given that a previous analysis of the mechanisms affecting ARG removal by membrane filtration revealed a positive correlation between colloid presence in UF membrane retentates and ARG removal rates [81], it is likely that this phenomenon is also responsible for the higher ARG LRVs in the MBR systems studied. Furthermore, the development of membrane biofilms has been shown to improve water quality parameters of MBR effluents such as COD removal [82], which can potentially serve as an additional mechanism for the removal of ARGs from wastewater effluents.…”

Section: The Role Of Membrane-based Treatment On Antibiotic Resistancmentioning

confidence: 90%

Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor Effluent Reuse: A Review of Microbial Safety Concerns

Harb¹,

Hong²

2017

Fermentation

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Broad and increasing interest in sustainable wastewater treatment has led a paradigm shift towards more efficient means of treatment system operation. A key aspect of improving overall sustainability is the potential for direct wastewater effluent reuse. Anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) have been identified as an attractive option for producing high quality and nutrient-rich effluents during the treatment of municipal wastewaters. The introduction of direct effluent reuse does, however, raise several safety concerns related to its application. Among those concerns are the microbial threats associated with pathogenic bacteria as well as the emerging issues associated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the potential for proliferation of antibiotic resistance genes. Although there is substantial research evaluating these topics from the perspectives of anaerobic digestion and membrane bioreactors separately, little is known regarding how AnMBR systems can contribute to pathogen and antibiotic resistance removal and propagation in wastewater effluents. The aim of this review is to provide a current assessment of existing literature on anaerobic and membrane-based treatment systems as they relate to these microbial safety issues and utilize this assessment to identify areas of potential future research to evaluate the suitability of AnMBRs for direct effluent reuse.

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Effect of wastewater colloids on membrane removal of antibiotic resistance genes

Cited by 142 publications

References 50 publications

Management Options for Reducing the Release of Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance Genes to the Environment

Management Options for Reducing the Release of Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance Genes to the Environment

Removal of antibiotic resistance genes in an anaerobic membrane bioreactor treating primary clarifier effluent at 20 °C

Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor Effluent Reuse: A Review of Microbial Safety Concerns

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