Occurrence and Effects of Antimicrobials Drugs in Aquatic Ecosystems

Abstract

Currently, thanks to the development of sensitive analytical techniques, the presence of different emerging pollutants in aquatic ecosystems has been evidenced; however, most of them have not been submitted to any regulation so far. Among emerging contaminants, antimicrobials have received particular attention in recent decades, mainly due to the concerning development of antibiotic resistance observed in bacteria, but little is known about the toxicological and ecological impact that antimicrobials can have on aquatic ecosystems. Their high consumption in human and veterinary medicine, food-producing animals and aquaculture, as well as persistence and poor absorption have caused antimicrobials to be discharged into receiving waters, with or without prior treatment, where they have been detected at ng-mg L−1 levels with the potential to cause effects on the various organisms living within aquatic systems. This review presents the current knowledge on the occurrence of antimicrobials in aquatic ecosystems, emphasizing their occurrence in different environmental matrixes and the effects on aquatic organisms (cyanobacteria, microalgae, invertebrates and vertebrates).

Combined Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastics and Enrofloxacin on the Life Histories and Gut Microbiota of Daphnia magna

“…Several studies revealed the significance of antimicrobial drugs on aquatic organisms [83,84]. For example, the parental exposure of marine fish (Oryzias melastigma) to sulfamethazine (4.62 mg × g −1 ) may negatively affect the growth performance in adults [14,85].…”

The antibacterials ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim and sulfadiazine modulate gene expression, biomarkers and metabolites associated with stress and growth in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata).

“…Since the late 1990s, antibacterials have received particular attention due to their detection in surface and coastal waters and concerns about the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. High consumption and low absorption by humans and animals have caused them to be discharged to soil and receiving waters in their different manufacturing, consumption and disposal processes, with or without pretreatment in wastewater treatment plants becoming present in aquatic ecosystems at concentrations at the ng L − 1 range (Bojarski et al, 2020;da Le et al, 2021;Felis et al, 2020;Fernandez et al, 2021;Kovalakova et al, 2020). Although advanced oxidation processes and other treatments such as membrane bioreactors, bioelectrochemical systems and constructed wetlands have proven to be efficient for the removal of these compounds, they are not frequently used (Fernandez et al, 2021).…”

“…High consumption and low absorption by humans and animals have caused them to be discharged to soil and receiving waters in their different manufacturing, consumption and disposal processes, with or without pretreatment in wastewater treatment plants becoming present in aquatic ecosystems at concentrations at the ng L − 1 range (Bojarski et al, 2020;da Le et al, 2021;Felis et al, 2020;Fernandez et al, 2021;Kovalakova et al, 2020). Although advanced oxidation processes and other treatments such as membrane bioreactors, bioelectrochemical systems and constructed wetlands have proven to be efficient for the removal of these compounds, they are not frequently used (Fernandez et al, 2021). Most countries use conventional depuration processes (activated sludge, sequenced batch reactors and anaerobic digestion processes) that have low antimicrobial removal rates ( Ávila et al, 2021;Fernandez et al, 2021).…”

“…Although advanced oxidation processes and other treatments such as membrane bioreactors, bioelectrochemical systems and constructed wetlands have proven to be efficient for the removal of these compounds, they are not frequently used (Fernandez et al, 2021). Most countries use conventional depuration processes (activated sludge, sequenced batch reactors and anaerobic digestion processes) that have low antimicrobial removal rates ( Ávila et al, 2021;Fernandez et al, 2021).…”

“…The antibacterials Ciprofloxacin (CIP), Sulfadiazine (SULF) and Trimethoprim (TRIM) have been chosen in our study due to their consumption and presence (in the range of ng-µg L − 1 ) in different environmental matrices (Chia et al, 2021;da Le et al, 2021;Fernandez et al, 2021;Kovalakova et al, 2020;Li et al, 2020) and negative effects reported in aquatic organisms (Fernandez et al, 2021). CIP and TRIM are used especially in the treatment of urinary tract infections in humans (Dougherty, 2011) and SULF in the mariculture industry and in humans (Li et al, 2017).…”