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Tipper HJ, Stanton IC, Payne RA, Read DS, Singer AC. Do storm overflows influence AMR in the environment and is this relevant to human health? A UK perspective on a global issue. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 260:121952. [PMID: 38906083 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health threat, and the environment has been identified as an important reservoir for resistant microorganisms and genes. Storm overflows (SOs) discharge wastewater and stormwater, and are found throughout many wastewater networks. While there are no data currently showing the impact of SOs on the environment with respect to AMR in the UK, there is a small but growing body of evidence globally highlighting the potential role of SOs on environmental AMR. This review aims to provide an overview of the current state of SOs, describe global data investigating the impact of SOs on environmental AMR, and discuss the implications of SOs regarding AMR and human health. In addition, the complexities of studying the effects of SOs are discussed and a set of priority research questions and policy interventions to tackle a potentially emerging threat to public health are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly J Tipper
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, England.
| | - Isobel C Stanton
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, England
| | - Rachel A Payne
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, England
| | - Daniel S Read
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, England
| | - Andrew C Singer
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, England
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2
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Stanton IC, Tipper HJ, Chau K, Klümper U, Subirats J, Murray AK. Does Environmental Exposure to Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Product Residues Result in the Selection of Antimicrobial-Resistant Microorganisms, and is this Important in Terms of Human Health Outcomes? ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024; 43:623-636. [PMID: 36416260 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The environment plays a critical role in the development, dissemination, and transmission of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) enter the environment through direct application to the environment and through anthropogenic pollution. Although there is a growing body of evidence defining minimal selective concentrations (MSCs) of antibiotics and the role antibiotics play in horizontal gene transfer (HGT), there is limited evidence on the role of non-antibiotic PPCPs. Existing data show associations with the development of resistance or effects on bacterial growth rather than calculating selective endpoints. Research has focused on laboratory-based systems rather than in situ experiments, although PPCP concentrations found throughout wastewater, natural water, and soil environments are often within the range of laboratory-derived MSCs and at concentrations shown to promote HGT. Increased selection and HGT of AMR by PPCPs will result in an increase in total AMR abundance in the environment, increasing the risk of exposure and potential transmission of environmental AMR to humans. There is some evidence to suggest that humans can acquire resistance from environmental settings, with water environments being the most frequently studied. However, because this is currently limited, we recommend that more evidence be gathered to understand the risk the environment plays in regard to human health. In addition, we recommend that future research efforts focus on MSC-based experiments for non-antibiotic PPCPS, particularly in situ, and investigate the effect of PPCP mixtures on AMR. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:623-636. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kevin Chau
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Uli Klümper
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Technische Universitӓt Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jessica Subirats
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, Spanish Council for Scientific Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Aimee K Murray
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Cornwall, UK
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3
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Yang Q, Shen C, Li Z. Bibliometric analysis of global performance and trends of research on combined sewer overflows (CSOs) from 1990 to 2022. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2024; 89:1554-1569. [PMID: 38557718 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2024.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) are one of the main sources of pollution in urban water systems and significantly impede the restoration of water body functionalities within urban rivers and lakes. To understand the research and frontier trends of CSOs comprehensively and systematically, a visual statistical analysis of the literature related to CSOs in the Web of Science core database from 1990 to 2022 was conducted using the bibliometric method using HistCite Pro and VOSviewer. The results reveal a total of 1,209 pertinent publications related to CSOs from 1990 to 2022, and the quantity of CSOs-related publications indicated an increasing trend. Investigations of the distribution and fate of typical pollutants in CSOs and their ecological effects on receiving waters and studies on pollution control technologies (source reduction, process control, and end-of-pipe treatment) are the current focus of CSOs research. CSOs pollution control technologies based on source reduction and the monitoring and control of emerging contaminants are at the forefront of scientific investigations on CSOs. This study systematically and comprehensively summarized current research topics and future research directions of CSOs, thus providing a reference for CSOs control and water environment management research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingbang Yang
- College of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China; Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Chen Shen
- Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China E-mail:
| | - Zhonghong Li
- School Environment and Energy Engineering, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China
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4
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Pan XR, Chen L, Zhang LP, Zuo JE. Characteristics of antibiotic resistance gene distribution in rainfall runoff and combined sewer overflow. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:30766-30778. [PMID: 36441318 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24257-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Rainfall runoff and combined sewer overflow (CSO) converge with organic waste, nutrients, and microbes from the ground and wastewater. These pollutants promote the spread and transformation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). In this study, four rainfall runoff and one CSO outfall were chosen, and samples were collected to explore the occurrence and distribution of ARGs. The ARGs were extracted from suspended solids and analyzed using metagenomic sequencing. A total of 888 ARG subtypes, belonging to 17 ARG types, were detected in all samples. Eleven ARG types were shared by all the samples. Multidrug resistance genes had the highest relative abundance. Their total relative abundance reached 1.07 ratio (ARG copy number/16S rRNA gene copy number) and comprised 46.6% of all the ARGs. In all samples, the CSO outfall had the highest total relative abundance (8.25 × 10-1 ratio) of ARGs, with a ratio ranging ND (not detected)-3.78 × 10-1 ratio. Furthermore, the relationship between ARG types and environmental factors was determined using redundancy analysis. The results showed that chemical organic demand (COD) and bacterial abundance were positively correlated with most ARG types, including multidrug, bacitracin, aminoglycoside, β-lactam, tetracycline, and sulfonamide. NH3-N, TN, and TP were positively correlated with rifamycin, fosmidomycin, and vancomycin resistance genes. The relationship among the ARG subtypes was investigated using network analyses. The multidrug resistance gene subtypes had the highest frequency of co-occurrence. This study provides insights into the occurrence and distribution of ARGs under non-point source pollution and may contribute to the control of ARGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Rong Pan
- College of Biology and Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, 310015, China
| | - Lei Chen
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Li-Ping Zhang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Jian-E Zuo
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
- Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
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5
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Matsui K, Miki T. Microbial community composition and function in an urban waterway with combined sewer overflows before and after implementation of a stormwater storage pipe. PeerJ 2023; 11:e14684. [PMID: 36650829 PMCID: PMC9840855 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
When the wastewater volume exceeds the sewer pipe capacity during extreme rainfall events, untreated sewage discharges directly into rivers as combined sewer overflow (CSO). To compare the impacts of CSOs and stormwater on urban waterways, we assessed physicochemical water quality, the 16S rRNA gene-based bacterial community structure, and EcoPlate-based microbial functions during rainfall periods in an urban waterway before and after a stormwater storage pipe was commissioned. A temporal variation analysis showed that CSOs have significant impacts on microbial function and bacterial community structure, while their contributions to physicochemical parameters, bacterial abundance, and chlorophyll a were not confirmed. Heat map analysis showed that the impact of CSO on the waterway bacterial community structure was temporal and the bacterial community composition in CSO is distinct from that in sewers. Hierarchical clustering analysis revealed that the waterway physicochemical water qualities, bacterial community composition, and microbial community function were distinguishable from the upper reach of the river, rather than between CSO and stormwater. Changes in the relative abundance of tetracycline resistance (tet) genes-especially tet(M)-were observed after CSOs but did not coincide with changes in the microbial community composition, suggesting that the parameters affecting the microbial community composition and relative abundance of tet genes differ. After pipe implementation, however, stormwater did not contribute to the abundance of tet genes in the waterway. These results indicate that CSO-induced acute microbial disturbances in the urban waterway were alleviated by the implementation of a stormwater storage pipe and will support the efficiency of storage pipe operation for waterway management in urban areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuaki Matsui
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Kindai University, Higashiosaka, Japan
| | - Takeshi Miki
- Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Ryukoku University, Otsu, Shiga, Japan
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6
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Damashek J, Westrich JR, McDonald JMB, Teachey ME, Jackson CR, Frye JG, Lipp EK, Capps KA, Ottesen EA. Non-point source fecal contamination from aging wastewater infrastructure is a primary driver of antibiotic resistance in surface waters. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 222:118853. [PMID: 35870389 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a global threat to human health. Many surface water resources are environmental hotspots of antibiotic resistant gene (ARG) transfer, with agricultural runoff and human waste highlighted as common sources of ARGs to aquatic systems. Here we quantified fecal marker genes and ARGs in 992 stream water samples collected seasonally during a 5-year period from 115 sites across the Upper Oconee watershed (Georgia, USA), an area characterized by gradients of agricultural and urban development. Widespread fecal contamination was found from humans (48% of samples), ruminants (55%), and poultry (19%), and 73% of samples tested positive for at least one of the six targeted ARGs (ermB, tet(B), blaCTX-M-1, blaKPC, blaSHV, and qnrS). While ARGs were strongly correlated with human fecal markers, many highly contaminated samples were not associated with sewage outfalls, an expected source of fecal and ARG pollution. To determine sources of contamination, we synthesized ARG and fecal marker data with geospatial data on land use/land cover and wastewater infrastructure across the watershed. This novel analysis found strong correlations between ARGs and measures of sewer density, sewer length, and septic system age within sample watersheds, indicating non-point sources of fecal contamination from aging wastewater infrastructure can be critical disseminators of anthropogenic ARGs in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Damashek
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, 120 Cedar Street, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Jason R Westrich
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, 120 Cedar Street, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Jacob M Bateman McDonald
- Lewis F. Rogers Institute for Environmental and Spatial Analysis, University of North Georgia, 2636 Mathis Drive, Oakwood, GA 30566, USA
| | - Morgan E Teachey
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, 120 Cedar Street, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Charlene R Jackson
- Bacterial Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Resistance Research Unit, U.S. National Poultry Research Center, USDA-ARS, 950 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30605, USA
| | - Jonathan G Frye
- Bacterial Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Resistance Research Unit, U.S. National Poultry Research Center, USDA-ARS, 950 College Station Road, Athens, GA 30605, USA
| | - Erin K Lipp
- Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Georgia, 150 East Green Street, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Krista A Capps
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, 140 East Green Street, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, SRS Building 737A, Aiken, SC 29808, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Ottesen
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, 120 Cedar Street, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
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7
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Hooban B, Fitzhenry K, O'Connor L, Miliotis G, Joyce A, Chueiri A, Farrell ML, DeLappe N, Tuohy A, Cormican M, Morris D. A Longitudinal Survey of Antibiotic-Resistant Enterobacterales in the Irish Environment, 2019-2020. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 828:154488. [PMID: 35278563 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The natural environment represents a complex reservoir of antibiotic-resistant bacteria as a consequence of different wastewater discharges including anthropogenic and agricultural. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine sewage and waters across Ireland for the presence of antibiotic-resistant Enterobacterales. Samples were collected from the West, East and South of Ireland. Two periods of sampling took place between July 2019 and November 2020, during which 118 water (30 L) and 36 sewage samples (200 mL) were collected. Waters were filtered using the CapE method, followed by enrichment and culturing. Sewage samples were directly cultured on selective agars. Isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF and antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed in accordance with EUCAST criteria. Selected isolates were examined for blaCTX-M, blaVIM, blaIMP, blaOXA-48, blaNDM, and blaKPC by real time PCR and whole genome sequencing (n = 146). A total of 419 Enterobacterales (348 water, 71 sewage) were isolated from all samples. Hospital sewage isolates displayed the highest percentage resistance to many beta-lactam and aminoglycoside antibiotics. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producers were identified in 78% of water and 50% of sewage samples. One or more carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales were identified at 23 individual sampling sites (18 water, 5 sewage). This included the detection of blaOXA-48 (n = 18), blaNDM (n = 14), blaKPC (n = 4) and blaOXA-484 (n = 1). All NDM-producing isolates harbored the ble-MBL bleomycin resistance gene. Commonly detected sequence types included Klebsiella ST323, ST17, and ST405 as well as E. coli ST131, ST38 and ST10. Core genome MLST comparisons detected identical E. coli isolates from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) influent and nursing home sewage, and the surrounding waters. Similarly, one Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from WWTP influent and the surrounding estuarine water were identical. These results highlight the need for regular monitoring of the aquatic environment for the presence of antibiotic-resistant organisms to adequately inform public health policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigid Hooban
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Ecology Group, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Centre for One Health, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
| | - Kelly Fitzhenry
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Ecology Group, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Centre for One Health, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Louise O'Connor
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Ecology Group, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Centre for One Health, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Georgios Miliotis
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Ecology Group, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Centre for One Health, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Aoife Joyce
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Ecology Group, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Centre for One Health, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Alexandra Chueiri
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Ecology Group, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Centre for One Health, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Maeve Louise Farrell
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Ecology Group, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Centre for One Health, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Niall DeLappe
- National Salmonella, Shigella and Listeria Reference Laboratory, Galway University Hospitals, Galway, Ireland
| | - Alma Tuohy
- National Salmonella, Shigella and Listeria Reference Laboratory, Galway University Hospitals, Galway, Ireland
| | - Martin Cormican
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Ecology Group, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Centre for One Health, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; National Salmonella, Shigella and Listeria Reference Laboratory, Galway University Hospitals, Galway, Ireland; Health Service Executive, Ireland
| | - Dearbháile Morris
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Ecology Group, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Centre for One Health, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
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Morales Medina WR, Eramo A, Fahrenfeld NL. Metabolically Active Prokaryotes and Actively Transcribed Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Sewer Systems: Implications for Public Health and Microbially Induced Corrosion. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2022; 83:583-595. [PMID: 34117524 PMCID: PMC8195243 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-021-01775-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Sewer systems are reservoirs of pathogens and bacteria carrying antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, most recent high-throughput studies rely on DNA-based techniques that cannot provide information on the physiological state of the cells nor expression of ARGs. In this study, wastewater and sewer sediment samples were collected from combined and separate sanitary sewer systems. The metabolically active prokaryote community was evaluated using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and actively transcribed ARG abundance was measured using mRNA RT-qPCR. Three (sul1, blaTEM, tet(G)) of the eight tested ARGs were quantifiable in select samples. Sewer sediment samples had greater abundance of actively transcribed ARGs compared to wastewater. Microbiome analysis showed the presence of metabolically active family taxa that contain clinically relevant pathogens (Pseudomonadaceae, Enterobacteraceae, Streptococcaceae, Arcobacteraceae, and Clostridiaceae) and corrosion-causing prokaryotes (Desulfobulbaceae and Desulfovibrionaceae) in both matrices. Spirochaetaceae and methanogens were more common in the sediment matrix while Mycobacteraceae were more common in wastewater. The microbiome obtained from 16S rRNA sequencing had a significantly different structure from the 16S rRNA gene microbiome. Overall, this study demonstrates active transcription of ARGs in sewer systems and provides insight into the abundance and physiological state of taxa of interest in the different sewer matrices and sewer types relevant for wastewater-based epidemiology, corrosion, and understanding the hazard posed by different matrices during sewer overflows.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R Morales Medina
- Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 500 Bartholomew Dr, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Alessia Eramo
- Civil & Environmental Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 500 Bartholomew Dr, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - N L Fahrenfeld
- Civil & Environmental Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 500 Bartholomew Dr, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.
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Lee J, Beck K, Bürgmann H. Wastewater bypass is a major temporary point-source of antibiotic resistance genes and multi-resistance risk factors in a Swiss river. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 208:117827. [PMID: 34794019 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Untreated combined sewage (bypass) is often discharged by wastewater treatment plants to receiving rivers during stormwater events, where it may contribute to increased levels of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and multi-resistance risk factors (multi-resistant bacteria and multi-resistance genomic determinants (MGDs)) in the receiving water. Other contamination sources, such as soil runoff and resuspended river sediment could also play a role during stormwater events. Here we report on stormwater event-based sampling campaigns to determine temporal dynamics of ARGs and multi-resistance risk factors in bypass, treated effluent, and the receiving river, as well as complimentary data on catchment soils and surface sediments. Both indicator ARGs (qPCR) and resistome (ARG profiles revealed by metagenomics) indicated bypass as the main contributor to the increased levels of ARGs in the river during stormwater events. Furthermore, we showed for the first time that the risk of exposure to bypass-borne multi-resistance risk factors increase under stormwater events and that many of these MGDs were plasmid associated and thus potentially mobile. In addition, elevated resistance risk factors persisted for some time (up to 22 h) in the receiving water after stormwater events, likely due to inputs from distributed overflows in the catchment. This indicates temporal dynamics should be considered when interpreting the risks of exposure to resistance from event-based contamination. We propose that reducing bypass from wastewater treatment plants may be an important intervention option for reducing dissemination of antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jangwoo Lee
- Department of Surface Waters Research and Management, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Kastanienbaum, Switzerland; Department of Environmental Systems Science, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Karin Beck
- Department of Surface Waters Research and Management, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Kastanienbaum, Switzerland
| | - Helmut Bürgmann
- Department of Surface Waters Research and Management, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Kastanienbaum, Switzerland.
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10
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O'Malley K, McNamara P, McDonald W. Antibiotic resistance genes in an urban stream before and after a state fair. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2021; 19:885-894. [PMID: 34874897 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2021.151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The global spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) concomitant with a decrease in antibiotic effectiveness is a major public health issue. While research has demonstrated the impact of various urban sources, such as wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent, stormwater runoff, and industrial discharge on ARG abundance in receiving waters, the impact of short-term gatherings such as state fairs is not comprehensively understood. The objective of this research was to explore the impact of a 2-week Wisconsin State Fair gathering - over 1.1 million visitors and 7,100 farm animals - on the abundance of the ARG blaTEM, the integrase of the class 1 integron (intI1), a marker for horizontal gene transfer, and the 16S rRNA gene, a marker for total biomass, in an urban stream receiving runoff from the state fair. Stream samples downstream of the state fair were taken before and after the event and quantified via a droplet digital polymerase chain reaction. The absolute abundance of all genes was significantly higher (p<0.05) following the event. This research showcases the prevalence and persistence of ARG contamination in an urban stream before and after a state fair gathering, suggesting that short-term events can be a significant source of ARGs into the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kassidy O'Malley
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA E-mail:
| | - Patrick McNamara
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA E-mail:
| | - Walter McDonald
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA E-mail:
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11
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Peters PE, Zitomer DH. Current and future approaches to wet weather flow management: A review. WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH : A RESEARCH PUBLICATION OF THE WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION 2021; 93:1179-1193. [PMID: 33393150 DOI: 10.1002/wer.1506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Sewers can become hydraulically overburdened during high-intensity precipitation resulting in untreated water entering receiving streams. Combined (CSOs) and sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) cause adverse public health and environmental impacts as well as management challenges for many wastewater utilities. This novel review presents information regarding wet weather flow regulation, impacts, and current management methods, and offers ideas for future approaches in the United States. Currently, storage followed by conventional municipal water reclamation facility treatment after precipitation events is often employed. Stand-alone alternative technologies include high-rate solids removal, rapid disinfection, filtration, and green infrastructure. However, most current stand-alone approaches do not address soluble BOD5 or emerging contaminants in stormwater and wastewater. As the needs for wet weather flow management change, future approaches should include a goal of zero overflows and achieve effluent quality as good as or better than conventional treatment. To help achieve zero overflows and complete treatment, the "peaker facility" concept is proposed. The peaker facility often remains idle but treats excess flow when needed. Considering the challenges of remaining idle for long periods, starting up quickly, and handling high flows, chemical oxidation may be an applicable peaker facility component. However, more research and development are needed to determine best practices. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Combined (CSO) and sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) pose both environmental and public health risks as untreated water is discharged into lakes and rivers during high-intensity rain events. Current stand-alone approaches for managing or treating CSOs focus on particulate BOD/COD and solids removal, and do not typically address soluble BOD or emerging contaminants in stormwater and wastewater (including pathogens). New wet weather policies and regulations encourage more holistic approaches by wastewater utilities, and future approaches should include a zero-overflow goal for all CSOs and SSOs. To help achieve zero overflows, the concept of the "peaker facility" is proposed. Chemical oxidation may be an applicable component of peaker facilities for its short detention time and ability to remove, oxidize, or inactive water impairment-causing contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige E Peters
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Daniel H Zitomer
- Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA
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12
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Kibbee R, Örmeci B. Peracetic acid (PAA) and low-pressure ultraviolet (LP-UV) inactivation of Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) in municipal wastewater individually and concurrently. WATER RESEARCH 2020; 183:116048. [PMID: 32668349 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.116048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Domestic wastewater (WW) contains a large number of pathogenic viruses that are not significantly reduced in most WW treatment processes and are found in high numbers in the effluent of conventionally disinfected WW. In this study, secondary WW effluent bench-scale disinfection efficacy experiments with two different peracetic acid (PAA) formulations (15 and 22% peracetic acid) and low-pressure ultraviolet irradiation (LP-UV) were carried out using Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) as a clinically relevant surrogate for enteric viruses and Escherichia coli (E. coli) as the disinfection efficacy control. Efficacy experiments were done in a test matrix of medium-pressure UV (MP-UV) decontaminated secondary WW effluent under representative PAA doses and LP-UV fluences used at wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). Membrane filtration technique was used to determine Log10 CFU reductions of E. coli and a tissue culture infectious dose 50% assay (TCID50) for Log10 TCID50 reduction of CVB3. The CVB3 proved to be quite resistant to PAA with ≤1 Log10 TCID50 reduction to concentrations ≤50 mg/L at a contact time of 15 min, and highly susceptible to LP-UV at 20 mJ/cm2. Concurrent use of both formulations of 3 mg/L PAA with 20 mJ/cm2 LP-UV achieved ∼4 Log10 TCID50 reduction. The E. coli results showed ˃5 Log10 CFU reductions at a contact time of 15 min with both 3 mg/L PAA formulations, 20 mJ/cm2 LP-UV treatment alone, and combined with both 1.5 mg/L PAA formulations. The E. coli efficacy data were consistent with that reported in the literature and showed to be comparable to conventional chlorine disinfection. The CVB3 efficacy data has shown that PAA alone may not be suitable for the reduction of enteric viruses in secondary wastewater effluent, but this is also the case for chlorine-based disinfectants. The results from this study showed that the use of PAA with LP-UV at reasonable concentrations (1.5 mg/L) and fluence (20 mJ/cm2) can significantly reduce the PAA use and meet wastewater disinfection goals for both E. coli and CVs. However, the concurrent use of PAA with LP-UV did not lead to significant synergy in disinfection efficacy in wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Kibbee
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, K1S 5B6, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Banu Örmeci
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, K1S 5B6, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
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Alessia E, Medina M, William R, Fahrenfeld N. Factors associated with elevated levels of antibiotic resistance genes in sewer sediments and wastewater. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE : WATER RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 6:1697-1710. [PMID: 34295504 PMCID: PMC8294613 DOI: 10.1039/d0ew00230e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The sewer environment is a potential hotspot for the proliferation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and other hazardous microbial agents. Understanding the potential for ARG proliferation and retardation and/or accumulation in sewer sediments is of interest for protecting the health of sewage workers and the broader community in the event of sewer overflows as well as for interpreting sewage epidemiology data. To better understand this understudied environment for antibiotic resistance, a field survey was conducted to identify the factors that may control ARGs in sewer sediments and sewage. qPCR was performed for select ARGs and amplicon sequencing was performed for paired samples from combined and separate sanitary sewer systems. Metagenomic sequencing was performed on combined sewer sediments. The relative abundances of sul1, tet(O), tet(W), ermF, and vanA were higher in wastewater compared to sewer sediments, while NDM-1 was greater in sewer sediment and ermF was similar between the two matrices. NDM-1 was observed in sewer sediment but rarely above detection in wastewater in this study. This may indicate that larger/more frequent wastewater samples are needed for detection and/or that retardation and/or accumulation in sewage sediment may need to be considered when interpreting wastewater-based epidemiology data for ARGs. Random forest analyses indicated that season and conductivity were important variables and to a lesser extent so were pH, TSS, heavy metals, and sewer type for explaining the variance of the ARGs. These variables explained the 19-61% of the variance of sul1, tet(O), tet(G), and tet(W) quantified in wastewater. These variables performed less well for explaining the variance in sewer sediments (0.2-24%). Sewer sediment and wastewater had distinct microbial community structures and biomarkers for each are described. Metagenomics indicated that a high diversity of ARGs, including several of medical importance, were observed in the combined sewer sediment. This work provides insight into the complex sewer microbiome and the potential hazard posed by different sewer matrices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eramo Alessia
- Civil & Environmental Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 500 Bartholomew Rd., Piscataway, NJ 08854
| | - Morales Medina
- Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
| | - R. William
- Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
| | - N.L. Fahrenfeld
- Civil & Environmental Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 500 Bartholomew Rd., Piscataway, NJ 08854
- , 1-848-445-8416
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14
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Pallares-Vega R, Blaak H, van der Plaats R, de Roda Husman AM, Hernandez Leal L, van Loosdrecht MCM, Weissbrodt DG, Schmitt H. Determinants of presence and removal of antibiotic resistance genes during WWTP treatment: A cross-sectional study. WATER RESEARCH 2019; 161:319-328. [PMID: 31203037 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.05.100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), linking human fecal residues and the environment, are considered as hotspots for the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In order to evaluate the role of WWTPs and underlying operational parameters for the removal of AMR, the presence and removal efficiency of a selected set of 6 antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and 2 mobile genetic elements (MGEs) was evaluated by means of qPCR in influent and effluent samples from 62 Dutch WWTPs. The role of possible factors impacting the concentrations of ARGs and MGEs in the influent and their removal was identified through statistical analysis. ARGs and the class I integron-integrase gene (intI1) were, on average, removed to a similar extent (1.76 log reduction) or better (+0.30-1.90 logs) than the total bacteria (measured as 16S rRNA gene). In contrast, broad-host-range plasmids (IncP-1) had a significantly increased (p < 0.001) relative abundance after treatment. The presence of healthcare institutions in the area served did only slightly increase the concentrations of ARGs or MGEs in influent. From the extended panel of operational parameters, rainfall, increasing the hydraulic load of the plant, most significantly (p < 0.05) affected the treatment efficiency by decreasing it on average -0.38 logs per time the flow exceeded the average daily flow. Our results suggest that overall, WWTP treatments do not favor the proliferation of the assessed resistance genes but might increase the relative abundance of broad-host-range plasmids of the IncP-1 type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca Pallares-Vega
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands; Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Hetty Blaak
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Ana M de Roda Husman
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Lucia Hernandez Leal
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
| | | | - David G Weissbrodt
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Heike Schmitt
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Leeuwarden, the Netherlands; Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
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15
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Almakki A, Jumas-Bilak E, Marchandin H, Licznar-Fajardo P. Antibiotic resistance in urban runoff. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 667:64-76. [PMID: 30826682 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Revised: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Aquatic ecosystems subjected to anthropogenic pressures are places of rapid evolution of microbial communities and likely hotspots for selection and emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria. In urban settings, water quality and the risk of infection are generally assessed in sewers and in effluents of wastewater treatment plants. Physical and chemical parameters as well as the presence of antibiotics, antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes of resistance are driven by urban activities, with adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems. In this paper we review the environmental pressures exerted on bacterial communities in urban runoff waters and discuss the impact of these settings on antibiotic resistance. Considering the worrisome epidemiology of infectious diseases and estimated mortality due to antimicrobial resistance in the coming decades, there is an urgent need to identify all environmental reservoirs of resistant bacteria and resistance genes to complete our knowledge of the epidemiological cycle and of the dynamics of urban antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayad Almakki
- HSM, Univ Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, Montpellier, France; Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Basrah, Iraq
| | - Estelle Jumas-Bilak
- HSM, Univ Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, Département d'Hygiène Hospitalière, CHU de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Hélène Marchandin
- HSM, Univ Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, Montpellier, France, Département de Microbiologie, CHU Nîmes, Nîmes, France
| | - Patricia Licznar-Fajardo
- HSM, Univ Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, Département d'Hygiène Hospitalière, CHU de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
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16
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Eramo A, Morales Medina WR, Fahrenfeld NL. Viability-based quantification of antibiotic resistance genes and human fecal markers in wastewater effluent and receiving waters. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 656:495-502. [PMID: 30522032 PMCID: PMC6526933 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2018] [Revised: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a public health issue with links to environmental sources of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). ARGs from nonviable sources may pose a hazard given the potential for transformation whereas ARGs in viable sources may proliferate during host growth or conjugation. In this study, ARGs in the effluent from three municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and the receiving surface waters were investigated using a viability-based qPCR technique (vPCR) with propidium monoazide (PMA). ARGs sul1, tet(G), and blaTEM, fecal indicator marker BacHum, and 16S rRNA gene copies/mL were found to be significantly lower in viable-cells than in total concentrations for WWTP effluent. Viable-cell and total gene copy concentrations were similar in downstream samples except for tet(G). Differences with respect to season in the prevalence of nonviable ARGs in surface water or WWTP effluent were not observed. The results of this study indicate that qPCR may overestimate viable-cell ARGs and fecal indicator genes in WWTP effluent but not necessarily in the surface water >1.8 km downstream.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Eramo
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 500 Bartholomew Dr, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States
| | - William R Morales Medina
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 500 Bartholomew Dr, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States
| | - Nicole L Fahrenfeld
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 500 Bartholomew Dr, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States.
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17
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Gonzalez-Martinez A, Margareto A, Rodriguez-Sanchez A, Pesciaroli C, Diaz-Cruz S, Barcelo D, Vahala R. Linking the Effect of Antibiotics on Partial-Nitritation Biofilters: Performance, Microbial Communities and Microbial Activities. Front Microbiol 2018. [PMID: 29535704 PMCID: PMC5834488 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence and spread of antibiotics resistance in wastewater treatment systems have been pointed as a major environmental health problem. Nevertheless, research about adaptation and antibiotics resistance gain in wastewater treatment systems subjected to antibiotics has not been successfully developed considering bioreactor performance, microbial community dynamics and microbial activity dynamics at the same time. To observe this in autotrophic nitrogen removal systems, a partial-nitritation biofilter was subjected to a continuous loading of antibiotics mix of azithromycin, norfloxacin, trimethoprim, and sulfamethoxazole. The effect of the antibiotics mix over the performance, bacterial communities and bacterial activity in the system was evaluated. The addition of antibiotics caused a drop of ammonium oxidation efficiency (from 50 to 5%) and of biomass concentration in the bioreactor, which was coupled to the loss of ammonium oxidizing bacteria Nitrosomonas in the bacterial community from 40 to 3%. Biomass in the partial nitritation biofilter experienced a sharp decrease of about 80% due to antibiotics loading, but the biomass adapted and experienced a growth by stabilization under antibiotics feeding. During the experiment several bacterial genera appeared, such as Alcaligenes, Paracoccus, and Acidovorax, clearly dominating the bacterial community with >20% relative abundance. The system reached around 30% ammonium oxidation efficiency after adaptation to antibiotics, but no effluent nitrite was found, suggesting that dominant antibiotics-resistant phylotypes could be involved in nitrification–denitrification metabolisms. The activity of ammonium oxidation measured as amoA and hao gene expression dropped a 98.25% and 99.21%, respectively, comparing the system before and after the addition of antibiotics. On the other hand, denitrifying activity increased as observed by higher expression of nir and nos genes (83.14% and 252.54%, respectively). In addition, heterotrophic nitrification cyt c-551 was active only after the antibiotics addition. Resistance to the antibiotics was presumably given by ermF, carA and msrA for azithromycin, mutations of the gyrA and grlB for norfloxacin, and by sul123 genes for sulfamethoxazole. Joined physicochemical and microbiological characterization of the system were used to investigate the effect of the antibiotics over the bioprocess. Despite the antibiotics resistance, activity of Bacteria decreased while the activity of Archaea and Fungi increased.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alejandro Margareto
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, Spanish Council for Scientific Research, Barcelona, Spain.,Catalan Institute for Water Research, Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | | | | | - Silvia Diaz-Cruz
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, Spanish Council for Scientific Research, Barcelona, Spain.,Catalan Institute for Water Research, Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Damia Barcelo
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, Spanish Council for Scientific Research, Barcelona, Spain.,Catalan Institute for Water Research, Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Riku Vahala
- Department of Built Environment, School of Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
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