2022 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Virtual Conference
March 13 - 15, 2022
5/24/2021 | 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM | NON-POINT SOURCE HUMAN FECAL CONTAMINATION AS A MAJOR SOURCE OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE IN U.S. SURFACE WATERS | Virtual Platform
NON-POINT SOURCE HUMAN FECAL CONTAMINATION AS A MAJOR SOURCE OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE IN U.S. SURFACE WATERS
Surface waters have been identified as potential hotspots for the movement of antibiotic resistance (AR) genes between bacteria of human, animal, and environmental sources. However, disputes remain regarding the relative contribution of agricultural runoff vs. wastewater treatment failure. In a five-year study of streams in and around Athens, Georgia in the United States, we examined the link between six AR genes and human, ruminant and poultry fecal source markers. We found that all three fecal source markers were associated with higher numbers and concentrations of AR genes. However, a highly significant, linear relationship was observed between the human fecal marker and the AR genes. While sites downstream of wastewater treatment plants were enriched in antibiotic resistance markers, high levels of human fecal markers and antibiotic resistance genes were detected in multiple streams that were not downstream of any known wastewater treatment plant outfalls. This contamination was associated with watersheds that had high sewer density, suggesting that it originates from leaking wastewater infrastructure. This suggests that sewer leaks and damaged/failing wastewater infrastructure may be an important but overlooked source of AR bacteria and AR genes into U.S. surface waters.
- Anthropogenic
- Contaminants
- Urban streams
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Presenters/Authors
Elizabeth Ottesen
(), University of Georgia, ottesen@uga.edu;
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Nonfinancial -