Pharmaceutical pollution in aquatic environments: exposure, ecotoxicological risks, antibiotic resistance and solutions
Contamination des milieux aquatiques par les résidus de médicaments : exposition, risques écotoxicologiques, antibiorésistance et leviers d’actions
Résumé
This article is the result of work presented at the PharmaAQUA seminar (9–11 March, Annecy, France). It contributes towards knowledge on the pollution of inland aquatic ecosystems by pharmaceutical residues (PR) and antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB).
Pollution of these ecosystems by PR occurs around the world. The main sources are effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and the spreading of organic waste products of animal origin (manure and slurry). French rivers are no exception and contain PR in concentrations ranging from nanograms per litre to micrograms per litre, depending on the molecule.
This chronic contamination generates risks and ecotoxicological effects to which microbial communities are potentially vulnerable. Their alteration can indirectly affect the biodiversity and functioning of ecosystems. The Pollution Induced Community Tolerance (PICT) approach is a promising tool for diagnosing chemical pollution by PR.
Aquatic environments are polluted by antibiotic residues and other chemicals that promote the development of a reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARG). Bacterial biofilms and sediments are trapping areas for ARB and ARG. rRecent studies have shown ARB and ARG accumulate downstream of WWTP. Urban and hospital effluents have specific signatures for ARG.
The improvement of wastewater treatment by WWTP, the reduction of discharges at source (through information, greater awareness, and changes in practices), and better control of pharmaceutical production are all levers that are being studied to control this pollution. They require multiple and coordinated efforts from all actors involved in this issue, at the intersection of human health, animal health, and water.
Pollution of these ecosystems by PR occurs around the world. The main sources are effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and the spreading of organic waste products of animal origin (manure and slurry). French rivers are no exception and contain PR in concentrations ranging from nanograms per litre to micrograms per litre, depending on the molecule.
This chronic contamination generates risks and ecotoxicological effects to which microbial communities are potentially vulnerable. Their alteration can indirectly affect the biodiversity and functioning of ecosystems. The Pollution Induced Community Tolerance (PICT) approach is a promising tool for diagnosing chemical pollution by PR.
Aquatic environments are polluted by antibiotic residues and other chemicals that promote the development of a reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARG). Bacterial biofilms and sediments are trapping areas for ARB and ARG. rRecent studies have shown ARB and ARG accumulate downstream of WWTP. Urban and hospital effluents have specific signatures for ARG.
The improvement of wastewater treatment by WWTP, the reduction of discharges at source (through information, greater awareness, and changes in practices), and better control of pharmaceutical production are all levers that are being studied to control this pollution. They require multiple and coordinated efforts from all actors involved in this issue, at the intersection of human health, animal health, and water.