Global Study Says That Antibiotics Which Are Found In Some Of The World's Rivers Exceed 'Safe' Levels

The researchers are looking for 14 antibiotics commonly used in the rivers of 72 countries on six continents and antibiotics in 65% of the monitored sites.

Metronidazole, which is used to treat bacterial infections, the use of the skin and mouth, the highest safety levels, service in Bangladesh 300 times more than the "safe" level.

On the River Thames and one of its tributaries in London, the researchers detected a maximum total antibiotic concentration of 233 nanograms per liter (ng / l), while in Bangladesh the concentration was 170 times higher.

The most prevalent antibiotic was trimethoprim, which was detected in 307 of the 711 sites analyzed and is used mainly to treat urinary tract infections.

The research team compared the monitoring data with "insurance" levels, as well as the AMR Industry Alliance, which, according to the antibiotic, corresponds to 20 to 32,000 ng / l.

Ciprofloxacin, which is also used to treat several bacterial infections, was the compound that has exceeded the safety levels, surpassing the safety threshold in 51 places.

"Insurance problems" have been overcome more frequently in Asia and Africa, but in places in Europe, North America and South America.

The sites where the antibiotics are found exceeded the levels of "safe" in the cities of Bangladesh, Kenya, Ghana, Pakistan and Nigeria, while a site in Austria was classified as the highest level of monitored European sites.

The study revealed that high risk sites became adjacent to wastewater treatment systems, sewage disposal dumps and in some areas of political turmoil, including the Israeli and Palestinian border.

The project, which was led by the University of York, was a major logistical challenge, with 92 sampling kits sent to partners around the world who were told to take samples from places along the local river system.

The samples were frozen and sent to the University of York for analysis. Samples were taken from some of the most iconic rivers in the world, including the Chao Phraya, the Danube, the Mekong, the Seine, the Thames, the Tiber and the Tigris.

Dr. John Wilkinson, the Department of Environment and Geography, the coordinator of the monitoring work said that no other study had been conducted on this escalation.

He said: "Until now, most of the environmental monitoring work and antibiotics has been done in Europe, North America and China.

"Our study helps fill this knowledge gap.

Professor Alistair Boxall, the thematic leader of the York Institute of Environmental Sustainability, said: "The results are quite clear, and everything is related to the river systems of the world with the antibiotic compounds.

"Many experts and policy makers now recognize the role of the natural environment in the problem of antimicrobial resistance." Our data show that contamination with antibiotics from rivers could be an important contributor. "

"Solving the problem will be a big challenge and will require investment in infrastructure for wastewater and wastewater treatment, stricter regulation and cleanup of already contaminated sites."

By: Preeti Narula

Content: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190527094120.htm