Sludge bio-drying followed by land application could control the spread of antibiotic resistance genes. (September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Junya; Sui, Qianwen; Lu, Tiedong; Zhong, Hui; Shen, Peihong; Wei, Yuansong
• Is Part Of: Environment international. Volume 130(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-09
• Subjects: Bio-drying -- Sewage sludge -- Antibiotic resistance genes -- Land application -- Soil types; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Protection -- Périodiques; Hygiène du milieu -- Périodiques; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Périodiques; Environmental health; Environmental monitoring; Environmental protection; Periodicals; 333.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.104906
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-4120

Abstract

Abstract: The process of sludge bio-drying has been adopted in response to the increasing amount of residual sewage sludge. It has been demonstrated that sludge bio-drying effectively reduces both antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs), whereas ermF, tetX, and sulII become enriched in response to the dynamic development of the microbial community. The present study further demonstrated that the land application of sludge bio-drying products under current application rate did not cause an increase in the abundance of quantified ARGs in the soil but the persistence of ARB should be paid attention. Although land application introduced ermF, tetX, and tetG into the soil, these soon decreased to control levels. Furthermore, the decay rate varied between soil types, with red soil being the most persistent based on kinetics modeling. The fate of ARGs could also be attributed to the dynamics of the microbial community during land application, and the genus Parasegetibacter, which can degrade extracellular DNA, might play a key role in the control of ARGs. In summary, sludge bio-drying following land application could constitute an effective means of controlling the spread of ARGs, and microbial community changes contributed the most to the fate of the ARGs during the entire treatment chain (residual sewage sludge → bio-drying process → land application). Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: Land application of sludge bio-drying products did not increase the ARGs abundance. Fate of ARGs was deciphered through the kinetics modeling. Soil types influenced the decay rate of ARGs with red soil the most persistent. Parasegetibacter that degrade extracellular DNA might contribute to ARGs control. Sludge bio-drying followed by land application is effective for ARGs control.