The panorama of antibiotics and the related antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in landfill leachate. (1st May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Hongyuan; Li, Hong; Qiu, Libo; Chen, Binhui; Wang, Hua; Fang, Chengran; Long, Yuyang; Hu, Lifang
• Is Part Of: Waste management. Volume 144(2022)
• Page Start: 19
• Page End: 28
• Publication Date: 2022-05-01
• Subjects: Antibiotic -- Antibiotic resistance gene -- Age -- Seasonal variation -- Heavy metal -- Leachate; Hazardous wastes -- Periodicals; Refuse and refuse disposal -- Periodicals; 363.728
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2022.03.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0956-053X

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Multiple factors co-shaped the profile of antibiotics and ARGs in landfill leachate. Leachate age was crucial to the profile of antibiotics and ARGs. Extreme abundance of the same category of ARGs occurs in the same period. Antibiotic concentrations vary by 1–2 orders of magnitude in dry and rainy seasons. Most of ARGs had a higher detection level in rainy season. Abstract: Landfill leachate is an important source and sink of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), which poses a potential threat to human health and ecological environment. Ten antibiotics and 8 ARGs in leachates collected from Zhejiang Province, China, were systematically investigated. The effects of multiple factors were considered: leachate age, season when the leachate was sampled (dry or rainy), heavy metal concentrations, and leachate quality parameters. Leachate age was crucial to the profile of the detectable antibiotics and ARGs. The total concentration of antibiotics were in the order of macrolides > sulfonamides > tetracyclines and they decreased significantly with leachate age. Similarly, fewer ARGs were harbored in aged leachate; the order of abundance of the ARGs was mexF (11.92 ± 0.22 log10 gene copies/L) > sul2 > Intl1 > sul1 > ermB > mefA > tetM > tetQ (9.57 ± 1.32 log10 gene copies/L) . The extreme abundances (i.e., the maxima and minima) of ARGs relating to the same class of antibiotic were always surprisingly similar and appeared in leachate of the same age. Seasonal variation greatly affected the concentrations of antibiotics in the leachate—the concentration difference between the dry and rainy seasons could reach two orders of magnitude. Heavy metal concentrations and leachate quality parameters also had important effects on the distribution of antibiotics and ARGs. Overall, the profile of antibiotics and ARGs in leachates was influenced by numerous factors, and the pollution of antibiotics and ARGs may be reduced and controlled by adjusting the environmental factors.