Occurrence and toxicity of antibiotics in the aquatic environment: A review

0533648 - BÚ 2021 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Kovaláková, Pavla - Cizmas, L. - McDonald, T. J. - Maršálek, Blahoslav - Feng, M. - Sharma, V. K.
Occurrence and toxicity of antibiotics in the aquatic environment: A review.
Chemosphere. Roč. 251, July (2020), s. 1-15, č. článku 126351. ISSN 0045-6535. E-ISSN 1879-1298
Institutional support: RVO:67985939
Keywords : antibiotic * ecotoxicity * environmental concentration * human consumption * veterinaty use
OECD category: Environmental sciences (social aspects to be 5.7)
Impact factor: 7.086, year: 2020
Method of publishing: Limited access
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126351

In recent years, antibiotics have been used for human and animal disease treatment, growth promotion, and prophylaxis, and their consumption is rising worldwide. Antibiotics are often not fully metabolized by the body and are released into the aquatic environment, where they may have negative effects on the non-target species. This review examines the recent researches on eight representative antibiotics (erythromycin, trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, oxytetracycline, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and amoxicillin). A detailed overview of their concentrations in surface waters, groundwater, and effluents is provided, supported by recent global human consumption and veterinary use data. Furthermore, we review the ecotoxicity of these antibiotics towards different groups of organisms, and assessment of the environmental risks to aquatic organisms. This review discusses and compares the suitability of currently used ecotoxicological bioassays, and identifies the knowledge gaps and future challenges. The risk data indicate that selected antibiotics may pose a threat to aquatic environments. Cyanobacteria were the most sensitive organisms when using standard ecotoxicological bioassays. Further studies on their chronic effects to aquatic organisms and the toxicity of antibiotic mixtures are necessary to fully understand the hazards these antibiotics present.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0314614