From river to groundwater: Antibiotics pollution, resistance prevalence, and source tracking

• Antibiotic levels in MZ River groundwater were predicted to pose low resistance risk. • Positive correlations were found between predominant bacterial phyla and antibiotics. • E.coli isolates in the groundwater showed a high prevalence of antibiotic resistance. • SourceTracker was utilized to identify the potential sources of ARGs in groundwater. • The antibiotic-polluted river is a key source of ARG contamination in groundwater. The extensive use of antibiotics has led to their frequent detection as residues in the environment. However, monitoring of their levels in groundwater and the associated ecological and health risks remains limited, and the impact of river pollution on groundwater is still unclear.…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 42030703, U22A20604
• CS
  China Scholarship Council

  Award: 202006750027