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Spatial distribution of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in tidal flat reclamation areas in China

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Abstract

Tidal flat areas are important resources for land development and are becoming antibiotic resistance receivers that trigger major health concerns. The spatial distributions of forty-nine antibiotics, nine antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), one mobile gene element (MGE) gene, and nine available metals in the soils and sediments along the coastlines of the Yellow Sea in China were quantified. Hierarchical linear model analysis was used to explore relationships between the antibiotics and ARGs across multiple effects resulting from human activities and environmental factors. Fish farm sediments and farmland soils showed high levels of quinolones (QNs) (maximum 637 ng·g−1), sulfonamides (SAs) (maximum 221 ng·g−1), and corresponding ARGs. Significant positive correlations (P from 5.47 × 10−14 to 0.0487) were observed between the antibiotics (QNs, SAs, and chlortetracycline) and their corresponding ARGs (qnrA, qnrD, aac(6')-Ib-cr, dfrA, sul2, and tetA), indicating the selective pressure from antibiotics in soils and sediments. Nine available metals had positive correlations with at least one ARG, indicating heavy metal pollution could enhance the ARGs. Sheep and poultry husbandry and marine aquaculture contribute the most to the antibiotic resistance in the coastlines. In conclusion, antibiotic pollutions have promoting effects at sub-inhibitory concentrations and more attention should be given to inhibit the enrichment of ARGs during tidal flat reclamation processes. The study also suggests the induction effects from metal pollutions, MGE spread, and the antibiotic pollutions from the usage in livestock and aquaculture.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are openly available on request.

Abbreviations

ARG:

Antibiotic resistance gene

TFR:

Tidal flat reclamation

QRG:

Quinolone resistance gene

SRG:

Sulfonamide resistance gene

TRG:

Tetracycline resistance gene

MGE:

Mobile genetic element

HGT:

Horizontal gene transfer

ꞵLs:

β-Lactams

MLs:

Macrolides

SAs:

Sulfonamides

QNs:

Quinolones

TCs:

Tetracyclines

LNs:

Lincosamides

ACs:

Aminoglycosides

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Funding

This work was supported by the Science and Technology Project of Beautiful China Ecological Civilization Construction [No. XDA23100400], the National Natural Science Foundation of China [42007414], the Young Elite Scientist Sponsorship Program of Beijing Association for Science and Technology [2020‒2022], and the National Key R&D Program of China [No. 2018YFC0407502].

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Contributions

LY and JL performed the experiments, analyzed the data, and wrote the manuscript. LW and LZ designed the study and supervised the experiments. ZC, JY, MM, and MT participated in the investigation and sampling.

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Correspondence to Li Wang.

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This work did not report on or involved the use of any animal or human data or tissue.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Yang, L., Lyu, J., Zhang, L. et al. Spatial distribution of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in tidal flat reclamation areas in China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 112863–112876 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-30087-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-30087-6

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