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Discharge Characteristics of Antibiotics in Effluents from Wastewater Treatment Plants in Polder Region: Performance Assessment of Constructed Wetland Systems
ZUO Zhuo, GUO Ya-nan, WU Wen-huan, SHI Meng, CHAO Lu, WANG Huan, CHENG Nan-ning
Journal of Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute ›› 2025, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (12) : 188-197.
PDF(1871 KB)
PDF(1871 KB)
Discharge Characteristics of Antibiotics in Effluents from Wastewater Treatment Plants in Polder Region: Performance Assessment of Constructed Wetland Systems
[Objective] This study investigates the discharge characteristics of antibiotics in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents and evaluates the removal efficiency of constructed wetlands (CWs) in polder areas of the middle and lower Yangtze River Basin. By systematically examining the occurrence, seasonal variation, and removal pathways of antibiotics, this study aims to provide a scientific basis for controlling antibiotic pollution in treated wastewater. Furthermore, it seeks to provide theoretical and practical insights into the mechanisms by which CWs eliminate emerging contaminants, thereby supporting the optimization of wetland design and operational strategies for enhanced pollutant removal. [Methods] A comprehensive literature review was conducted to frame the current state of knowledge regarding antibiotic pollution and wetland treatment efficacy. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was employed to quantitatively analyze 31 antibiotics across five classes detected in the WWTP effluents. The spatiotemporal distribution patterns of these antibiotics were examined, along with the key influencing factors and their underlying mechanisms. In addition, the treatment performance of different CW units—including enhanced treatment ponds, horizontal subsurface flow wetlands, surface flow wetlands, and advanced purification ponds—was systematically evaluated. To assess the potential ecological impact, the risk quotient (RQ) method was applied to the top 10 antibiotics based on concentration in both the influent and effluent of the wetland system. This approach enabled a detailed evaluation of the ecological risks posed by antibiotic residues before and after wetland treatment. [Results] The analysis revealed a diverse profile of antibiotics in the WWTP effluents, with a total of 31 compounds across five classes detected. Macrolides, fluoroquinolones, and sulfonamides were the predominant classes. Antibiotic concentrations exhibited significant seasonal variations, influenced by the intensity of anthropogenic activities within the service area. The highest concentrations were observed in winter, followed by spring, with relatively lower levels in summer and autumn. CWs demonstrated a notable capacity for antibiotic removal, with an overall efficiency ranging from 47.29% to 65.90%. The removal rates across the treatment units were 34.20% for the enhanced treatment pond, 21.63% for the horizontal subsurface flow wetland, and 38.49% for the surface flow wetland combined with the advanced purification pond. The variations in removal efficiency across units were closely associated with the physicochemical properties of the antibiotics, such as hydrophobicity, biodegradability, and sorption potential. Ecological risk assessment based on RQ indicated that CWs effectively reduced the ecological risks of antibiotics. The RQ values for most individual antibiotics were lower in the effluent than in the influent, confirming the role of wetlands in mitigating the environmental impact of antibiotic discharges. [Conclusion] This study provides a systematic analysis of the occurrence and removal of antibiotics in WWTP effluents and CWs within the polder areas of the middle and lower Yangtze River. The findings are derived from sampling at specific locations and time points, which may not fully represent the dynamic and complex behavior of antibiotics across seasonal and hydrological cycles. Future research can expand the spatial scope to include a wider range of typical WWTPs and wetland systems across the region, thereby enhancing the generalizability and mechanistic insight of the findings. Moreover, future studies should investigate the interactions among antibiotics and other coexisting pollutants—such as heavy metals, microplastics, and antibiotic resistance genes—as well as their combined effects and removal mechanisms in CWs. These efforts will contribute to the development of more effective and reliable nature-based solutions for controlling emerging contaminants in vulnerable water environments.
wastewater treatment plant effluent / antibiotics / constructed wetlands / removal efficiency / ecological risk / polder areas
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Tetracyclines and sulfonamides are the two classes of antibiotics commonly used in the medical, industrial and agricultural activities. Their extensive usage has caused the proliferation and propagation of resistant bacteria (ARB) and resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment. In this study, the occurrence and distribution of tetracyclines (TC, OTC and CTC) and sulfonamides (SMX, SCX and TMP), their associated ARB and ARGs were quantified in water and sediments collected from the mainstream of Liaohe River, northeast China. The average concentration of tetracyclines was higher in May, while the concentration of sulfonamides was slightly higher in October. The highest concentrations of the total tetracyclines and sulfonamides in sediments were 2.7×10 ng/g and 2.1×10 ng/g respectively detected in May. All detected ARGs were found generally with high abundance. The tetA, tetB and tetE genes were dominant (4.4×10 to 9.8×10 copies of tet genes/copies of 16S rRNA genes) in total communities, and the average abundance of sul genes was expressed above 10 in the water samples in May and October. Redundance analysis (RDA) and principle component analysis (PCA) indicated that the antibiotic residue was the most important contributor to the level of tetracycline and sulfonamide resistance genes, and some hydrogeological conditions (e.g. flow rate, intersection settlement) influenced the distribution of resistance genes. Results from this study could help understand the proliferation and propagation of antibiotic resistance on a river catchment scale and mitigate the potential risks to public health.Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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