Reducing the environmental impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antibiotics in constructed wetlands for sewage treatment
Lead Research Organisation:
CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY
Department Name: School of Water, Energy and Environment
Abstract
Introduction
Increasing Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a global concern as it poses a major threat to public health. The WHO warned that, if no action is taken, the AMR infections could cause 10 million deaths each year by 2050. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are deemed to be responsible for the dissemination of AMR to the environment. The generated antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) could be discharged into the environment via effluent and sludge. Moreover, conventional WWTPs are inefficient in the removal of antibiotics from sewage. Once entering the environment, the unmetabolized antibiotics could stimulate the emergence and spread of AMR.
The UK is at the forefront of the global fight against AMR and setting the vision to contain and control AMR by 2040. Defra has emphasised the AMR research as one of its priority Research and Innovation Interests in 2021. Furthermore, the UKWIR CIP-3 investigates the occurrences and dynamics of the composition, diversity and abundance of AMR in different treatment stages in WWTPs. To the best of our knowledge, however, the investigated flowsheets omit the component of nature-based solutions for sewage treatment, which normally act as the final safeguard of receiving waters and have direct interactions with the environment.
Treatment wetlands (TWs) have been widely implemented in WWTPs for secondary/tertiary treatment. As a nature-based solution, TWs can provide multiple benefits such as the habitat of aquatic plants. Thus, understanding the fate of antibiotics, the development and transmission of AMR in water, sediment, and plants within TWs is important to comprehensively understand the environmental impact of AMR from water industry assets.
Aim and Objectives
This project aims at understanding the transport and removal of ARM, antibiotics and nutrients in TWs during sewage treatment towards concluding the strategies at reducing AMR transmission from effluents. The research objectives are:
(1) Determine the removal effectiveness of AMR, antibiotics, and nutrients in different types of TWs for sewage treatment under different seasons;
(2) Characterize the dynamics of AMR and antibiotics within the water, sediment, and plants in TWs for sewage treatment;
(3) Examine the effect of nutrients and antibiotics levels on the ARGs generation and/or remediation in TWs;
(4) Evaluate the environmental impact and provide an evidence-based operation strategy to eliminate the risk of AMRs in TWs.
Methodology
The work will be based on laboratory trials and field investigations. The work packages (WPs) include:
1) Critical literature review;
2) Field investigation;
3) Mesocosm-scale CWs study; and
4) Risk assessment and recommendation.
Increasing Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a global concern as it poses a major threat to public health. The WHO warned that, if no action is taken, the AMR infections could cause 10 million deaths each year by 2050. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are deemed to be responsible for the dissemination of AMR to the environment. The generated antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) could be discharged into the environment via effluent and sludge. Moreover, conventional WWTPs are inefficient in the removal of antibiotics from sewage. Once entering the environment, the unmetabolized antibiotics could stimulate the emergence and spread of AMR.
The UK is at the forefront of the global fight against AMR and setting the vision to contain and control AMR by 2040. Defra has emphasised the AMR research as one of its priority Research and Innovation Interests in 2021. Furthermore, the UKWIR CIP-3 investigates the occurrences and dynamics of the composition, diversity and abundance of AMR in different treatment stages in WWTPs. To the best of our knowledge, however, the investigated flowsheets omit the component of nature-based solutions for sewage treatment, which normally act as the final safeguard of receiving waters and have direct interactions with the environment.
Treatment wetlands (TWs) have been widely implemented in WWTPs for secondary/tertiary treatment. As a nature-based solution, TWs can provide multiple benefits such as the habitat of aquatic plants. Thus, understanding the fate of antibiotics, the development and transmission of AMR in water, sediment, and plants within TWs is important to comprehensively understand the environmental impact of AMR from water industry assets.
Aim and Objectives
This project aims at understanding the transport and removal of ARM, antibiotics and nutrients in TWs during sewage treatment towards concluding the strategies at reducing AMR transmission from effluents. The research objectives are:
(1) Determine the removal effectiveness of AMR, antibiotics, and nutrients in different types of TWs for sewage treatment under different seasons;
(2) Characterize the dynamics of AMR and antibiotics within the water, sediment, and plants in TWs for sewage treatment;
(3) Examine the effect of nutrients and antibiotics levels on the ARGs generation and/or remediation in TWs;
(4) Evaluate the environmental impact and provide an evidence-based operation strategy to eliminate the risk of AMRs in TWs.
Methodology
The work will be based on laboratory trials and field investigations. The work packages (WPs) include:
1) Critical literature review;
2) Field investigation;
3) Mesocosm-scale CWs study; and
4) Risk assessment and recommendation.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Lucie Krejcova (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/T518104/1 | 30/09/2020 | 29/09/2025 | |||
| 2741118 | Studentship | EP/T518104/1 | 25/09/2022 | 03/09/2025 | Lucie Krejcova |