Antibiotics and mobile resistance elements in wastewater reuse applications - Answer H2020-MSCA-ITN-2015/675530

“Whilst wastewater reuse is nowadays considered as an indispensable practice to cope with water scarcity, a number of wastewater quality challenges are associated with this practice. It is well-known that the available/applied wastewater treatment technologies fail to completely remove pharmaceutical compounds and especially antibiotics (A). Moreover, there is no consolidated information on the efficiency of the conventional activated sludge (being the most
widely applied treatment process) to remove antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes (ARB&ARGs). In the framework of treated wastewater reuse applications (e.g. irrigation, groundwater replenishment, storage in surface waters for subsequent reuse), the contamination of the environment, the food chain, drinking water resources, etc. by ARB&ARGs, presently, is suspected to be a public health problem. Other open questions include (i) the formation of
transformation products (TPs) of antibiotics during biotic and abiotic treatment processes and their role in antibiotic resistance development, (ii) the potential crop uptake of A&ARB&ARGs, (iii) the relevance of TPs of antibiotics in the environment, (iv) the development of innovative technologies able to remove those microcontaminants from wastewater, and (v) the identification of means and solutions to promote safe reuse practices.”

(Citaat: Fatta-Kassinos, D., Michael-Kordatou, I., Ioannou-Ttofa, L., Toumazi, T. – Antibiotics and mobile resistance elements in wastewater reuse applications – Answer H2020-MSCA-ITN-2015/675530 European Union Horizon 2020 – Medewerking KWR Medema, G.J., Paulus, G.K., Hornstra, L.M.)