The Safety of Consuming Water Dropwort Used to Purify Livestock Wastewater Considering Accumulated Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance Genes

Research is lacking on the health risks of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in water dropwort grown in livestock wastewater. Our results showed that antibiotics from livestock wastewater were absorbed and bioaccumulated by water dropwort. The concentration of antibiotics was higher in the roots than in the stems and leaves. The health-risk coefficients of antibiotics in water dropwort were below the threshold (<0.1), indicating that in this case study, the consumption of water dropwort used to purify livestock wastewater was safe for humans considering accumulated antibiotics. ARGs were closely correlated between livestock wastewater and water dropwort, with the results showing that all 13 ARGs detected in the livestock wastewater were also found in the water dropwort. Tetracycline resistance genes were more abundant than the other ARGs in both the livestock wastewater and water dropwort. The estimated daily intake of ARGs in water dropwort for humans ranged from 2.06 x 10(6) to 7.75 x 10(12) copies g(,)(-1) suggesting the potential risk of intaking ARGs in water dropwort cannot be ignored. Although the safety of consuming water dropwort used to purify livestock wastewater, considering accumulated antibiotics and ARGs, was assessed in this study, more studies should be conducted to ensure we fully understand the health risks.

Automated summary

This study found that antibiotics from livestock wastewater were absorbed and accumulated by water dropwort, but the health-risk coefficients were below the threshold. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were closely correlated between livestock wastewater and water dropwort, with tetracycline resistance genes being the most abundant. The intake of ARGs in water dropwort may pose a potential risk, and more research is needed to fully understand the health risks.