Unveiling the Role of Aeration Tanks in the Emission and Enrichment of Airborne Antibiotic Resistance Genes in a Wastewater Treatment Plant

IF 11.4 1区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL

Water Research Pub Date : 2024-11-27 DOI:10.1016/j.watres.2024.122866

Jui-Hung Yen, Jun-Fa Yeh, Chih-Yu Chan, Hsin-Hsin Tung, Kai-Hsien Chi, Hsin-Chang Chen, Wan-Ru Chen, Charles C.-K. Chou, Ta-Chih Hsiao

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Abstract

The aeration tanks in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are important sources of airborne antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) due to bubble bursts at the air-liquid interface. This study employed an integrated metagenomic workflow, encompassing reference-based, assembly-based, and binning-based modules, to investigate resistomes in a WWTP in northern Taiwan. The role of aeration tanks in emitting airborne ARGs and their associated risks was assessed. The findings revealed a strong similarity between the ARG profiles in aeration tank wastewater and surrounding PM_2.5, indicating atmospheric transmission of ARGs. Notably, the ARG level in PM_2.5 (0.83 ± 0.11 ARGs/cell) was 59.6% higher than in wastewater (0.52 ± 0.01 ARGs/cell). The assembly-based analysis showed that foam-forming bacteria such as Mycobacterium and Gordonia dominated ARGs-carrying contigs in PM_2.5, suggesting that higher atomization capabilities of ARB contribute to airborne ARG prevalence. Furthermore, a significant proportion of stress response genes and increasing efflux pump resistance (122.6%) in PM_2.5 imply that mechanical forces during aerosolization and harsh atmospheric conditions select for airborne ARB capable of overcoming stress induced by dramatic environmental changes. Overall, the study indicates that ARG risk is intensified in PM_2.5 due to their abundance, mobility, and pathogenicity. In conclusion, aeration tanks not only emit airborne ARGs but also cause an unexpected enrichment effect and exposure risk during aeration, highlighting the critical water-to-air transmission route of ARGs in WWTPs.

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揭示曝气池在污水处理厂空气传播抗生素耐药基因的排放和富集中的作用

污水处理厂（WWTPs）的曝气池是空气中抗生素耐药基因（ARGs）和抗生素耐药菌（ARB）的重要来源，原因是气泡在空气-液体界面破裂。本研究采用了一个整合的元基因组工作流程，包括基于参考、基于组装和基于分选的模块，来研究台湾北部一个污水处理厂的耐药菌群。研究评估了曝气池在空气传播 ARGs 中的作用及其相关风险。研究结果表明，曝气池废水中的 ARG 与周围 PM2.5 中的 ARG 非常相似，这表明 ARG 在大气中传播。值得注意的是，PM2.5 中的 ARG 水平（0.83 ± 0.11 ARGs/细胞）比废水中的 ARG 水平（0.52 ± 0.01 ARGs/细胞）高出 59.6%。基于组装的分析表明，在 PM2.5 中，分枝杆菌和戈登氏菌等形成泡沫的细菌在携带 ARGs 的等位基因中占主导地位，这表明 ARB 更高的雾化能力导致了空气中 ARGs 的流行。此外，PM2.5中应激反应基因所占比例很大，而且外排泵抗性不断增加（122.6%），这意味着气溶胶化过程中的机械力和恶劣的大气条件选择了能够克服环境剧变引起的应激反应的气载ARB。总之，研究表明，由于 ARG 的数量、流动性和致病性，PM2.5 中的 ARG 风险加剧。总之，曝气池不仅会排放空气中的 ARGs，还会在曝气过程中造成意想不到的富集效应和暴露风险，这凸显了污水处理厂中 ARGs 从水到空气的关键传播途径。

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来源期刊

Water Research 环境科学-工程：环境

CiteScore

20.80

自引率

9.40%

发文量

1307

审稿时长

38 days

期刊介绍： Water Research, along with its open access companion journal Water Research X, serves as a platform for publishing original research papers covering various aspects of the science and technology related to the anthropogenic water cycle, water quality, and its management worldwide. The audience targeted by the journal comprises biologists, chemical engineers, chemists, civil engineers, environmental engineers, limnologists, and microbiologists. The scope of the journal include: •Treatment processes for water and wastewaters (municipal, agricultural, industrial, and on-site treatment), including resource recovery and residuals management; •Urban hydrology including sewer systems, stormwater management, and green infrastructure; •Drinking water treatment and distribution; •Potable and non-potable water reuse; •Sanitation, public health, and risk assessment; •Anaerobic digestion, solid and hazardous waste management, including source characterization and the effects and control of leachates and gaseous emissions; •Contaminants (chemical, microbial, anthropogenic particles such as nanoparticles or microplastics) and related water quality sensing, monitoring, fate, and assessment; •Anthropogenic impacts on inland, tidal, coastal and urban waters, focusing on surface and ground waters, and point and non-point sources of pollution; •Environmental restoration, linked to surface water, groundwater and groundwater remediation; •Analysis of the interfaces between sediments and water, and between water and atmosphere, focusing specifically on anthropogenic impacts; •Mathematical modelling, systems analysis, machine learning, and beneficial use of big data related to the anthropogenic water cycle; •Socio-economic, policy, and regulations studies.