Grantee Research Project Results
Prevalence, abundance, and fate of antibiotics, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and their determinant genes in U.S. wastewater systems
EPA Grant Number: R840826Title: Prevalence, abundance, and fate of antibiotics, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and their determinant genes in U.S. wastewater systems
Investigators: Navab-Daneshmand, Tala , Radniecki, Tyler , Jones, Gerrad D , Garcia-Jaramillo, Manuel
Institution: Oregon State University
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: September 1, 2024 through May 7, 2025
Project Amount: $2,350,211
RFA: National Priorities: Evaluation of Antimicrobial Resistance in Wastewater and Sewage Sludge Treatment and Its Impact on the Environment Request for Applications (RFA) (2023) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Human Health , Water , Water Treatment
Objective:
The overall objective is to determine the fate of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and genes (ARGs) as well as antibiotics (herein referred to as AMR markers) in wastewater treatment utilities across the U.S. The central hypothesis is that the abundance and diversity of AMR markers in wastewater systems are impacted by seasonal and regional variations and differ-ent treatment processes. The following specific aims will be pursued: 1. Identify the impacts of seasonal, regional, and serving population demographic differences on the prevalence and abun-dance of AMR markers in influent wastewater, 2. Determine the impacts of biological treatment, disinfection, and biosolids treatment processes on the selection and/or removal of AMR markers in wastewater and biosolids, and 3. Determine the impacts of biological treatment, disinfection, and biosolids treatment processes on the resistome of wastewater.
Approach:
We will enroll 40 wastewater treatment utilities from five regions across the U.S. representing varied geographical conditions, serving population demographics, and wastewater sources. Wastewater samples will be collected in summers and winters over two years. Samples will be collected throughout the wastewater and biosolids treatment trains. We will in-corporate a holistic approach of culture-dependent and -independent methods to quantify stand-ardized target ARB and ARGs. We will use suspect screening to measure all known antibiotic compounds. We will conduct a systematic review of literature on U.S.-based wastewater meta-genomic data, create a comprehensive library, and conduct a meta-analysis to understand the im-pacts of seasonal/regional variations and treatment processes on wastewater resistome.
Expected Results:
The proposed research will address the solicitation’s Research Area 1 and questions on the contribution of wastewater processes on the proliferation and removal of AMR markers while considering different treatment trains, operational and site-specific parame-ters, watershed geography, and socioeconomic aspects. Findings will directly address Objective 5.2 “Protect & Restore Waterbodies and Watersheds” of EPA’s FY2022-26 Strategic Plan.
Supplemental Keywords:
water, human health, stressor, chemicals, pathogens, bacteria, en-gineering, Northeast, Northwest, Midwest, Southwest, SoutheastThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.