AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO IDENTIFY AND ASSESS STREAMS SUSCEPTIBLE TO ANTIBIOTIC DISCHARGES

Occurrences of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance have been reported in various environmental settings, posing a global concern due to associated human and ecological risks. Therefore, the main goal of this research was to develop an integrative approach to identify and assess watershed vulnerability to contamination of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance and to use the developed approach to inform field study centered in North Carolina streams. In doing so, we quantified antibiotic concentrations at WWTP discharge sites and identified streams more susceptible to antibiotic resistance under varying streamflow conditions across the U.S. Then, we assessed watershed vulnerability to antibiotic resistance occurrence by the development of the multimetric index that incorporates potential antibiotic point and nonpoint pollution, hydrologic condition, and climate change. Lastly, we conducted a targeted field study quantifying selected antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes within three North Carolina watersheds that are modeled to be most impacted by potential antibiotic pollution. This study presented a holistic approach to assess spatial hazards of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance, and such information can be used to prioritize watershed management, control, and mitigation strategies in impacted watersheds.