Seasonal disparities and source tracking of airborne antibiotic resistance genes in Handan, China

Qing Wang; Zelin Hou; Linyun Li; Shaoyue Guo; Haiyin Liang; Menghan Li; Huixiao Luo; Litao Wang; Yi Luo; Hongqiang Ren

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126844

Seasonal disparities and source tracking of airborne antibiotic resistance genes in Handan, China

J Hazard Mater. 2022 Jan 15:422:126844. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126844. Epub 2021 Aug 5.

Authors

Qing Wang¹, Zelin Hou², Linyun Li³, Shaoyue Guo², Haiyin Liang², Menghan Li², Huixiao Luo², Litao Wang⁴, Yi Luo⁵, Hongqiang Ren⁶

Affiliations

¹ College of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Hebei Key Laboratory of Air Pollution Cause and Impact, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056038, China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
² College of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Hebei Key Laboratory of Air Pollution Cause and Impact, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056038, China.
³ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
⁴ College of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Hebei Key Laboratory of Air Pollution Cause and Impact, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056038, China. Electronic address: wanglitao@hebeu.edu.cn.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China. Electronic address: luoy@nankai.edu.cn.
⁶ State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.

PMID: 34399210
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126844

Abstract

The transmission of airborne antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) loaded on particle is a significant global public health concern. Up to date, the dispersal pattern of airborne ARGs remains unclear despite their critical role in multiregional transmission. In this study, airborne ARGs loaded on fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) and source tracking based on the airflow trajectories were performed by the potential source contribution function (PSCF) and concentration weighted trajectory (CWT) model. The results show that the absolute abundance of ARG subtypes were generally twice times higher in the winter season than that in the summer season, which could be attributable to winter haze events with high particulate matter concentrations in Handan. Exogenous input from serious haze events and local release of ARGs loaded on PM_2.5 of air masses may cause higher levels of ARGs in the winter. Moreover, based on the positive correlation between the abundance of ARGs and PM_2.5 concentration, a source tracing model of airborne ARGs was proposed to the estimate of ARGs release and dissemination. This study highlights airborne ARGs transmission loaded on PM_2.5 of air masses, which facilitating the global spread of antibiotic resistance.

Keywords: Air masses; Airflow trajectories; Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs); Fine particulate matter (PM(2.5)); Source tracking.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants*
Anti-Bacterial Agents* / pharmacology
China
Drug Resistance, Microbial / genetics
Environmental Monitoring
Genes, Bacterial
Particulate Matter / analysis
Seasons

Substances

Air Pollutants
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Particulate Matter