REVIEW PAPER
Review of Antibiotic Pollution in the Seven
Watersheds in China
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1
School of Environmental Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology,
Xuzhou, China
2
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of North Carolina
at Charlotte, USA
Submission date: 2018-06-13
Final revision date: 2018-10-04
Acceptance date: 2018-10-18
Online publication date: 2019-08-28
Publication date: 2019-09-17
Corresponding author
Ping Lu
China University of Mining and Technology, #1 university road, CUMT, 221116 Xuzhou, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2019;28(6):4045-4055
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ABSTRACT
China consumes 0.15-0.2 million tons of antibiotics yearly, which takes up 50% of the world’s
consumption. In this paper, 7 watersheds in China were investigated in order to show a clear picture of
the antibiotic distribution in the environment, seasonal variation, and sources. We find that the majority
of the aquatic antibiotics come from livestock and aquaculture, followed by medical waste, wastewater
treatment plants, and domestic sewage. The spatial distribution of antibiotics varies greatly. Antibiotic
concentrations were the lowest in the Yangtze River while the highest was in the Liaohe River and the
Pearl River. Songhua watershed and the Southwest River, influenced by the economy and population in
the northwest region, displayed a lower quantity of antibiotics. Seasonal variance showed dry season
concentrations that were higher than the wet season. Additionally, antibiotics exist not only in the water
but also in the sediments. Overall, the distribution of antibiotics in China is uneven due to the economy
and population levels. Public health risk and ecological impacts are big concerns regarding the great deal
of antibiotic consumption and discharge.