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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Kimberly, Idaho » Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #325414
Title: Antibiotics in agroecosystems: Introduction to the special section

Author
item FRANKLIN, ALISON - Pennsylvania State University
item AGA, DIANA - State University Of New York- College Of Environmental Science And Forestry
item CYTRYN, EDDIE - Agricultural Research Organization Of Israel
item DURSO, LISA - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
item MCLAIN, JEAN - University Of Arizona
item PRUDEN, AMY - Virginia Tech
item ROBERTS, MARILYN - University Of Washington
item Rothrock, Michael
item SNOW, DANIEL - University Of Nebraska
item WATSON, JOHN - Pennsylvania State University
item Dungan, Robert - Rob

Submitted to: Journal of Environmental Quality
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/5/2016
Publication Date: 3/1/2016
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/62005
Citation: Franklin, A.M., Aga, D.S., Cytryn, E., Durso, L.M., Mclain, J.E., Pruden, A., Roberts, M.C., Rothrock Jr, M.J., Snow, D.D., Watson, J.E., Dungan, R.S. 2016. Antibiotics in agroecosystems: Introduction to the special section. Journal of Environmental Quality. 43:377-393.

Interpretive Summary: The widespread use of antibiotics in agriculture, combined with the application of human and animal wastes to agricultural fields, introduces antibiotic-related contamination into the environment. While overt toxicity in organisms directly exposed to antibiotics in agroecosystems is generally not an issue, the impacts of introducing antibiotic contaminants are unknown, and concerns have arisen about the health of humans, animals and ecosystems. Despite increases in research focused on the fate and occurrence of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance over the past decade, standard methodologies and practices for analyzing environmental samples are limited, and future research needs are becoming evident. To address these issues in detail, a special section was developed with a framework of five core review papers. This introduction summarizes the current state of science for analyzing antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in agroecosystems, while also discussing current knowledge gaps and future research priorities.

Technical Abstract: The presence of antibiotic drug residues, antibiotic resistant bacteria, and antibiotic resistance genes in agroecosystems has become a significant area of research in recent years, and is a growing public health concern. While antibiotics are utilized for human medicine and agricultural practices, the majority of antibiotic use occurs in food animals where these drugs have historically been used for growth promotion, in addition to prevention and treatment of disease. The widespread use of antibiotics combined with the application of human and animal wastes to agricultural fields introduces antibiotic-related contamination into the environment. While overt toxicity in organisms directly exposed to antibiotic in agroecosystems is generally not an issue due to concentrations generally lower than therapeutic doses, the impacts of introducing antibiotic contaminants are unknown, and concerns have arisen about the health of humans, animals and ecosystems (One Health). Despite increases in research focused on the fate and occurrence of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance over the past decade, standard methodologies and practices for analyzing environmental samples are limited, and future research needs are becoming evident. To address these issues in detail, this special section was developed with a framework of five core review papers that address the (i) overall state of science of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in agroecosystems with a causal model; (ii) chemical analysis of antibiotics in the environment; (iii) necessity for background and baseline data for studies of antibiotic resistance in agroecosystems with a decision-making tool to assist in designing research studies; as well as (iv) culture- and (v) molecular-based methods for analyzing antibiotic resistance in the environment. With a focus on the core review papers, this introduction to the special section summarizes the current state of science for analyzing antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in agroecosystems, while also discussing current knowledge gaps and future research priorities. This introduction also contains a glossary of terminologies that are commonly used throughout the special section. By defining these terminologies, it is hoped to provide a common language that clearly defines the linkages across the narratives of each paper.