Researchers have tried hard to study the toxic effects of single pollutants like certain antibiotics and nanoplastic particles on plants. But we still know little about how these pollutants interact when they're together in the environment, and what combined toxic effects they have on plants. This study assessed the toxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) and ciprofloxacin (CIP), both individually and in combination, on soybean (Glycine max L.) seedlings by various concentration gradients treatments of PS-NPs (0, 10, 100 mg/L) and CIP (0, 10 mg/L). The results indicated that high concentrations of PS-NPs significantly impeded soybean seedling growth, as evidenced by reductions in root length, plant height, and leaf area. CIP predominantly affected the physiological functions of leaves, resulting in a decrease in chlorophyll content. The combined exposure demonstrated synergistic effects, further intensifying the adverse impacts on the growth and physiological functions of soybean seedlings. Metabolomic analyses indicated that single and combined exposures markedly altered the metabolite expression profiles in soybean leaves, particularly related to amino acid and antioxidant defense metabolic pathways. These results indicate the comprehensive effects of NPs with antibiotics on plants and provide novel insights into toxic mechanisms.

Ciprofloxacin (CIP) is an antibiotic used in both human and veterinary medicine. Because it is only partially metabolized, it has been found in sewage sludge, manure, and agricultural soils. Therefore, due to the high persistence and low mobility of CIP in soil, we aimed to evaluate its long-term effect on Enchytraeus crypticus. Three multigenerational and one transgenerational test were performed according to OECD 220 guidelines (2016) on sandy clay soil. The concentrations tested were 0.1, 1.0, 10.0, 100.0, 1000.0 and 5000.0 mg kg- 1 dry soil. For F1, statistical analysis showed differences between the control and all concentrations tested, but no differences among the concentrations. For F2, there was a difference between control and 10 mg Kg -1 and for 10.0 mg Kg -1 compared to 0.1, 1.0 and 5000.0 mg Kg -1. For F3, no statistical difference was observed between any of the concentrations. When comparing the generations among themselves, there were significant differences between F1 and F2 and F1 and F3 for all concentrations. For the transgenerational test, there was no statistical difference between the control and the concentrations tested, nor among the concentrations. We verified a negative effect of CIP on the reproduction of E. crypticus for the first generation, which could be related to oxidative stress, DNA damage and clay content. We also verified that the organisms could develop a tolerance to CIP and that the effects of high clay content could outweigh the effects of CIP in long-term exposure. Due to the high persistence and low mobility of CIP on soil, it may affect other organisms and promote antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) regardless of E. crypticus tolerance. Therefore, we strongly recommend further studies focusing on long-term effects on different organisms, with a molecular approach, and in different soil types.

The pervasive occurrence of combined metal and antibiotic pollution (CMAP) in agricultural soils is increasingly being recognized as a novel threat to ecosystems. However, the toxicity variations of CMAP compared to single pollution and the mechanisms underlying these changes remain poorly understood. Herein in this study, the toxicities of copper (Cu)/erythromycin (ERY) and lead (Pb)/norfloxacin (NOR) to earthworms (Eisenia fetida) were investigated. These results indicated that a single exposure to ERY and NOR at environmental concentrations had negligible effects on physiological processes. Combined Cu/ERY exposure induced more significant oxidative stress, disrupted energy metabolism, and caused cellular damage than Cu alone, as indicated by altered antioxidant enzyme activities, malondialdehyde and adenosine triphosphate content, elevated reactive oxygen species levels, and apoptosis rates in coelomocytes. Conversely, these adverse effects were mitigated by Pb/NOR exposure compared to Pb treatment alone. Further analysis of the gut microbiota revealed that Cu/Pb-tolerant Bacillus spp. play a critical mediating role in the contrasting toxicity profiles. ERY reduced the abundance of Bacillus spp., diminishing their ability to secrete soluble phosphate to immobilize Cu in the gut and leading to increased Cu absorption and toxicity. NOR enriches Bacillus spp. in the gut, facilitating Pb immobilization and reducing Pb bioavailability and toxicity. The contrast toxicity profile revealed the response of the gut microbiota taxa is the primary determinant of the variation in CMAP toxicity. These findings advance our understanding of the impact of CMAP on soil organisms and highlight the need for comprehensive ecological risk assessments to inform regulatory strategies.

BackgroundThis review provides an overview of how antibiotic residues are found in the environment and affect livestock, thereby shedding light on the physiological mechanisms of their toxicity.ObjectiveWe aimed to emphasize the need for improved antibiotic management in agricultural practices to mitigate environmental contamination and reduce risks to livestock. Understanding the mechanisms by which antibiotic residues exert toxic effects is critical to the development of sustainable solutions.ResultsAntibiotic residues in the environment are a growing concern because of their widespread use in livestock farming and persistence in ecosystems. This review examines the pathways by which antibiotics enter soil, water, and sediments, primarily through manure application, wastewater discharge, and direct excretion by animals. Once in the environment, these residues affect soil quality, water systems, and animal health, posing risks, such as toxicity, disruption of microbial communities, and physiological harm to livestock. Persistent antibiotics, including fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines, accumulate in animal tissues and alter metabolism, leading to adverse effects, such as joint damage and impaired growth. In addition, these residues can degrade into toxic metabolites, further affecting livestock health and the environment.ConclusionCollectively, these findings suggest that future research may be required to prioritize strategies to mitigate environmental contamination by antibiotics and explore alternatives to reduce exposure in livestock production.

The improper disposal of antibiotics in water bodies and using contaminated wastewater in irrigation severely damage the environment. Despite efforts to monitor these contaminants, effective detection methods are limited. Here, we design and develop a novel microfluidic electrochemical (EC) sensor for on-site detection of trimethoprim (TMP) using a selenite-enriched lanthanum hydroxide (La(OH)(3):SeOx) working electrode and a polyimide (PI)-filter integrated microfluidic channel (MFC), thus termed a mu TMP-chip. For the first time, we introduced a new two-pronged strategy for enhancing TMP detection: i) incorporating selenite into the La(OH)(3) lattice to improve charge transfer properties and ii) using a laser-processed PI filter in the MFC to trap and isolate complex biomasses. Material characterizations confirmed that incorporating selenite into the La(OH)(3) lattice initiated La-O-Se bond formation and enhanced hybridization between the La 4f and O 2p orbitals. This process created holes in the O 2p valence band and improved the charge transfer properties, thus enhancing both sensitivity and selectivity. EC studies confirmed that when the PI filter is not used in the MFC, the mu TMP-chip experiences a 15-45 % drop in efficiency. The scalable mu TMP-chip offers cost-effective, highly reproducible TMP detection in soil and water.

As typical antibiotics, tetracycline (TC) and sulfadiazine (SDZ) enter the human body through the food chain. Therefore, it is necessary to understand their individual and combined toxicity. In this study, the effects of TC, SDZ, and their mixture on cell viability, cell membrane damage, liver cell damage, and oxidative damage were evaluated in in vitro assays with human liver cells Huh-7. The results showed cytotoxicity of TC, SDZ, and their mixture, which induced oxidative stress and caused membrane and cell damage. The effect of antibiotics on Huh7 cells increased with increasing concentration, except for lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity that commonly showed a threshold concentration response and cell viability, which commonly showed a biphasic trend, suggesting the possibility of hormetic responses where proper doses are included. The toxicity of TC was commonly higher than that of SDZ when applied at the same concentration. These findings shed light on the individual and joint effects of these major antibiotics on liver cells, providing a scientific basis for the evaluation of antibiotic toxicity and associated risks.

Antibiotic residues and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in fruits and vegetables pose public health risks via the food chain, attracting increased attention. Antibiotics such as streptomycin, used directly on seedless grapes or introduced into vineyard soil through organic fertilizers. However, extensive data supporting the risk assessment of antibiotic residues and resistance in these produce remains lacking. Utilizing metagenomic sequencing, we characterized Shine Muscat grape antibiotic resistome and mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Abundant MGEs and ARGs were found in grapes, with 174 ARGs on the grape surface and 32 in the fruit. Furthermore, our data indicated that soil is not the primary source of these MGEs and ARGs. Escherichia was identified as an essential carrier and potential transmitter of ARGs. In our previous study, streptomycin residue was identified in grapes. Further short-term exposure experiments in mice revealed no severe physiological or histological damage at several environment-related concentrations. However, with increased exposure, some ARGs levels in mouse gut microbes increased, indicating a potential threat to animal health. Overall, this study provides comprehensive insights into the resistance genome and potential hosts in grapes, supporting the risk assessment of antibiotic resistance in fruits and vegetables.

OVER 60,000 tons of veterinary antibiotics are used globally annually, with an anticipated increase to 67% by 2030. Florfenicol is a veterinary drug its residues enter the environment through fertilizer (manure) application and waste water in agricultural areas, potentially leading to plant toxicity. In the current study, the veterinary antibiotic florfenicol was tested in two ways: first, in Petri dishes during cultivation, and second, by adding the antibiotic to the soil using germination trays. Various antibiotic concentrations were applied (0.005%, 0.01%, 0.02%, and 0.04% v/v, ml/L). Results from the first experiment exhibited significant decrease in germination rates after 8 days it reached to 18.00, and in shoot , root length to 1.26, 0.92 cm, and fresh ,dry seedling weights to 0.47,0.28 mg , with increased concentration compared to the control group. The second experiment demonstrated significant differences in germination rates after 8 days, along with changes in shoot and root length, fresh and dry seedling weights, and leaf count, with most traits decreasing as concentrations increased except for root length, which notably decreased at the 0.04% concentration , it record 4.86 cm. Changes in root structure, including the disappearance of fibrous roots and reduction in root system length, were observed. Germination rates after 4 days showed no significant difference in either experiment. The findings suggest that florfenicol concentrations in the first experiment affected the germination and growth of yellow corn ( Zea mays L) plants, starting from the lowest concentration of 0.005%. In the second experiment, using organic-rich soil mitigated the toxic effects of florfenicol at low concentrations, except for the highest concentration of 0.04%. Florfenicol did not cause damage to chloroplasts, as the seedlings recovered their usual appearance.