Insight on prioritization of antibiotics in China, their occurrence, and removal by different wastewater treatment technologies

Abstract

China still dominates all other nations as the world's most significant producer and consumer of antibiotics. Antibiotic misuse and overuse have been qualitatively and quantitatively documented in China recently. Antibiotic misuse has alarmed the Chinese population because some antibiotics persist in the environment and adversely affect human health and other non-target organisms. Antibiotic priority setting has been considered the best monitoring tool that is also affordable and time-efficient. Therefore, this article aims to assess the status methods of antibiotic prioritization within ten years ago years (2012–2022) in China and its prevalence and removal by conventional wastewater treatment facilities. Twenty-six priority antibiotics in China may need more attention, according to a recent prioritization assessment. According to other nations, the outcomes of prioritization vary from one nation to another. However, the same antibiotics are frequently reported despite applying various prioritization techniques (method). Their prevalence and frequent detection in China’s environmental media indicate that conventional treatment plants cannot remove them from effluents altogether. Their removal patterns vary from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) to another and are affected by different factors, including pH, physical–chemical properties of the antibiotic compound, temperature, sludge retention time (SRT), hydraulic retention time (HRT), and the amount of microorganism present. Graphical Abstract