Occurrence, Removal Mechanisms, and Transfer to Crops of Antibiotics in the Environment: A Review

Abstract Antibiotics are widely used in the treatment of humans and animals. Since the body does not fully absorb it, a significant portion reaches environmental systems and wastewater treatment plants. Antibiotics can be removed from the body at low or high levels through various treatment methods. Generally, conventional systems are insufficient for effectively removing antibiotics, resulting in the discharge waters containing specific amounts of antibiotics. On the other hand, advanced treatment methods can achieve high antibiotic removal efficiency. To mitigate water scarcity, the reuse of reclaimed water for agricultural purposes has become increasingly important. Reclaimed water is used directly or indirectly for irrigation purposes. However, antibiotic residues in reclaimed water can accumulate in soil and then be transferred to plant roots, stems, leaves, and fruits. The physicochemical properties of antibiotics affect their transport in environmental systems. Antibiotics may tend to remain in the root zone or be translocated to the fruit. Consuming fruits with antibiotic residues poses various health risks to humans and other contaminated with antibiotic residues poses various health risks to humans and other organisms. This study summarizes the presence of antibiotics in environmental systems, evaluates the removal performance of physical, chemical, and biological treatment systems for antibiotics, and examines the mechanisms by which antibiotics are transferred to plants through irrigation with reclaimed water. Graphical Abstract