Impact of sediment concentration on the survival of wastewater-derived blaCTX-M-15-producing E. coli, and the implications for dispersal into estuarine waters

Bashawri, Yasir M.; Robins, Peter; Cooper, David M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7578-7918; McDonald, James E.; Jones, Davey L.; Williams, A. Prysor. 2020 Impact of sediment concentration on the survival of wastewater-derived blaCTX-M-15-producing E. coli, and the implications for dispersal into estuarine waters. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (20), 7608. 15, pp. 10.3390/ijerph17207608

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17207608

Abstract/Summary

The environmental cycling of antibiotic-resistant blaCTX-M-15-producing E. coli following release from wastewater treatment plants is a major public health concern. This study aimed to (i) assess the impact of sediment concentrations on the rate of their inactivation following release from human wastewater into freshwater, and (ii) simulate their subsequent dispersal to the nearby coastline during a “worst-case” event where heavy rainfall coincided with high spring tide in the Conwy Estuary, North Wales. Freshwater microcosms of low, medium and high turbidity were inoculated with blaCTX-M-15-producing E. coli, then exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Typical regional wintertime exposure to UV was found to be insufficient to eradicate E. coli, and in highly turbid water, many bacteria survived simulated typical regional summertime UV exposure. Modelling results revealed that blaCTX-M-15-producing E. coli concentrations reduced downstream from the discharge source, with ~30% of the source concentration capable of dispersing through the estuary to the coast, taking ~36 h. Offshore, the concentration simulated at key shellfisheries and bathing water sites ranged from 1.4% to 10% of the upstream input, depending on the distance offshore and tidal regime, persisting in the water column for over a week. Our work indicates that the survival of such organisms post-release into freshwater is extended under typical wintertime conditions, which could ultimately have implications for human health.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.3390/ijerph17207608
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Soils and Land Use (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	1660-4601
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	bathing waters, extreme weather, pathogens, sewage, microbial pollution, water framework directive
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	30 Nov 2020 11:15 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/529045

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.3390/ijerph17207608

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Soils and Land Use (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

1660-4601

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

bathing waters, extreme weather, pathogens, sewage, microbial pollution, water framework directive