Risk assessment of antibiotic residues and resistance profile of E. coli in typical rivers of Sichuan, China

The study reveals that antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are present in nine rivers in Sichuan Province, China. The concentrations of antibiotics were found to be high, with the Minjiang, Tuojiang, and Jialingjiang rivers showing the most severe contamination. The high ecological risk was attributed to the high population density in the area. The primary contributors to the high risk were norfloxacin, amoxicillin, ampicillin, and tetracycline. The findings underscore the need for targeted strategies to mitigate antibiotic pollution.