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Impact of veterinary pharmaceuticals on environment and their mitigation through microbial bioremediation

Summary

Veterinary medicines used in livestock are contaminating our water and soil, creating serious problems like antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Scientists are discovering that natural microorganisms like bacteria and fungi can break down these pharmaceutical pollutants effectively. Advanced technologies combining microbes with electrical systems show promise for cleaning up contaminated wastewater, offering hope for a more sustainable solution to this growing environmental problem.

Background

Veterinary pharmaceuticals are extensively used in livestock for disease treatment and prevention, but untreated drug compounds are continuously discharged into aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems through production procedures, improper disposal, and agricultural practices. This contamination poses significant environmental and health concerns globally.

Objective

This review aims to describe the pathways through which veterinary medications enter the environment, elaborate on their detrimental effects on ecosystems, detail microbial degradation mechanisms, and highlight successful bioremediation case studies and recent advancements including microbial electrochemical technologies as eco-friendly solutions for pharmaceutical pollutant removal.

Results

The review identifies multiple microbial organisms (bacteria, fungi, and algae) capable of degrading various veterinary antibiotics with different removal efficiencies. White rot fungi like Trametes versicolor and various bacterial strains show promising results with removal rates up to 95.7%. Microbial fuel cells achieved 85% removal of metronidazole within 24 hours.

Conclusion

Microbial bioremediation presents a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional physicochemical remediation methods for veterinary pharmaceutical contamination. Combined approaches using multiple microorganisms, enzyme-mediated degradation, and emerging microbial electrochemical technologies show significant potential for large-scale implementation in environmental remediation.
  • Published in:Frontiers in Microbiology,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMID: 39040911
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