Environmental Health Risks of Antibiotic Residue in Sewage Discharged from Mosul City: An ELISA-Based Investigation

Abstract

This study aimed to showed that all sixteen samples collected from different areas of the city had detectable levels of antibiotic residues, with a mean concentration of 4.1 ng/ml and a standard deviation of 0.656 ng/ml. These findings indicate that antibiotics are being overused or not disposed of properly in the area, posing a potential risk to environmental health. The ELISA technique was effective in creating a standard curve for determining the antibiotic concentration in unknown samples. The standard curve showed a linear relationship between the concentration of antibiotics and the absorbance values obtained from the ELISA assay. By comparing the mean concentrations of antibiotic residues between different areas of the city, significant differences were found. For example, the left side of the city had a mean concentration of 3.97 ng/ml, while the right side of the city had a mean concentration of 4.19 ng/ml. The difference in the mean concentrations between the two areas was statistically significant (p<0.05). The high mean concentration of antibiotic residues detected in the samples suggests that antibiotics are being overused or not properly disposed of in the area. In conclusion, this study shows that there are detectable levels of antibiotic residues in the discharged water of Mosul City, indicating a potential threat to environmental health. Implementing measures to reduce the use and ensure proper disposal of antibiotics can help mitigate the potential risks associated with the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, protecting public health and environmental well-being.