Removal of microplastics and resistance genes in livestock and aquaculture wastewater: Current knowledge and future directions

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The pollution of microplastics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) poses serious threats to human health and ecosystem. Livestock and aquaculture wastewaters are significant contributors to the occurrence of microplastics and ARGs. However, there is a lack of studies summarizing and analyzing the occurrence and key environmental processes of microplastics and ARGs in these wastewaters from a public health perspective. This lack of research makes it difficult to effectively develop control strategies for these pollutants. Conventional sewage treatment processes cannot effectively remove antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and ARGs. Therefore, seeking efficient removal technologies for ARB and ARGs is crucial for controlling pollution and preventing the spread of ARGs. This paper discusses the feasibility of physical, chemical, and biological methods for removing microplastics and ARGs from wastewater generated by livestock breeding and aquaculture. The types, seasonal variations, and treatment methods can significantly affect the removal of microplastics and ARGs. Achieving replication and transfer from the laboratory to the real site, from small-scale to large-scale, is currently a significant challenge. At present, there is still limited information on the dynamic changes and simultaneous removal of microplastics and ARGs. The challenges and difficulties faced in the removal of microplastics and ARGs are elucidated, and future research directions are also proposed.