Antibiotic Contamination in Hanoi’s Urban Lake Waters: Occurrence and Environmental Implications
- Posted
- Server
- Preprints.org
- DOI
- 10.20944/preprints202506.1375.v1
This study investigates the occurrence, concentration, and spatial distribution of multiple antibiotics in lake water samples collected from various urban lakes. The analysis revealed that sulfonamides, fluoroquinolones, and trimethoprim were the dominant antibiotic groups detected, with sulfamethoxazole (SMX) showing the highest frequency and concentration across the sampled sites. Other antibiotics, including sulfadiazine (STZ), were also identified, albeit at lower levels. Higher antibiotic concentrations were observed in lakes influenced by untreated municipal and healthcare wastewater, indicating significant anthropogenic pollution sources. The differing chemical properties of antibiotics affected their environmental behavior, with hydrophilic compounds remaining primarily in the water column, while fluoroquinolones showed a tendency to accumulate in sediments and aquatic organisms, raising concerns about bioaccumulation and antimicrobial resistance. These findings highlight the pressing need for improved wastewater treatment practices and regulatory controls to mitigate antibiotic contamination and its ecological risks. The study provides valuable baseline data for environmental monitoring and contributes to the understanding of antibiotic pollution in urban aquatic environments.