The use of antibiotic agents as growth promoters was banned in animal husbandry to prevent the selection and spread of antibiotic resistance. However, in addition to antibiotic agents, heavy metals used in animal farming and aquaculture might promote the spread of antibiotic resistance via co-selection. To investigate which heavy metals are likely to co-select for antibiotic resistance in soil and water, the available data on heavy metal pollution, heavy metal toxicity, heavy metal tolerance, and co-selection mechanisms was reviewed. Additionally, the risk of metal driven co-selection of antibiotic resistance in the environment was assessed based on heavy metal concentrations that potentially induce this co-selection process. Analyses of the data indicate that agricultural and aquacultural practices represent major sources of soil and water contamination with moderately to highly toxic metals such as mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn). If those metals reach the environment and accumulate to critical concentrations they can trigger co-selection of antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, co-selection mechanisms for these heavy metals and clinically as well as veterinary relevant antibiotics have been described. Therefore, studies investigating co-selection in environments impacted by agriculture and aquaculture should focus on Hg, Cd, Cu, and Zn as selecting heavy metals. Nevertheless, the respective environmental background has to be taken into account.

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Heavy metal driven co-selection of antibiotic resistance in soil and water bodies impacted by agriculture and aquaculture.

Influence of pyrolysis temperature on properties and environmental safety of heavy metals in biochars derived from municipal sewage sludge

A review of the removal of microplastics in global wastewater treatment plants: Characteristics and mechanisms

With global population growth, the security of food, energy and water is becoming more challenging. Both anaerobic digestion (AD) and composting are waste management methods that are plausible approaches to address this challenge by reusing organic waste and generating value-added products. In this paper, recent research on AD and composting is summarized, and differences in the technical, economic, and environmental aspects of AD and composting, and their potential to improve the sustainability of waste management, are examined. Recent research on AD has focused on process enhancement and valorization of end products, while composting research has emphasized ways to shorten composting period and reduce odor and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Strategies to enhance AD and composting processes are similar, but the operational parameters that affect microbial activity, including inoculation, aeration, temperature, moisture, C/N ratio, and pH, can differ. AD can be economically more advantageous than composting, depending on plant scale and valorization of end products, while composting is more profitable at smaller scales (e.g.

Improving the sustainability of organic waste management practices in the food-energy-water nexus: A comparative review of anaerobic digestion and composting

Cumulative effects of bamboo sawdust addition on pyrolysis of sewage sludge: Biochar properties and environmental risk from metals

Purpose
Urbanization and industrialization in China has resulted in a dramatic increase in the volume of wastewater and sewage sludge produced from wastewater treatment plants. Problems associated with sewage sludge have attracted increasing attention from the public and urban planners. How to manage sludge in an economically and environmentally acceptable manner is one of the critical issues that modern societies are facing.

Meng Hj

Papers

Utilization of urban sewage sludge: Chinese perspectives