Distribution Sources Risk Assessment of Selected Antibiotics in Different Environmental Matrices of Chennai City and Effective Removal Using Biochar

Abstract

Antibiotics have been commonly used as drugs for human and veterinary use and are considered very effective in treating bacterial infections. Because of their benefits, antibiotics are also used as growth promoters in livestock, agriculture, and aquaculture. With the extensive use, antibiotics have emerged as an environmental pollutant since its occurrence was reported in surface water, groundwater, drinking water, sediment, domestic and industrial wastewater treatment plants, soil, sludge, leachate, plants, and in lower grade organisms from all over the world. Despite several anthropogenic and natural elimination pathways, their concentration is persistent in the environment and affects natural biota by developing multiple antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes newline