Meeting Abstract

Publication year: 2014

Pages: S131-S131

Journal: Toxicology Letters

Volume number: 229

Issue number: Supplement

ISSN: 0378-4274

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2014.06.467

Publisher: Elsevier

Abstract: 

The application of
untreated manure and dung to agricultural areas provides essential
fertilization for crops and pasture. However, it enables the entry of
veterinary drugs and feed additives like antibiotics and heavy metals
into the environment, thus promoting the distribution of resistant and
potentially pathogenic microorganisms in soil as well as ground and
surface waters.

Within a Federal Ministry of
Education and Research aided joint research project we were able to
monitor input and output samples of 15 German biogasplants compiling
extensive data on the chemical and microbiological status. The aim was
to assess the risk of untreated agricultural wastes on environment and
human health while ascertaining the beneficial effects of manure
treatment through fermentation.

Tetracycline and
sulphonamide antibiotics as well as copper and zinc were detected in
comparable high quantities in manure samples. While the fermentation
process had a reductive effect on the antibiotic concentration, the
heavy metal levels remained unchanged. Microbiological and molecular
approaches indicate a reduction of cultivable aerobic bacteria through
fermentation including pathogens of the Enterobactericeae and
Enterococcaceae with no apparent promotion of anaerobic and spore
forming pathogens e.g. Clostridium spp. Although antibiotic
resistance genes were found ubiquitously in both manure and digestate a
decline in antibiotic resistance activity after fermentation could be
detected due to the general reduction of cultivable bacteria.
Ultimately, fermentation presents a promising strategy to limit
environmental pollution and risks for the human health caused by
agricultural waste.

Harvard Citation style: Wings, T., Spielmeyer, A., Glaeser, S., Schauss, T., Hamscher, G., Kämpfer, P., et al. (2014) Prevention of human health risks and environmental pollution from agricultural waste, Toxicology Letters, 229(Supplement), p. S131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2014.06.467

APA Citation style: Wings, T., Spielmeyer, A., Glaeser, S., Schauss, T., Hamscher, G., Kämpfer, P., & Dott, W. (2014). Prevention of human health risks and environmental pollution from agricultural waste. Toxicology Letters. 229(Supplement), S131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2014.06.467