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Assessing the prevalence of veterinary antibiotics and associated potential ecological risk in dryland soil, manure, and compost: A case study from saudi arabia.

Research Authors
Al-Wabel MI, Ahmad M, Ahmad J, Lubis NMA, Usman ARA, Al-Farraj ASF
Research Abstract

Application of manure and compost can result in the accumulation of veterinary antibiotics in soil, subsequently posing ecological risks. The occurrence and potential ecological risk assessment of nine antibiotics (4 tetracyclines, 3 sulfonamides, and 2 macrolides) residues in soil, manure, and compost samples collected from Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia are reported in this study. A total of 36 samples (20 soil, 8 manure, and 8 compost) were collected and their physiochemical characteristics were analyzed. Large variabilities were observed in organic matter, pH, electrical conductivity, and nutrient status. In the soil samples obtained, three textural groups were identified: sandy loam, loamy sand, and loam. Overall, the mean concentrations of all detected antibiotics measured were lower (<50 μg kg−1) in all matrices (soil, manure, and compost). However, the mean concentrations of tetracycline (TC), doxycycline (DC), oxytetracycline (OT), and sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) were 97.96, 183.29, 101.24, and 69.58 μg kg−1, respectively, in manure samples, and 49.59, 93.26, 74.21, and 18.32 μg kg−1, respectively, in compost samples. The concentrations of antibiotics were highest in manure samples, then compost, and finally soil. The calculated risk quotient (RQ) values for the majority of the studied antibiotics were <0.1, indicating no to low adverse ecological effects. However, the higher RQ values for OT and DC suggested possible adverse ecological effects of these compounds in soil.

Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
Journal of King Saud University - Science
Research Member
Research Publisher
Elsevier
Research Vol
33
Research Website
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1018364721002196
Research Year
2021
Research Pages
101558