Author(s): Jacqueline Malazarte; Lisbeth Truelstrup Hansen; Mariel Zabaleta-Perez; Inga Herrmann; Rayssa V. B. Jacob; Pekka Rossi; Elisangela Heiderscheidt
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Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most important public health challenges of this time. Small-scale wastewater treatment plants, also known as decentralized wastewater plants, are often overlooked as a potential source of antimicrobial resistance proliferation, therefore, a critical gap is evident and requires investigation. In this study, we collected influent and effluent samples from several small-scale wastewater systems in Finland and Sweden, all of which serving a population equivalent of less than 2 000. Moreover, these plants were selected based on the treatment process each utilize. DNA was extracted from the water samples after which, five candidate genes were quantified using digital PCR to see how much of these genes were removed after treatment processing. We expect a reduction of AMR genes from the small-scale treatment plants. Moreover, we also expect differences in removal for the different treatment processes.
Year: 2026