Prevalence of veterinary antibiotics in natural and organic fertilizers from animal food production and assessment of their potential ecological risk

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Veterinary antibiotics are emerging contaminants and enter into soil principally by agricultural application of organic fertilizers. This paper presents the results of the research obtained for the analyzed 70 samples of fertilizers (pig and poultry manure and slurry and digestate) for various classes of antibiotics. RESULTS: Doxycycline, oxytetracycline, tetracycline, lincomycin, tiamulin and enrofloxacin were found in tested samples. Doxycycline was found as a dominant compound, and its highest concentration was 175 mg/kg in pig manure. This investigation indicated that fertilization with manure, especially animal feces, might be the primary source of antibiotics. Additionally, a risk assessment based on a risk quotient was carried out, which showed that the determined concentrations of antibiotics in fertilizers may pose a threat to soil microorganisms. CONCLUSIONS: Resultssuggested that the ecological risk effects of antibiotic contamination on soil bases and their potential adverse risk on human health needs special attention.