Swiss scientists discover a relative increase of antibiotic resistance genes during wastewater treatment.
Antibiotic resistance genes are not completely eliminated by wastewater treatment. A recent Eawag study shows that, rather than merely passing through, the relative abundance of resistance genes increases in the WWTP.
The scientists believe that environmental conditions within the WRRF offer a survival advantage for resistant microorganisms and that gene exchange is stimulated by the close proximity of microorganisms during treatment.
