Hidden Interfaces of Antibiotic Resistance Genes: How Plastispheres Threaten Environmental Integrity, Health Security, and One Health Systems
Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, cilt.237, sa.21, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 237 Sayı: 21
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s11270-026-09896-1
- Dergi Adı: Water, Air, and Soil Pollution
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, ABI/INFORM, Artic & Antarctic Regions, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Compendex, EMBASE, Environment Index, Geobase, Greenfile, Zoological Record, Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Earth, Atmospheric, & Aquatic Science Collection (ProQuest), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), Biofilms, Microplastics, One Health, Plastisphere
- Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Microplastics have emerged as critical environmental pollutants, forming plastisphere biofilms that act as hubs for Antibiotic Resistance Gene (ARG) enrichment and dissemination. This study adopts a One Health perspective to examine the ecological and public health implications of plastispheres in spreading antimicrobial resistance across environmental, animal, and human domains. This review synthesizes evidence from 102 studies which examine plastisphere-associated ARG dynamics through an integrated One Health framework. This review integrates polymer characteristics, plastisphere ecology, ARG transfer mechanisms, including environmental exposure pathways, treatment options, surface hydrophobicity, environmental aging, biofilm maturation, and the adsorption of antibiotics and metals. Plastisphere biofilms may facilitate horizontal gene transfer through conjugation, transformation, and transduction by increasing microbial density, retaining extracellular DNA, and concentrating mobile genetic elements, co-selective contaminants and regulatory gaps within a unified One Health framework. Regulatory standards, emphasizing updated polymer evaluation criteria, ARG-inclusive monitoring systems, and waste management policies were considered. Mitigation strategies such as filtration technologies, sludge regulation, wastewater optimization and investigation were integrated into the system. The principal contribution of this review is the integration of polymer-level characteristics, microbial mechanisms of resistance transfer, environmental dissemination pathways, and management interventions within a single One Health framework. This synthesis identifies wastewater treatment plants, sludge application, agricultural reuse, and interconnected aquatic systems as important control points requiring coordinated monitoring and mitigation.