Pharmaceuticals residues lead to enrichment of Human, Animal, and Plant Pathogens in Wastewater

Abstract

Wastewater forms a reservoir for diverse microbial pathogens, posing significant risks to public health and aquatic ecosystems. They further contain several pharmaceutical residues that can induce profound shifts in the wastewater microbiome. In this study, we assessed whether common non-antimicrobial pharmaceuticals such as pain killers and blood pressure regulators impact wastewater pathogen profiles. We spiked wastewater with caffeine (stimulant), atenolol (beta-blocker), paracetamol (analgesic), ibuprofen (anti-inflammatory) and enalapril (ACE-inhibitor), and monitored microbiome 16S rRNA gene profiles. We then matched species composition to a comprehensive database of human, animal, and plant pathogens. All pharmaceuticals significatively increased abundance and biodiversity for zoonotic, plant, and animal pathogens. These findings highlight that pharmaceutical contamination poses a biohazard risk by fostering pathogen growth. We call for a paired, continuous monitoring of chemical and biological pollutants and a more stringent removal of pharmaceutical residues from wastewater.