Evaluation of a Low-Cost Active Air Sampler for the Surveillance of Airborne Transmission of Antibiotic Resistance Genes Using a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant as a Case Study

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Naixiang Zhai - , University of Queensland (Author)
  • Jinglong Li - , University of Queensland (Author)
  • Uli Klümper - , Chair of Limnology (Author)
  • Pooja Lakhey - , University of Queensland (Author)
  • Kevin V. Thomas - , University of Queensland (Author)
  • Jake W. O’Brien - , University of Queensland, University of Amsterdam, University of Tasmania (Author)

Abstract

Assessing the risks associated with antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment remains challenging due to limited understanding of their distribution and transmission across various media, including wastewater, air, and biosolids. This study addresses this gap by systematically collecting samples from diverse environmental sources and investigating the dynamics of ARG transmission in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). A low-cost 3D-printed air sampler was developed using off-the-shelf components and evaluated alongside a commercial active air sampler under identical conditions. The custom sampler was equipped with interchangeable filters, including glass fiber and PVDF membranes, and showed comparable or better performance in terms of ARG detection. While only single 24-h sampling events were conducted per sampler, differences in ARG yield, microbial diversity, and assembly metrics were observed. Using metagenomic sequencing, air samples from locations near effluent discharge points and within biosolids processing areas, alongside wastewater samples, were analyzed. Genomic predictions and homology analyses revealed that ARGs are widely distributed across environmental media, with significant overlap between air and water samples. ARG abundance was higher in the biosolids processing area than at the effluent discharge point. This study introduces a cost-effective monitoring tool for airborne ARGs and provides novel insights into their environmental distribution and potential transmission in WWTPs, informing future risk assessment strategies.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2260-2268
Number of pages9
JournalACS ES & T engineering
Volume5
Issue number9
Early online date30 May 2025
Publication statusPublished - 12 Sept 2025
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 105006818104

Keywords

Keywords

  • 3D printing, active air sampler, airborne antibiotic resistance, metagenomics, wastewater treatment plant