Occurrence, distribution, ecological and resistance risks of antibiotics in surface water of finfish and shellfish aquaculture in Bangladesh

- Nine antibiotics were investigated for the first time in surface water of aquaculture.
- Antibiotics in finfish and shellfish aquaculture were detected in ng L−1 level.
- SMX, TMP and TYL were the predominant antibiotics in both aquaculture.
- Calculated RQs were lower than 1 for preliminary ecological and resistance risks.

The present study for the first time reports the occurrence, distribution, ecological and resistance risks of antibiotics in the surface water of freshwater finfish and brackish water shellfish aquaculture in Bangladesh. Among the nine targets, seven antibiotics were detected in finfish aquaculture, whereas four in shellfish aquaculture. The concentrations (ranges) and overall detection frequency of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) (nd-20.02 ng L−1 and 73%), trimethoprim (TMP) (nd-41.67 ng L−1 and 60%), tylosin (TYL) (nd-39.34 ng L−1 and 60%), sulfadiazine (SDZ) (nd-17.97 ng L−1 and 53%), sulfamethazine (SMT) (nd-11.71 ng L−1 and 33%), sulfamethizole (SMZ) (nd-10.81 ng L−1 and 40%) and penicillin G (PC_G) (nd-7.83 ng L−1, 7%) were found in finfish aquaculture. In case of shellfish aquaculture, the concentrations (ranges) and overall detection frequency were for SMX (nd-16.77 ng L−1 and 67%), TMP (nd-11.39 ng L−1 and 20%), TYL (nd-0.16 ng L−1 and 20%) and erythromycin-H2O (ERY-H2O) (nd-3.91 ng L−1 and 20%). The present findings revealed that finfish aquaculture is more contaminated with the higher numbers and concentrations of antibiotics. The preliminary ecological and resistance risks assessment showed that the calculated risk quotients (RQs) were lower than one (RQs<1) for all the detected antibiotics in both aquaculture. Preliminary ecological and resistance risks assessment revealed that there were no adverse ecological and resistance risks, however, our study suggests that it is imperative to pay due attention to monitor the antibiotics contamination in rapid growing aquaculture sector of Bangladesh for the reduction of potential risks of antibiotics on aquatic organisms as well as human health.