Antibiotic residues as contaminants in agricultural soils

Publication date: 27/06/2025
Extent: 38 pages

Contributions by: Nikola Rakonjac, Wageningen University, The Netherlands1; Joost Lahr, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), The Netherlands; Sören Thiele-Bruhn, Trier University, Germany; Bjorn J. A. Berendsen, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands; Carlos A. Faúndez Urbina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile; and Coen J. Ritsema, Wageningen University, The Netherlands

Chapter synopsis:

Antibiotics, which are extensively used to treat or prevent microbial diseases in animals and humans, can pose significant environmental risks when they enter soil ecosystems. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the pathways through which antibiotics reach the soil, the processes that influence their fate within the soil, and the techniques and efforts used to predict their behavior and fate. It also offers insights from specific case studies and discusses future research directions to address environmental challenges. The findings emphasize the importance of understanding antibiotic interactions with soil components under specific environmental conditions. Finally, this chapter emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary approaches and collaborative efforts among scientists, policymakers, and agricultural practitioners to develop strategies for managing antibiotic residues in the environment and mitigating potential negative impacts.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2025.0151.08