PJB-2026-50
Occurrence, plant uptake and root–shoot partitioning of antibiotic residues in rural vegetation of Pakistan
Abid Ali
Abstract
Antibiotic residues from anthropogenic sources can persist in agricultural environments and be taken up by plants. This study investigated antibiotic accumulation in three plant species Medicago sativa (alfalfa), Euphorbia hirta, and Amaranthus viridis growing in two contrasting rural areas of Punjab, Pakistan (Chountra and Sialkot). Plant tissues were analyzed by HPLC for six commonly used antibiotics. M. sativa exhibited the highest antibiotic residue levels (0.7–2.9 μg kg⁻¹ dry weight), followed by E. hirta (0.8–2.5 μg kg⁻¹), while A. viridis showed the lowest accumulation. Notable inter-species differences were observed: fluoroquinolone antibiotics (e.g. ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin) accumulated strongly in M. sativa (and were also detected in A. viridis), whereas doxycycline concentrations were elevated in M. sativa and E. hirta but relatively low in A. viridis. We also observed site differences with ciprofloxacin levels in M. sativa and E. hirta were significantly higher in Sialkot than in Chountra, yet overall antibiotic occurrences in plants were more frequent and at higher levels in Chountra. The Chountra site, characterized with irrigated wastewater showed a broader range of detectable antibiotics in vegetation, suggesting more severe or bioavailable contamination, whereas many analytes in Sialkot plants were below detection limits. These results suggest that the uptake of antibiotic residues is species and context specific to plants. Given the fact that M. sativa is a widespread livestock forage, its high antibiotic content, particularly at the Chountra site, suggests a possible soil plant animal route of antibiotics. We conclude imperative regular monitoring of the antibiotic residues in crops and wild vegetation in the wastewater irrigated or industrially impacted areas, to protect environmental and agricultural health.
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