Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) as emerging pollutants

The challenging issue of environmental contamination and ecological poisoning by antibiotics is of increasing global concern. The fact is that antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) could be introduced as the result of the long-term overuse of antibiotics both in aquaculture and livestock husbandry. Feces from these animals which contain ARGs could become potential sources of ARGs in the environment. Furthermore,transport of ARGs in the environment potentially endangers the safety of food,drinking water and public health. The potential occurrence,sources,exposure pathways and transport of ARGs as well as the research progress in examining these emerging environmental pollutants are discussed. Considering that antibiotics are more frequently used in China than in any other country,it is urgently recommended that a systematic research proposal on the environmental pollution of ARGs should be carried out on a national level in China.