Fluoroquinolones (FQs) in the environment: A review on their abundance, sorption and toxicity in soil

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 191; pp. 704 - 720
• Main Authors: Riaz, Luqman, Mahmood, Tariq, Khalid, Azeem, Rashid, Audil, Ahmed Siddique, Muhammad Bashir, Kamal, Atif, Coyne, Mark S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2018
• Subjects: Agriculture; Anti-Bacterial Agents - analysis; Anti-Bacterial Agents - metabolism; Anti-Infective Agents; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollution; Fluoroquinolone antibiotics; Fluoroquinolones - analysis; Manure; Soil; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Sorption; Toxicity; Waste Water; Sorption; Toxicity; Fluoroquinolone antibiotics
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.10.092

The use of fluoroquinolones (FQs) antibiotics as therapeutic agents and growth promoters is increasing worldwide; however their extensive uses are also resulting in antibiotic resistance among world communities. FQs have also become one of the major contaminants in the waste water bodies, which are not even completely removed during the treatment processes. Furthermore, their abundance in agricultural resources, such as the irrigation water, the bio-solids and the livestock manure can also affect the soil micro-environment. These antibiotics in soil tend to interact in several different ways to affect soil flora and fauna. The current review endeavors to highlight the some critical aspects of FQs prevalence in the environment. The review presents a detailed discussion on the pathways and abundance of FQs in soil. The discussion further spans the issue of sorption and FQs transformation into the soil better understand of their behavior and their toxicity to soil flora and fauna. [Display omitted] •Pathways of FQs and their spread in soil environment.•Better understanding of FQs behavior in different environmental matrixes and their sources.•Insight into the toxicity studies of FQs pertaining to both flora and fauna.