Antibiotics found in some of the world's rivers exceed 'safe' levels, global study finds

全球研究发现，抗生素在全球某些河流中的含量已超过‘安全’线

上海译锐翻译       2019-5-30        10:45 a.m. 

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Concentrations of antibiotics found in some of the world's rivers exceed 'safe' levels by up to 300 times, the first ever global study has discovered.

全球首个研究发现，全球某些河流中的抗生素浓度已超过‘安全’线，最高超标达到300倍

Researchers looked for 14 commonly used antibiotics in rivers in 72 countries across six continents and found antibiotics at 65% of the sites monitored.

研究人员在6大洲的72个国家的河流里发现了14种常见的抗生素。在所有被监控的地区中，发现抗生素的地区占65%。

Metronidazole, which is used to treat bacterial infections including skin and mouth infections, exceeded safe levels by the biggest margin, with concentrations at one site in Bangladesh 300 times greater than the 'safe' level.

甲硝锉-一种用来治疗包括皮肤和口腔细菌感染的抗生素超标最为严重，其在巴格达的浓度高出安全界限300倍。

In the River Thames and one of its tributaries in London, the researchers detected a maximum total antibiotic concentration of 233 nanograms per litre (ng/l), whereas in Bangladesh the concentration was 170 times higher.

在伦敦的泰晤士河和其中的一条支流里，研究人员发现抗生素总浓度达到最大值，为233毫微克/升（ng/l。在巴格达，浓度是这一数值的170倍。

The most prevalent antibiotic was trimethoprim, which was detected at 307 of the 711 sites tested and is primarily used to treat urinary tract infections.

最常见的抗生素是甲氧苄啶。在711个接受测试的区域中，有307个区域被检测出这种抗生素。这种抗生素主要用于治疗尿路感染。

The research team compared the monitoring data with 'safe' levels recently established by the AMR Industry Alliance which, depending on the antibiotic, range from 20-32,000 ng/l.

研究团队将所监测到的数据与AMR（抗生素耐药性）产业联盟最近所确定的‘安全’水平进行对比。AMR产业联盟所确定的安全性为20-32,000ng/l，具体取决于抗生素的类型。

Ciproflaxacin, which is used to treat a number of bacterial infections, was the compound that most frequently exceeded safe levels, surpassing the safety threshold in 51 places.

The team said that the 'safe' limits were most frequently exceeded in Asia and Africa, but sites in Europe, North America and South America also had levels of concern showing that antibiotic contamination was a "global problem."

环丙氟酸-一种用于治疗各种细菌感染的抗生素是最容易超标的成分，其在51个地方都超过了安全阈值。

Sites where antibiotics exceeded 'safe' levels by the greatest degree were in Bangladesh, Kenya, Ghana, Pakistan and Nigeria, while a site in Austria was ranked the highest of the European sites monitored.

抗生素超标程度最高的地方包括巴格达、肯尼亚、加纳、巴基斯坦和尼日利亚。奥地利是欧洲监控地区中超标最严重的国家。

The study revealed that high-risk sites were typically adjacent to wastewater treatment systems, waste or sewage dumps and in some areas of political turmoil, including the Israeli and Palestinian border.

研究表明，高风险地区通常临近污水处理厂、废弃物或污物垃圾场以及某些有政治动乱的地区，包括以色列和巴勒斯坦边界。

The project, which was led by the University of York, was a huge logistical challenge -- with 92 sampling kits flown out to partners across the world who were asked to take samples from locations along their local river system.

由纽约大学牵头的这一项目是一项巨大的挑战。92个采样箱被送到全球合作伙伴的手中。合作伙伴在收到采样箱后将从当地的河流中取样。

Samples were then frozen and couriered back to the University of York for testing. Some of the world's most iconic rivers were sampled, including the Chao Phraya, Danube, Mekong, Seine, Thames, Tiber and Tigris.

随后，样品被冷冻并被运回纽约大学接受测试。某些全球最具象征意义的河流也被采样。这些河流包括湄南河、多瑙河、湄公河、塞纳河、泰晤士河、第伯尔河和底格里斯河。

Dr John Wilkinson, from the Department of Environment and Geography, who co-ordinated the monitoring work said no other study had been done on this scale.

协同开展监控工作的环境和地理系的John Wilkinson博士表示，如此大规模的研究还是第一次。

He said: "Until now, the majority of environmental monitoring work for antibiotics has been done in Europe, N. America and China. Often on only a handful of antibiotics. We know very little about the scale of problem globally.

他说：“直到现在，绝大多数的抗生素环境监督工作已在欧洲、北美和中国完成且监督通常只针对少数抗生素。这一问题在全球范围的情况我们却知之甚少。”

"Our study helps fill this key knowledge gap with data being generated for countries that had never been monitored before."

“通过监测此前从未监测过的国家并收集相应的数据帮助我们填补了这项关键的知识空白。”

Professor Alistair Boxall, Theme Leader of the York Environmental Sustainability Institute, said: "The results are quite eye opening and worrying, demonstrating the widespread contamination of river systems around the world with antibiotic compounds.

Alistair Boxall教授，纽约环境可持续性研究院的主题领导者表示：“结果非常让人震惊并担心。结果显示，全球的河流普遍存在抗生素污染的情况。”

"Many scientists and policy makers now recognise the role of the natural environment in the antimicrobial resistance problem. Our data show that antibiotic contamination of rivers could be an important contributor."

“许多科学家和政策制定者现在也认识到自然环境在抵制抗生素问题方面的作用。我们的数据显示，被抗生素所污染的河流可能会发挥重要的贡献。”

"Solving the problem is going to be a mammoth challenge and will need investment in infrastructure for waste and wastewater treatment, tighter regulation and the cleaning up of already contaminated sites."

“解决问题将会是一个巨大的挑战并需要在废弃物和废水处理基础设施方面有所投入。同时，还需要更加严格的监管并对已经污染的地区进行整顿。”

The finds are due to be unveiled during two presentations at the annual meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) in Helsinki on 27 and 28 May.

研究结果将在环境毒理学和化学学会于5月27、28日在赫尔辛基召开的年度会议上在2场陈述中揭晓。

需要了解的词汇：

Mammoth：原意是指猛犸象，引申为巨大的、庞大的；

Clean up：治理、整顿；

By the biggest margin: 最大程度，最大幅度；

A handful of：少数、数量；

文章来源：科学日报   编辑：质控部Susan