The seasonal distribution and concentration of antibiotics in rural streams and drinking wells in the piedmont of North Carolina

The present study investigated 16 residential, rural well sites and respective nearby streams in the Piedmont of North Carolina over three different seasons to determine antibiotic presence and concentration. Fifteen antibiotics were detected in stream surface water, groundwater, and stream sediment compartments. Antibiotics detected representing penicillin, sulfonamide, macrolide, aminoglycoside, lincosamide, and quinolone groups. Sulfamethoxazole (SMX), sulfamerazine (SMR), danofloxacin (DAN), and erythromycin (ETM) were the most commonly detected among samples throughout the sampling period. Concentrations reported in the study ranged from 0 to 1740 ng/L in surface water and groundwater, and 0t378 μg/kg in stream sediment. There was a seasonal influence on antibiotic concentrations in each environmental compartment. Fall had the highest antibiotic concentrations for surface water and stream sediments overall, and groundwater concentrations were highest in the winter. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to assess the correlation between environmental variables. Antibiotic concentrations correlated with groundwater pH, surface water pH, and surface water temperature. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), used to display seasonal and environmental compartment data, demonstrated no discernible trend in the distribution of antibiotics over time. Human health risk assessments based on risk quotients (RQs). RQs from groundwater assessment shown no risk to children 6–11 years old, or adults 18 years old or older. Results from this study illustrate that the occurrence of antibiotics in streams and groundwater in the Piedmont of North Carolina is widespread and provide a basis for future studies investigating the occurrence of antibiotics in rural areas, especially where animal density is high. This work is important because it contributes to the paucity of information on antibiotic pollution in rural areas, and because it illustrates the importance of using a combined targeted and non-targeted approach to antibiotic pollution in streams and groundwater. [Display omitted] •First intensive investigation into antibiotic occurrence in rural North Carolina•15 human and veterinary antibiotics detected in rural streams and well water.•Seasonal influence to antibiotic distribution in rural areas•Risk assessment demonstrated no risk to adults and children (6–11 years old).•The veterinary drug Danofloxacin was consistently the highest reported antibiotic.