Microplastics Aided Augmentation of Antibiotic Resistance in WWTPs: A Global Concern

Microplastics (MPs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment are the major subject of concern across the globe as they jeopardize not only aquatic life but human health as well. MPs are potentially competent to adsorb various micropollutants (heavy metals), bacterial communities, and biofilm formation which comply with the requirement of efficient sorption of antibiotics and transfer of ARGs. MPs adsorb antibiotics through physicochemical interactions, leading to the formation of biofilm-enriched bacteria on the surfaces of MPs that further enhances the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and facilitates their dispersal. Therefore, this review recapitulates the interactive forces responsible for antibiotics sorption on MPs and also the intricate relationship between MPs, antibiotics, and microbial hosts of ARGs. Furthermore, the role of the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), which serve as a formidable connecting link between MPs and the ecosystem, is discussed in relation to dissemination of antibiotics, ARGs, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) to get a clear perception of the contribution of WWTPs in drawing together MPs with antibiotics, ARB, and ARGs.