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Critically Speaking


Feb 19, 2020

Today, Therese Markow and Dr. Alison Franklin discuss the emerging field of agroecosystems and the information we currently have and are currently researching, regarding antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistant genes. Dr. Franklin also explains what happens to the antibiotics in the wastewater and in animal waste that is going out into the environment and the impact on the environment, and, potentially, on human health.

 

 Key Takeaways:

  • There are no standards in place for concentrations of antibiotic compounds in the treated water at the wastewater treatment plants.
  • Bacteria in soil serves many different crucial roles and help cycle nutrients that we need to grow anything.
  • The release of antibiotics and antibiotic resistant genes and bacteria into the soils can interfere with the important roles that soil bacteria play. 
  • This is an emerging field. We are still at the point of trying to understand what the resistant bacteria and antibiotic-resistant genes means for health and health risks.

 

"Essentially, if bacteria were not in the soil, the soil would not be functioning how it should be, we wouldn't be able to grow anything. And, especially with the nitrogen cycle, it wouldn't be happening when some of the crucial steps in the nitrogen cycle are within the soil." —  Dr. Alison Franklin

 

Connect with Dr. Alison Franklin:

LinkedIn: Alison Franklin

 

Connect with Therese:

Website:   www.criticallyspeaking.net

Twitter: @CritiSpeak

Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net

 

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