This year-long research analyzed emerging risks in influent, effluent wastewaters and biosolids from six wastewater treatment plants in Spain’s Valencian Region. Specifically, it focused on human enteric and respiratory viruses, bacterial and viral faecal contamination indicators, extended-spectrum beta-lactamases-producing Escherichia coli, and antibiotic-resistance genes. Additionally, particles and microplastics in biosolid and wastewater samples were assessed. Human enteric viruses were prevalent in influent wastewater, with limited post-treatment reduction. Wastewater treatment effectively eliminated respiratory viruses, except for low levels of SARS-CoV-2 in effluent and biosolid samples, suggesting minimal public health risk. Antibiotic resistance genes and microplastics were persistently found in effluent and biosolids, thus indicating treatment inefficiencies and potential environmental dissemination. This multifaced research sheds light on diverse contaminants present after water reclamation, emphasizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health in wastewater management. It underscores the need for a One Health approach to address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

这项为期一年的研究分析了西班牙巴伦西亚地区六个废水处理厂的进水、出水废水和生物固体的新风险。具体来说，它重点关注人类肠道和呼吸道病毒、细菌和病毒粪便污染指标、产生广谱β-内酰胺酶的大肠杆菌和抗生素抗性基因。此外，还评估了生物固体和废水样品中的颗粒和微塑料。人类肠道病毒在进水废水中普遍存在，经过处理后减少的程度有限。废水处理有效消除了呼吸道病毒，但废水和生物固体样本中 SARS-CoV-2 含量较低，这表明公共健康风险极小。在废水和生物固体中持续发现抗生素抗性基因和微塑料，从而表明处理效率低下和潜在的环境传播。这项多方面的研究揭示了水回收后存在的多种污染物，强调了废水管理中人类、动物和环境健康的相互关联性。它强调需要采取“同一个健康”方法来实现联合国可持续发展目标。