Overview

Antibiotics are widespread and persistent contaminants in aquatic environments. They occur in urban water cycles (in surface, groundwater, drinking and waste waters) and in association with intensive animal rearing. Typically between 30–90% of the active compound gets excreted.

Globally, two-thirds of antibiotics produced are used on animals. With increased worldwide usage of antibiotics there is a growing risk of new drug-resistant microorganisms evolving when they interact with bacteria present in the water. This can lead to formation of so-called ‘superbugs’ and is currently of serious health concern.

Antibiotics and their metabolites are also under scrutiny over their wider ecological impact and interaction with water treatment systems. Consequently the need for stricter regulation of antibiotics in the environment is under review. The European Commission has recently included antibiotics on the updated Watch List under the Water Framework Directive and the UK Water Utility companies have an active Chemicals Investigation Programme to quantify the environmental inputs of selected antibiotics from wastewater outfalls across the UK.

The workshop will address the impact and fate of antibiotics in aquatic systems, mechanisms involved in the selection for antimicrobial resistance and implications for water treatment.

Time

09:50—16:00

Agenda

09:50—10:20
Registration and refreshments (Fish Room)

Morning session

10:20—13:00 (Science Conference Room)

10:20—10:30
Welcome and information for the day. Opening Remarks.
WSF Committee.

10:30—11:00
“Pharmaceutical contaminants in the aquatic environment: Perspectives on occurrence and implications on a global scale.”
Dr John Wilkinson, University of York Department of Environment & Geography.

11:00—11:30
“AMR in the environment and its relevance to environmental regulators.”
Dr Andrew Singer, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford.

11:30—12:00
“Considering the environmental dimension of antibiotic resistance using an integrated theoretical framework.”
Prof William Gaze, University of Exeter Medical School.

12:00—12:30
“Predicting selective windows in wastewater treatment plants: effect of plasmid transfer versus antibiotic concentration.”
Dr Jan-Ulrich Kreft, University of Birmingham School of Biosciences.

12:30—13:00
“Antibiotics in the environment and their stereochemistry: from molecules to the catchment perspective.”
Dr Barbara Kasprzyk-Hordern, Dept of Chemistry, University of Bath.

13:00—13:55 Buffet Lunch (Fish Room)

Afternoon Session

14:00—16:00 (Science Conference Room)

14:00—14:30
“Antimicrobial resistant bacteria in the drinking water: chlorine tolerance, stress and its selection.”
Dr Charles Knapp, University of Strathclyde.

14:30—14:50
“Prevalence and removal of selected antibiotics through conventional wastewater treatment processes.”
Mark Craig, Severn Trent Water Ltd, Coventry.

14:50—15:00
“Antibiotics - a view from the Environment Agency.”
Mark Sinton, Environment Agency, Wallingford.

15:00—15:30
“Antimicrobial resistance: Are wastewater treatment plants a problem or a solution?"
Prof David Graham, Newcastle University School of Engineering.

15:30—16:00
Final discussion.

Tea/Coffee Available (Fish Room)

16:00
Close.

Cost

• Non-Member Rate (inc. VAT)
  Early Bird - book by 11 October: £155
  Standard - book by 8 November: £185
  
  
• Non-Member Student Rate (inc. VAT)
  Early Bird - book by 11 October: £70
  Standard - book by 8 November: £85
  
  
• IChemE, RSC & SCI member rate (inc. VAT)
  Early Bird - book by 11 October: £105
  Standard - book by 8 November: £145
  
  
• Student/retired member rate (inc. VAT)
  Early Bird - book by 11 October: £55
  Standard - book by 8 November: £70

More information is available on the flyer >>