Antibiotic-resistant superbug warning as UK waters polluted with cocktail of filth
The abundance of genes, bacteria, drugs and pesticides have led scientists to warn that a superbug, that is resistant to antibiotics could potentially develop in UK
Scientists have warned the abundance of drugs, pesticides, harmful bacteria and genetic material in UK waters has the potential to create superbugs resistant to antibiotics.
The results were found in a study conducted by Watershed investigations, alongside York University and Surfer Against Sewage, to assess hundreds of samples that people collected across UK rivers over the summer.
Shockingly, the study found more than half the sites had E.coli levels above the US safety threshold.
READ MORE: READ MORE: Huge Artic blast on its way to UK with 566-mile polar weather wall –this is when it will hit
In almost all the waters tested genes were detected that if recruited by harmful bacteria or viruses could develop into superbugs resistant to antibiotics.
The number of antibiotic-resistant infections increased from 62,314 in 2019 to 66,730 last year; most of these were caused by E. coli.
Professor Alistair Boxall, at the University of York, has warned of the serious consequences of the pollutants in UK rivers could have.
“If the resistance genes are acquired by the pathogens, it will make those infections less treatable,” he elaborated. “The worst-case scenario is where you have antibiotic resistance genes, pathogens and chemical pollutants mixed together.”
Professor Boxall continued: “The concentration of chemicals are… unlikely to cause health impacts in the short term. Some chemicals are known to cause impacts in longer terms from prolonged exposure, which is more concerning. Many of the chemical pollutants occur all the time in river water even when bacterial levels are low.”
The Chief Executive of Surfers Against Sewage, Giles Bristow, claimed that the true impact of the “slurry” of pollutants was still being revealed.
Bristow aimed responsibility for the state of UK waters at the government and said, “Yet the government is allowing them to swamp the wild waters where we surf, swim and where fragile ecosystems are at the brink of collapse.”
A government official has commented: “Too many of our popular swimming spots” were polluted. The official did add that the government was consulting on reforms on bathing water regulations.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.
