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The synergetic effects of metal(loid)s and soil characteristics on bacterial antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) has been relatively understudied. Surface soil samples from six GSIs in Southern California over three time periods were assessed for selected ARGs, class 1 integron-integrase genes (intI1), 16S rRNA genes, and bioavailable and total concentrations of nine metal(loid)s, to investigate the relationships among ARGs, soil characteristics, and co-occurring metal(loid)s. Significant correlations existed among relative gene abundances (sul1, sul2, tetW, and intI1), total metal(loid)s (arsenic, copper, lead, vanadium, and zinc), and bioavailable metal(loid) (arsenic) (r = 0.29-0.61, padj < 0.05). Additionally, soil texture, organic matter, and nutrients within GSI appeared to be significantly correlated with relative gene abundances of sul1, sul2, and tetW (r = -0.57 to 0.59, padj < 0.05). Multiple regression models significantly improved the estimation of ARGs in GSI when considering multiple effects of soil characteristics and metal(loid)s (r = 0.74, padj < 0.001) compared to correlation results. Total arsenic was a significant (positive) correlate in all the regression models of relative gene abundances. This work provides new insights into co-dependencies between GSI ARGs and co-occurring metal(loid)s, indicating the need for risk assessment of metal(loid)-influenced ARG proliferation.

This Letter reports on the first results from the Taiwan Axion Search Experiment with Haloscope, a search for axions using a microwave cavity at frequencies between 4.70750 and 4.79815 GHz. Apart from the non-axion signals, no candidates with a significance more than 3.355 were found. The experiment excludes models with the axion-two-photon coupling $\left|g_{a\gamma\gamma}\right|\gtrsim 8.2\times 10^{-14}$ GeV$^{-1}$, a factor of eleven above the benchmark KSVZ model, reaching a sensitivity three orders of magnitude better than any existing limits in the mass range 19.4687 < $m_a$ < 19.8436 $\mu$eV. It is also the first time that a haloscope-type experiment places constraints on $g_{a\gamma\gamma}$ in this mass region., Comment: arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:2204.14265

This paper presents the analysis of the data acquired during the first physics run of the Taiwan Axion Search Experiment with Haloscope (TASEH), a search for axions using a microwave cavity at frequencies between 4.70750 and 4.79815 GHz. The data were collected from October 13, 2021 to November 15, 2021, and are referred to as the CD102 data. The analysis of the TASEH CD102 data excludes models with the axion-two-photon coupling $|g_{a\gamma\gamma}| \gtrsim 8.2\times 10^{-14}$ GeV$^{-1}$, a factor of eleven above the benchmark KSVZ model for the mass range 19.4687 < ma < 19.8436 $\mu$eV., Comment: Submitted to Physical Review D

The widespread occurrence of antibiotic resistance and heavy metal are critical public health issues, posing global threats to human health. Antibiotics have been widely used in medical settings and in agriculture as growth promoters in livestock. A large fraction of antibiotics are excreted unchanged and can create selective environments for the emergence and proliferation of antibiotic resistance in receiving environmental compartments such as agricultural soils. Heavy metals, known as notable environmental stressors, promote the proliferation of antibiotic resistance by exerting co-selective pressure. More research is needed to manage both issues and to address the gap in the literature that exists with respect to their synergism. Through both field and laboratory microcosm research, the present study aims to investigate the prevalence, fate, co-occurrence, and interactions of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and metal(loid)s in urban and agricultural soils.Los Angeles has a long history of lead (Pb) contamination due to automobile emissions, industrial processes, and Pb-containing paint. Although the amount of Pb coming from these sources has been significantly reduced, the legacy of Pb in Los Angeles continues to affect soil Pb concentrations in public parks. These concentrations were shown to be high, with 47 parks having one or more samples exceeding the California EPA guideline of 80 ppm. According to EPA LeadSpread model, soil Pb levels of 80–320 ppm can lead to an estimated increase of blood Pb level from 1 to 4 ug/dL. This study provides information that can be used to guide remediation decisions for authorities and for the construction of Pb-safe environments.While bioretention systems (biofilters) have been widely and effectively used to capture chemical pollutants from surface runoff, the effect of biofilters on both heavy metals and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) has been relatively understudied. A comprehensive survey of seasonal and regional A

The widespread occurrence of antibiotic resistance and heavy metal are critical public health issues, posing global threats to human health. Antibiotics have been widely used in medical settings and in agriculture as growth promoters in livestock. A large fraction of antibiotics are excreted unchanged and can create selective environments for the emergence and proliferation of antibiotic resistance in receiving environmental compartments such as agricultural soils. Heavy metals, known as notable environmental stressors, promote the proliferation of antibiotic resistance by exerting co-selective pressure. More research is needed to manage both issues and to address the gap in the literature that exists with respect to their synergism. Through both field and laboratory microcosm research, the present study aims to investigate the prevalence, fate, co-occurrence, and interactions of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and metal(loid)s in urban and agricultural soils.Los Angeles has a long history of lead (Pb) contamination due to automobile emissions, industrial processes, and Pb-containing paint. Although the amount of Pb coming from these sources has been significantly reduced, the legacy of Pb in Los Angeles continues to affect soil Pb concentrations in public parks. These concentrations were shown to be high, with 47 parks having one or more samples exceeding the California EPA guideline of 80 ppm. According to EPA LeadSpread model, soil Pb levels of 80–320 ppm can lead to an estimated increase of blood Pb level from 1 to 4 ug/dL. This study provides information that can be used to guide remediation decisions for authorities and for the construction of Pb-safe environments.While bioretention systems (biofilters) have been widely and effectively used to capture chemical pollutants from surface runoff, the effect of biofilters on both heavy metals and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) has been relatively understudied. A comprehensive survey of seasonal and regional A

In urban areas, untreated stormwater runoff can pollute downstream surface waters. To intercept and treat runoff, low-impact or "green infrastructure" approaches such as using biofilters are adopted. Yet, actual biofilter pollutant removal is poorly understood; removal is often studied in laboratory columns, with variable removal of viable and culturable microbial cell numbers including pathogens. Here, to assess bacterial pollutant removal in full-scale planted biofilters, stormwater was applied, unspiked or spiked with untreated sewage, in simulated storm events under transient flow conditions, during which biofilter influents versus effluents were compared. Based on microbial biomass, sequences of bacterial community genes encoding 16S rRNA, and gene copies of the human fecal marker HF183 and of the Enterococcus spp. marker Entero1A, removal of bacterial pollutants in biofilters was limited. Dominant bacterial taxa were similar for influent versus effluent aqueous samples within each inflow treatment of either spiked or unspiked stormwater. Bacterial pollutants in soil were gradually washed out, albeit incompletely, during simulated storm flushing events. In post-storm biofilter soil cores, retained influent bacteria were concentrated in the top layers (0-10 cm), indicating that the removal of bacterial pollutants was spatially limited to surface soils. To the extent that plant-associated processes are responsible for this spatial pattern, treatment performance might be enhanced by biofilter designs that maximize influent contact with the rhizosphere.

The dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment contributes to the global rise in antibiotic resistant infections. Therefore, it is of importance to further research the exposure pathways of these emerging contaminants to humans. This study explores commercially available garden products containing animal manure as a source of ARGs in a survey of 34 garden products, 3 recently landscaped soils, and 5 native soils. DNA was extracted from these soils and quantified for 5 ARGs, intI1, and 16S rRNA. This study found that both absolute and relative gene abundances in garden products ranged from approximately two to greater than four orders of magnitude higher than those observed in native soils. Garden products with Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) certification did not have significantly different ARG abundances. Results here indicate that garden products are important sources of ARGs to gardens, lawns, and parks.

The dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment contributes to the global rise in antibiotic resistant infections. Therefore, it is of importance to further research the exposure pathways of these emerging contaminants to humans. This study explores commercially available garden products containing animal manure as a source of ARGs in a survey of 34 garden products, 3 recently landscaped soils, and 5 native soils. DNA was extracted from these soils and quantified for 5 ARGs, intI1, and 16S rRNA. This study found that both absolute and relative gene abundances in garden products ranged from approximately two to greater than four orders of magnitude higher than those observed in native soils. Garden products with Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) certification did not have significantly different ARG abundances. Results here indicate that garden products are important sources of ARGs to gardens, lawns, and parks.

In urban areas, untreated stormwater runoff can pollute downstream surface waters. To intercept and treat runoff, low-impact or "green infrastructure" approaches such as using biofilters are adopted. Yet, actual biofilter pollutant removal is poorly understood; removal is often studied in laboratory columns, with variable removal of viable and culturable microbial cell numbers including pathogens. Here, to assess bacterial pollutant removal in full-scale planted biofilters, stormwater was applied, unspiked or spiked with untreated sewage, in simulated storm events under transient flow conditions, during which biofilter influents versus effluents were compared. Based on microbial biomass, sequences of bacterial community genes encoding 16S rRNA, and gene copies of the human fecal marker HF183 and of the Enterococcus spp. marker Entero1A, removal of bacterial pollutants in biofilters was limited. Dominant bacterial taxa were similar for influent versus effluent aqueous samples within each inflow treatment of either spiked or unspiked stormwater. Bacterial pollutants in soil were gradually washed out, albeit incompletely, during simulated storm flushing events. In post-storm biofilter soil cores, retained influent bacteria were concentrated in the top layers (0-10 cm), indicating that the removal of bacterial pollutants was spatially limited to surface soils. To the extent that plant-associated processes are responsible for this spatial pattern, treatment performance might be enhanced by biofilter designs that maximize influent contact with the rhizosphere.