Understanding antibiotic residues and pathogens flow in wastewater from smallholder pig farms to agriculture fields in Ha Nam Province, Vietnam

Contact with livestock wastewater on farms and in communities can pose a risk to human and animal health. A research article published in Environmental Health Insights (Oct 2020) reports the findings a cross-sectional study conducted in 180 households and 24 smallholder pig farms in Vietnam to explore pig production, livestock waste management and antibiotic use, and analyse antibiotic residues and microbial contamination in wastewater from the farms.

The study found that livestock wastewater carried potential harmful pathogens and antibiotic residues that could come into contact with people in the community. To mitigate health risks, the wastewater should be appropriately treated through composting or production of biogas.