Toxicity of Emerging Contaminant Antibiotics to Capsicum Annuum L. And the Effects on its Copper Accumulation from Soil

Abstract

This study used Capsicum annuum– a commonly consumed vegetable – as the research object in order to analyze the effects of emerging contaminant antibiotics, common contamination copper (Cu), and combined pollution with these compounds on crops. Two antibiotics i.e. terramycin and tetracycline (100 mg kg-1) (TC, OTC), copper sulfate solution (200 mg kg-1)(TCu) and their compounds (TCu+TC, TCu+OTC) were spiked in pot soil to analyze their effects on the physiological characteristics and Cu accumulation of Capsicum annuum. The purpose was to provide a scientific reference for planting vegetables and obtaining safe agricultural products. The results showed that compared to the contamination with Cu or antibiotics alone, complex pollution with TCu+TC, TCu+OTC significantly increased Cu and extractable Cu concentration in Capsicum annuum and soil. Moreover, it also caused significant reduction of biomass, SOD, CAT and APX activities, and GSH content in Capsicum annuum, while markedly increasing MDA content. The study demonstrated that the combined toxicity with Cu and antibiotics resulted in a synergistic effect of these compounds. The use of antibiotics should be avoided when Cu content in soil is high, because their addition increases Cu accumulation in Capsicum annuum.

Keywords: emerging contaminant antibiotics, Cu, combined pollution, Capsicum annuum, safe agricultural products