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<p>(1) Defra and the Environment Agency (EA) have been working with the water industry
to research the occurrence and transport of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics
through wastewater treatment works as part of the industry-funded Chemical Investigations
Programme. Investigations have been carried out at ten sites across the country to
understand how the different treatment processes and the presence of chemicals including
a range of pharmaceuticals affect the presence and prevalence of particular organisms
and resistance genes. The results are due to be published by UK Water Industry Research
in early 2023.</p><p>The EA has also been working with water companies on chemicals
investigations which have included a range of pharmaceuticals and personal care products
residues discharged from treated sewage effluent which might contribute to antimicrobial
resistance (AMR).</p><p>The EA has developed a Prioritisation and Early Warning System
(PEWS) for chemicals of emerging concern to ensure consideration of the potential
risks of emerging chemicals including to surface waters (both freshwater and saline
waters), groundwater and soils. The system allows the EA to sift and to screen any
chemical substance nominated using, where available, hazard data and environmental
monitoring data to prioritise whether a substance may be a possible chemical of concern
in England. The EA has included a number of pharmaceuticals and personal care products
as part of PEWS including, for example, diclofenac, ibuprofen and Benzophenone-3 (UV
filter). These three substances flagged as high risk in PEWS.</p><p>The EA also monitors
for a wide range of pharmaceuticals and substances used in personal care products
in the water environment using a semi-quantitative screening methodology. All the
substances mentioned above are included on this screening.</p><p>(2) The UK AMR National
Action Plan (NAP) (2019-24) commits to “support research to reduce evidence gaps and
improve our understanding of hazards and risks from AMR in the environment”. The Government
is not currently supporting research on the potential risks of non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals
and personal care product residues in terms of driving the evolution of AMR in the
environment and the risks they may pose to human health, but is exploring options
with funders on how best to undertake a One-Health approach to research into the drivers
of AMR in the environment and environmental transmission risks to human health. This
work will be built upon as an area of focus for research in the next five-year NAP
(2024-29).</p><p>The Government is funding a wide array of research into AMR, including
through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). As of September
2022, the NIHR was supporting 65 active research projects funded by NIHR programmes
on AMR, with a combined value of approximately £97 million. The NIHR welcomes funding
applications for research into any aspect of human health, including risk factors
for AMR.</p>
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