Presence of antibiotic resistance genes in the receiving environment of Iqaluit’s wastewater treatment plant in water, sediment, and clams sampled from Frobisher Bay, Nunavut: a preliminary study in the Canadian Arctic

Antibiotic resistance (AR) is a growing health concern worldwide, and the Arctic represents an understudied region in terms of AR. This study aimed to quantify AR genes from effluent released wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada, thus creating baseline reference for future evaluations. Water, sediment, truncate softshell clam (Mya truncata) tissue samples were compared wastewater, receiving environment Frobisher Bay, nearby undisturbed freshwaters. The pharmaceuticals personal care products (PPCPs) atenolol, carbamazepine, metoprolol, naproxen, sulfapyridine, trimethoprim found but PPCPs undetectable environment. However, relative abundances ARGs significantly higher than or sites. Abundances did not differ Bay clams near WWTP had similar as those pristine areas. lack ARG detection likely due tides flushing inputs levels below detection. These data suggest that infrastructure does influence based on measured parameters; more importantly, further research must elucidate impact fate communities.