The Nexus of Plastic Pollution, Climate Change, and Antibiotic Resistance: An Interdisciplinary Study
International Journal of Development Research
The Nexus of Plastic Pollution, Climate Change, and Antibiotic Resistance: An Interdisciplinary Study
Received 29th November, 2024; Received in revised form 03rd December, 2024; Accepted 16th December, 2024; Published online 24th January, 2025
Copyright©2025, Dr. Sagam Dinesh Reddy. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Background: Plastic pollution, climate change, and antibiotic resistance (AR) are interconnected global crises. Microplastics provide substrates for biofilm formation, which fosters horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs). Climate change accelerates microbial activity, exacerbating ARG dissemination. Methods: The study integrated global datasets, statistical analysis, and laboratory experiments. Predictors, including temperature, plastic density, ARG prevalence, UV exposure, and antibiotic concentration, were analyzed for their impact on ARG dissemination. Results: Significant correlations (R² = 0.987, p < 0.05) were observed between temperature and ARG transfer rates. Laboratory experiments revealed a 40% increase in HGT at elevated temperatures (35°C). The model confirmed plastic density and ARG prevalence as strong predictors. Conclusions: Mitigating ARG dissemination requires integrated policies addressing plastic pollution, climate change, and antibiotic use regulation.
