ECF Paper 42/2008-2009

For Discussion

Project 11/2008 – Antibiotics and antibiotic resistant genes in potable water and soil
environments of Hong Kong

Project Number 11/2008

Project Title Antibiotics and antibiotic resistant genes in potable water
and soil environments of Hong Kong

Principal Investigator (PI) Dr. Kelvin Sze-Yin LEUNG, Department of Chemistry,

Sino-Forest Applied Research Centre for Pearl River Delta
Environment, Hong Kong Baptist University

Project summary The project aims to ensure the safety use of Hong Kong
potable water in relation to antibiotics and antibiotic
resistant genes. In order to determine the concentrations
of selected antibiotics, samples would be collected at
various locations in the upper East River above the
pumping of water to Hong Kong, in the water before and
after the treatment in Muk Wu Water Treatment Plant and
water from households in Hong Kong.

Project Duration 12 months

Proposed Budget The total budget is $362,640, comprising the following
items:

Manpower – 1 SRA and 1 RA $197,640

Sampling – field trips $30,000
Chemicals, reagents, DNA $110,000
extraction, antibiotics standards,
PCR analysis, glassware
General consumables for HPLC $25,000
analysis

Assessments/Remarks Water Supplies Department (WSD), Department of Health

(DH) and the Research Fund Secretariat of the Food and
Health Bureau (FHB) were consulted. WSD has
reservation in supporting the project. DH supports the
proposal and Research Fund Secretariat of FHB agrees that
the proposal falls within the funding scope of the Research
Fund for the Control of Infectious Diseases (RFCID).

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 ECF Paper 42/2008-2009
For Discussion

WSD points out domestic wastewater and treated sewage

effluent are usually the major sources of antibiotic residues.
The antibiotic residues will experience a substantial
dilution in sewage treatment plant and then discharged to
the sea to extremely trace levels. With stringent pollution
control in place within the water gathering grounds (WGG)
in Hong Kong, the risk of their possible contamination to
streamcourses within the WGG is extremely remote. At
present, there is no sufficient scientific evidence linking
adverse human health effect with exposure to trace levels of
antibiotic residues in drinking water. Besides, there have
already been similar oversea studies on the detection of
antibiotic resistant bacteria and their resistance genes in
drinking water. Hence, the project may not carry any
practical values in Hong Kong. The outcome of the
project would not be directly applicable to the monitoring
of drinking water quality in Hong Kong.

DH, on the other hand, supports the proposal. Although it

is not clear whether antibiotic resistant genes originating
from animals are significant factor in human infection, it
would be useful to collect data on the presence of
antibiotics in potable water and study the ecological and
subsequent human consequences.

In view of DH’s comments, the Secretariat consulted the

Research Fund Secretariat of the FHB and was advised that
the proposal apparently falls within the funding scope of
RFCID. The Secretariat has subsequently advised the PI
on the views of the FHB.

As the implications of the project proposal is on health

instead of the environment, Members are invited to advise
whether the application should continuously be processed
under the ECF or the PI be advised to seek alternative
funding support from RFCID.

Secretariat, ECF Research Projects Vetting Subcommittee

December 2008