Report: Antibiotic residues on plant tissues

Abstract

Antibiotics have been used to control plant diseases for over 50 years (McManus et al., 2002). The quantity of antibiotics used for crop protection is small relative to livestock production and potential human exposure from antibiotics used on plants is miniscule relative to therapeutic use by patients. Nonetheless, questions persist about the fate of these materials when applied in agricultural environments, the potential for human exposure to antibiotics, and the risk of selecting for antibiotic resistance in human pathogens. The discussion below highlights the research done on antibiotic residues on treated plant tissues.