An extensive research effort led by Italian scientists has revealed that genes associated with antibiotic resistance have spread throughout ocean waters worldwide, reaching even the most isolated marine environments, according to results announced Monday.
The SeA Care research initiative discovered these resistance genes across various ocean regions including the Mediterranean, Atlantic, Arctic and other waters, with the highest levels found near major shipping lanes and heavily populated coastlines.
According to the research team, these findings indicate that the world’s oceans function as a massive storage and transport system for contamination from terrestrial sources, moving genetic markers of antibiotic use and municipal waste far from where they originated.
The researchers noted that this process could potentially help these resistance genes reach isolated populations around the globe.
The research, unveiled Monday during a conference on marine and human health in Rome organized by Italy’s National Health Institute (ISS), also identified microplastics, PFAS “forever chemicals” and genetic remnants of SARS-CoV-2 in both open ocean areas and distant regions.
“Protecting human health today inevitably means taking care of the seas and oceans,” ISS Director General Andrea Piccioli said, adding that pollutants released into the environment are redistributed globally through water, food and climate systems.
SeA Care represents an Italian-spearheaded program connecting environmental and human wellness concerns. The effort combines resources from organizations including ISS, the Italian Navy and international research facilities to establish a worldwide ocean surveillance network.
The initiative utilizes established naval pathways and scientific partnerships to gather samples during standard operations, cutting expenses and environmental consequences.
During its initial three-year period, researchers collected more than 4,000 ocean water samples from over 140 locations spanning the Mediterranean, Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic and Indian oceans.
Researchers indicate the program shows how ocean systems can function as an advance alert mechanism for worldwide health dangers, informing policies designed to address contamination, climate change and developing risks to public health.
