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Review | Sustainable Environmental Insight | Volume 3 - Issue 1 - 2026 | 1-16 | https://doi.org/10.53623/sein.v3i1.840
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The Current Status and Potential Technologies for Treating Antibiotic Pollution in the Aquatic Environment in Vietnam

Author(s): Tran Van An
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Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam

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Sustainable Environmental Insight

Volume 3 - Issue 1 - 2026

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This study investigated the occurrence of antibiotic contamination in aquatic environments in Vietnam and proposed potential treatment technologies. Major sources of antibiotic release included urban domestic activities, livestock production, aquaculture, healthcare facilities, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. A wide range of antibiotics was detected at elevated concentrations in rivers, lakes, and canals, with the most frequently reported groups being sulfonamides, macrolides, quinolones, and tetracyclines, at levels ranging from several ng/l to thousands of ng/l. The paper critically reviewed existing treatment technologies, encompassing biological approaches such as activated sludge, biofilm reactors, and constructed wetlands; physical approaches including adsorption and membrane filtration; and chemical approaches such as Fenton oxidation, ozonation, and photocatalysis, with emphasis on their respective advantages and limitations. To address the specific conditions of Vietnam, a three-module integrated treatment model was proposed, consisting of activated sludge for organic matter degradation, activated carbon adsorption columns for antibiotic removal, and constructed wetlands for residual polishing. This integrated system was expected to provide high removal efficiency, low operational costs, and environmental sustainability. The findings offered a scientific basis for controlling antibiotic pollution, mitigating the risks of antimicrobial resistance, and protecting aquatic ecosystems.

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SUBMITTED: 24 September 2025
ACCEPTED: 30 October 2025
PUBLISHED: 4 November 2025
SUBMITTED to ACCEPTED: 36 days
DOI: https://doi.org/10.53623/sein.v3i1.840

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An, T. V. (2025). The Current Status and Potential Technologies for Treating Antibiotic Pollution in the Aquatic Environment in Vietnam. Sustainable Environmental Insight, 3(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.53623/sein.v3i1.840
Keywords
Antibiotic pollution in Vietnam aquatic environment potential technologies wastewater treatment
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