Research progress on ARGs and heavy metal pollution in livestock and poultry products

Livestock and poultry products are important reservoirs for antibiotic resistance genes （ARGs）， which have become a new type of environmental pollutant. The ARGs contained in these products， together with heavy metal pollution， pose a severe threat to the ecological environment. Livestock and poultry products （LPPs） carrying ARGs can transmit antibiotic resistance to humans through production and food chains， potentially leading to treatment-resistant infections and endangering public health. Studies have found a significant correlation between heavy metal concentrations and the abundance of ARGs in livestock and poultry products， with heavy metal contamination promoting the transmission and spread of ARGs. The combined pollution of antibiotics and heavy metals raises the overall level of bacterial resistance in both livestock products and their farming environments， directly harming the ecological environment and human health. This paper reviews the research progress on ARGs and heavy metal pollution in livestock and poultry products， explores the mechanisms of interaction between ARGs and heavy metals， and provides a strategic framework for future research directions in this field.