This paper is the result of hydrogeological survey engineering.

Objective Antibiotics are widely used in agriculture, livestock and poultry breeding and human health care fields, and the entry of residual antibiotics into the water environment will pose a potential threat to human health and ecosystems. With the frequent detection of antibiotics in groundwater, the pollution problem cannot be ignored.

Methods Based on literature research, analysis and summary, this paper systematically introduces the research status of antibiotics in groundwater from sources, spatial and temporal distribution characteristics, environmental risks and treatment technologies, and analyzes the future development trend.

Results Sulfonamides, tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones and macrolides were the most frequently detected antibiotics in groundwater. Relevant studies are mainly concentrated in Europe, North America and Asia, while in China they are concentrated in North China and Southwest China. The research degree in other regions is relatively low, and the spatial and temporal distribution is affected by factors such as aquifer media, groundwater types and seasonal changes. Groundwater containing antibiotics has ecological risks, health risks and agricultural risks, and the risks are relatively controllable. Adsorption, chemical oxidation, membrane separation, microbial degradation, phytoremediation and enzyme-catalyzed degradation are the commonly used methods for the treatment of antibiotic-containing groundwater.

Conclusions The research on antibiotic-containing groundwater has achieved a lot, but it is still in the initial stage. Given the potential biological activity of antibiotics and the unknown impact on the groundwater environment, the related research work will continue to increase. Optimization of qualitative and quantitative detection methods, comprehensive investigation of antibiotics in groundwater and scientific evaluation of the relationship between antibiotic forms and ecotoxicological effects are the future focus of antibiotic research in groundwater.