Antibiotic　resistance　has　turned　into　a　focus　of　universal　public　health　concern.　Wastewater　treatment　plants　are　considered　as　reservoirs　of　antibiotic　resistant　bacteria　(ARB)　and　antibiotic　resistant　genes　(ARGs),　which　can　be　transmitted　to　the　environment.　In　this　research,　an　effective　method　for　inactivating　Escherichia　coli　DH5α　(E.　coli　DH5α)　carrying　resistance　genes　was　developed　utilizing　dual　oxidant　system　of　peroxymonosulfate　(PMS)　and　sodium　percarbonate　(SPC)　in　the　presence　of　ferrous　ions　(Fe(II)).　The　results　indicated　that　E.　coli　DH5α　could　be　inactivated　6.36　log　under　the　conditions　of　0.50　mM　PMS,　0.50　mM　SPC　and　0.50　mM　Fe(II)　after　30　min.　Besides,　the　removal　of　different　types　of　ARB　and　pollutants　could　also　be　achieved　by　Fe(II)/PMS/SPC　system.　The　quenching　experiments　and　EPR　analysis　demonstrated　that　reactive　species　(•OH,　SO4•−,　O2•−,　1O2　and　CO3•−)　involved　in　the　inactivation　of　E.　coli　DH5α.　Bacterial　damage　mechanisms　were　systematically　studied　in　terms　of　cell　structure　and　morphology,　enzyme　activity,　malondialdehyde　and　intracellular　reactive　oxygen　species　levels.　The　inactivation　of　E.　coli　DH5α　in　complex　water　matrix　(including　coexisting　of　anions　and　natural　organic　matter)　and　real　wastewater　was　inhibited.　The　abundance　of　intracellular　ARGs　decreased　by　1.15　log,　whereas　extracellular　ARGs　increased　by　0.32　log.　This　research　supplied　a　prospective　approach　for　inhibiting　the　dissemination　of　antibiotic　resistance.　©　2024　Elsevier　B.V.