1
|
Feng Z, Zhu N, Wu H, Li M, Chen J, Yuan X, Li J, Wang Y. Microplastic coupled with soil dissolved organic matter mediated changes in the soil chemical and microbial characteristics. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 359:142361. [PMID: 38761827 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
The abundance of microplastics (MPs) in soil environments has attracted significant attentions, due to their impact on soil physico-chemical properties. However, limited information is available on the influences of MPs on soil carbon composition and microbial utilization characteristics. Therefore, a two-month incubation experiment was conducted to add polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) with different levels (1%, 10%) and sizes (150-300 μm and 75-150 μm) into different soils. After that, soil chemical properties including the dissolved organic carbon (DOC), spectral characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and soil microbial characteristics were analyzed. Results revealed that PE-MPs addition caused significant differences in soil chemical properties between farmland and woodland soils, particularly in soil pH, DOM composition, and soil phosphatase activity. Woodland soil always exhibited higher levels of DOC content, microbial diversity, and soil carbon source utilization compared to farmland soil, leading to increased humification in the DOM of woodland soil. PE-MPs with a larger particle size significantly increased both the soil DOC content and enzyme activity. Addition of PE-MPs altered the soil DOM composition, and the fluorescence parameters like the biological index (BIX) and humification degree. Moreover, the carbon source utilization intensity of microorganisms on PE MPs-contaminated soils is higher in woodland soils. Various analyses confirmed that compared to other soil properties, characteristics of soil DOM had a more significant impact on soil microbial community composition. Thus, PE-MPs in conjunction with soil DOM spectral characteristics regulated soil microbial diversity, which is crucial for understanding soil carbon sequestration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwang Feng
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Ningyuan Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Hanzhou Wu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Ming Li
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Management and Pollution Control, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Nanjing, 210042, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Xuyin Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Jizhou Li
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Yimin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hu X, Wang S, Feng R, Hu K. Natural organic small molecules promote the aging of plastic wastes and refractory carbon decomposition in water. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 469:134043. [PMID: 38492386 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics and nanoplastics are ubiquitous in rivers and undergo environmental aging. However, the molecular mechanisms of plastic aging and the in-depth effects of aging on ecological functions remain unclear in waters. The synergies of microplastics and nanoplastics (polystyrene as an example) with natural organic small molecules (e.g., natural hyaluronic acid and vitamin C related to biological tissue decomposition) are the key to producing radicals (•OH and •C). The radicals promote the formation of bubbles on plastic surfaces and generate derivatives of plastics such as monomer and dimer styrene. Nanoplastics are easier to age than microplastics. Pristine plastics inhibit the microbial Shannon diversity index and evenness, but the opposite results are observed for aging plastics. Pristine plastics curb pectin decomposition (an indicator of plant-originated refractory carbon), but aging plastics promote pectin decomposition. Microplastics and nanoplastics undergoing aging processes enhance the carbon biogeochemical cycle. For example, the increased carbohydrate active enzyme diversity, especially the related glycoside hydrolase and functional species Pseudomonas and Clostridium, contributes to refractory carbon decomposition. Different from the well-studied toxicity and aging of plastic pollutants, this study connects plastic pollutants with biological tissue decomposition, biodiversity and climate change together in rivers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiangang Hu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education)/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
| | - Shuting Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education)/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Ruihong Feng
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education)/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Kai Hu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education)/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhao W, Jiang J, Liu M, Tu T, Wang L, Zhang S. Exploring correlations between microplastics, microorganisms, and water quality in an urban drinking water source. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 275:116249. [PMID: 38522286 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
The microplastic pollution in freshwater system is gradually becoming more severe, which has led to increasing attention on the distribution and potential harmful effects of microplastics. Moreover, microplastics may have an impact on river ecology and pose risks to ecosystems. Therefore, it is important to reveal this process. This study aimed to explore correlations between microplastics and free-living microorganisms in an urban drinking water source of Xiangjiang River by using multivariate statistical analysis. The results indicated that the abundance of microplastics (size 50 μm to 5 mm) in surface water and sediments ranged from 0.72 to 18.6 (mean ± SD: 7.32 ± 2.36) items L-1 and 26.3-302 (150 ± 75.6) items kg-1 dry weight (dw), respectively, suggesting potential microplastic pollution despite the protected status as a drinking water source. Higher microplastic abundances were observed in urban areas and the downstream of wastewater plants, with mostly granular shape, transparent and black color as well as 50-100 μm in size. The multivariate statistical analysis presented that the abundance of microplastics is not significantly correlated with water indicators, due to the complexity of the abundance data. The water indicators showed an obvious correlation with microplastics in colors of transparent and black, and smaller sizes of 50-100 μm. This is also true for microplastics and microorganisms in water and sediment. Proteobacteria was the main prokaryote in water and sediments, being positively correlated with 50-100 μm microplastics; while Chloroplastida was the dominated eukaryotes, presenting a weak correlation with smaller-size microplastics. Overall, when considering the properties of microplastics such as shape, color and size, the potential correlations with water indicators and microorganisms were more evident than abundance. This study provides new insights into the multivariate statistical analysis, explaining the potential correlations among microplastic properties, microorganisms and environmental factors in a river system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenyu Zhao
- School of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, China; Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, Changsha 410004, China.
| | - Jinfeng Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Mengyue Liu
- School of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, China
| | - Tianzi Tu
- School of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, China.
| | - Lijun Wang
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Shengwei Zhang
- School of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, China; State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Liu L, Yang X, Ellam RM, Li Q, Feng D, Song Z, Tang J. Evidence that co-existing cadmium and microplastics have an antagonistic effect on greenhouse gas emissions from paddy field soils. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 467:133696. [PMID: 38341889 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Accumulation of microplastics (MPs) and cadmium (Cd) are ubiquitous in paddy soil. However, the combined effects of MPs and Cd on physiochemical and microbial mechanisms in soils and the attendant implications for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, remain largely unknown. Here, we evaluated the influence of polylactic acid (PLA) and polyethylene (PE) MPs on GHG emissions from Cd-contaminated paddy soil using a microcosm experiment under waterlogged and drained conditions. The results showed that PLA significantly increased CH4 and N2O emission fluxes and hence the global warming potential (GWP) of waterlogged soil. Soils treated with MPs+Cd showed significantly reduced GWP compared to those treated only with MPs suggesting that, irrespective of attendant consequences, Cd could alleviate N2O emissions in the presence of MPs. Conversely, the presence of MPs in Cd-contaminated soils tended to alleviate the bioavailability of Cd. Based on a structural equation model analysis, both the MPs-derived dissolved organic matter and the soil bioavailable Cd affected indirectly on soil GHG emissions through their direct influencing on microbial abundance (e.g., Firmicutes, Nitrospirota bacteria). These findings provide new insights into the assessment of GHG emissions and soil/cereal security in response to MPs and Cd coexistence that behaved antagonistically with respect to adverse ecological effects in paddy systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Linan Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Xinzuo Yang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Rob M Ellam
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Qiang Li
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Di Feng
- Shandong Facility Horticulture Bioengineering Research Center/Weifang University of Science and Technology, Weifang 262700, Shandong, China
| | - Zhaoliang Song
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, School of Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Jingchun Tang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Luo Y, He Y, Zhou D, Pan L, Wu Y. Organic amendment application affects the release behaviour, bioavailability, and speciation of heavy metals in zinc smelting slag: Insight into dissolved organic matter. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133105. [PMID: 38056253 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Organic amendments are commonly used in assisted phytostabilization of mine wastes by improving their physicochemical and biological properties. These amendments are susceptible to leaching and degradation, resulting in the generation of dissolved organic matter (DOM), which significantly influences the geochemical behaviour of heavy metals (HMs). However, the geochemical behaviour of HMs in metal smelting slag driven by organic amendment-derived DOM remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the impact of cow manure-derived DOM on the release behaviour, bioavailability, and speciation of HMs (Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cd) in zinc smelting slag using a multidisciplinary approach. The results showed that DOM enhanced the weathering of the slag, with a minimal impact on the slag's mineral phases, except for causing gypsum dissolution. The DOM addition resulted in a slight increase in HM release from the slag during the initial inoculation period, followed by a reduction in HM release during the later period. Furthermore, the DOM addition increased the diversity and relative abundance of the bacterial community. This, in turn, led to a decrease in the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content and enhanced the transformation of labile DOM compounds into recalcitrant compounds. The variation in HM release during various inoculation periods can be attributed to the bacterial decomposition and transformation of DOM, which further enhanced the transformation of HM fractions. Specifically, during the later period, DOM promoted the conversion of a portion of the reducible and oxidizable fractions of Cu, Pb, and Zn into the acid-soluble and residual fractions. Moreover, it partially transformed the reducible, oxidizable, and residual fractions of Cd into the acid-soluble fraction. Overall, this study provides new insights into the geochemical behaviour of HMs in slag governed by the coupling effect of DOM and the bacterial community. These findings have implications for the use of organic amendments in assisted phytostabilization of metal smelting slag. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATION: Metal smelting slag is hazardous due to its high levels of HMs, and its improper disposal has serious consequences for the ecosystem. Organic amendments are employed in assisted phytostabilization of the slag site by improving its microecological properties. However, the impact of organic amendment-derived DOM on HM migration and transformation in slag remains unclear. This study indicated that the coupling effects of DOM and microbes governed the geochemical behaviour of HMs in slag. These findings provide new insights into how organic amendments impact the geochemical behaviour of HMs in slag, contributing to the development of phytostabilization technology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Youfa Luo
- Key Laboratory of Kast Georesources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; Guizhou Karst Environmental Ecosystems Observation and Research Station, Ministry of Education, Guizhou, University, Guiyang 550025, China; Guizhou Hostile Environment Ecological Restoration Technology Engineering Research Centre, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China.
| | - Yu He
- College of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Dongran Zhou
- College of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Lishan Pan
- College of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Yonggui Wu
- College of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; Guizhou Karst Environmental Ecosystems Observation and Research Station, Ministry of Education, Guizhou, University, Guiyang 550025, China; Guizhou Hostile Environment Ecological Restoration Technology Engineering Research Centre, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ke Z, Tang J, Sun J, Bu Q, Yang L, Xu Y. Influence of watershed characteristics and human activities on the occurrence of organophosphate esters related to dissolved organic matter in estuarine surface water. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 914:169956. [PMID: 38211871 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.169956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are widespread in aquatic environments and pose potential threats to ecosystem and human health. Here, we profiled OPEs in surface water samples of heavily urbanized estuaries in eastern China and investigated the influence of watershed characteristics and human activities on the spatial distribution of OPEs related to dissolved organic matter (DOM). The total OPE concentration ranged from 22.3 to 1201 ng/L, with a mean of 162.6 ± 179.8 ng/L. Chlorinated OPEs were the predominant contaminant group, accounting for 27.4-99.6 % of the total OPE concentration. Tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate, tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate, and tributyl phosphate were the dominant compounds, with mean concentrations of 111.2 ± 176.0 ng/L, 22.6 ± 21.5 ng/L, and 14.8 ± 14.9 ng/L, respectively. Variable OPE levels were observed in various functional areas, with significantly higher concentrations in industrial areas than in other areas. Potential source analysis revealed that sewage treatment plant effluents and industrial activities were the primary OPE sources. The total OPE concentrations were negatively correlated to the mean slope, plan curvature, and elevation, indicating that watershed characteristics play a role in the occurrence of OPEs. Individual OPEs (triisobutyl phosphate, tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate, tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate, and tricresyl phosphate) and Σalkyl-OPEs were positively correlated to the night light index or population density, suggesting a significant contribution of human activity to OPE pollution. The co-occurrence of OPEs and DOM was also observed, and the fluorescence indices of DOM were found to be possible indicators for tracing OPEs. These findings can elucidate the potential OPE dynamics in response to DOM in urbanized estuarine water environments with intensive human activities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ziyan Ke
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Urban Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, CAS Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo 315800, China
| | - Jianfeng Tang
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Urban Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, CAS Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo 315800, China.
| | - Jing Sun
- College of Resources and Environment, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu 610225, China
| | - Qingwei Bu
- School of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Lei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yaoyang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Urban Environmental Processes and Pollution Control, CAS Haixi Industrial Technology Innovation Center in Beilun, Ningbo 315800, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Song H, Xiao S, Zhou X, Li Y, Tao M, Wu F, Xu X. Temporal dynamics of bacterial colonization on five types of microplastics in a freshwater lake. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 913:169697. [PMID: 38163614 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs), as a new substrate, provide a unique niche for microbial colonization in the freshwater ecosystems; however, the impacts of long-term MP exposure on colonized bacteria are still unclear. In this study, five MP types were exposed in a freshwater lake for approximately one year, and the MP particles, together with the surrounding water, were collected on days 60, 150, 250 and 330 during the in situ field experiment. Bacteria on the MP surface, as well as free-living bacteria in the surrounding water, were analyzed to evaluate the temporal dynamics of these bacterial communities. Results show that all five MP types exhibited signs of degradation during the exposure process. Additionally, the alpha diversity, community structure and composition of MP-attached bacteria significantly differed from that of the free-living bacteria in the surrounding water, indicating that the five MP types could provide a preferable niche for bacterial colonization in a freshwater environment. Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Verrucomicrobiota, Actinobacteriota and Firmicutes were the top five dominant phyla. Some plastic-degrading bacteria included in these phyla were detected, verifying that MP-attached biofilms had a certain degree of MP degradation potential. Some potentially pathogenic bacteria were also detected, suggesting an ecological threat for spreading disease in the aquatic ecosystem. Furthermore, the bacterial community and some metabolic pathways were significantly affected by the MP type (P < 0.01) and exposure time (P < 0.01), indicating that the presence of MPs not only alters the bacterial community structure and composition, but also influences their potential functional properties in freshwater ecosystems. Multiple factors, including the physicochemical properties related to MPs and the environmental parameters of the surrounding water, affect the community composition and the function of MP-attached bacteria to different degrees. Our findings indicate that the presence of MPs has a potential ecological impact on freshwater ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haiya Song
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Sisi Xiao
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Xiaohong Zhou
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China.
| | - Yanan Li
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Miaomiao Tao
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Fan Wu
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Xiaohong Xu
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Lai JL, Li ZG, Han MW, Huang Y, Xi HL, Luo XG. Analysis of environmental biological effects and OBT accumulation potential of microalgae in freshwater systems exposed to tritium pollution. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 250:121013. [PMID: 38118252 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.121013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
The ecological risk of tritiated wastewater into the environment has attracted much attention. Assessing the ecological risk of tritium-containing pollution is crucial by studying low-activity tritium exposure's environmental and biological effects on freshwater micro-environment and the enrichment potential of organically bound tritium (OBT) in microalgae and aquatic plants. The impact of tritium-contaminated wastewater on the microenvironment of freshwater systems was analyzed using microcosm experiments to simulate tritium pollution in freshwater systems. Low activity tritium pollution (105 Bq/L) induced differences in microbial abundance, with Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Desulfobacterota occupying important ecological niches in the water system. Low activity tritium (105-107 Bq/L) did not affect the growth of microalgae and aquatic plants, but OBT was significantly enriched in microalgae and two aquatic plants (Pistia stratiotes, Spirodela polyrrhiza), with the enrichment coefficients of 2.08-3.39 and 1.71-2.13, respectively. At the transcriptional level, low-activity tritium (105 Bq/L) has the risk of interfering with gene expression in aquatic plants. Four dominant cyanobacterial strains (Leptolyngbya sp., Synechococcus elongatus, Nostoc sp., and Anabaena sp.) were isolated and demonstrated good environmental adaptability to tritium pollution. Environmental factors can modify the tritium accumulation potential in cyanobacteria and microalgae, theoretically enhancing food chain transfer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Long Lai
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China; State Key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing, 102205, China
| | - Zhan-Guo Li
- State Key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing, 102205, China
| | - Meng-Wei Han
- State Key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing, 102205, China
| | - Yan Huang
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China
| | - Hai-Ling Xi
- State Key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing, 102205, China.
| | - Xue-Gang Luo
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Jing ZM, Li QQ, Wei YJ, Dong B, Yuan P, Liu RX, Gao HJ. Mechanistic insights into dissolved organic matter-driven protistan and bacterial community dynamics influenced by vegetation restoration. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 227:115710. [PMID: 36933634 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Vegetation restoration projects can not only improve water quality by absorbing and transferring pollutants and nutrients from non-vegetation sources, but also protect biodiversity by providing habitat for biological growth. However, the mechanism of the protistan and bacterial assembly processes in the vegetation restoration project were rarely explored. To address this, based on 18 S rRNA and 16 S rRNA high-throughput sequencing, we investigated the mechanism of protistan and bacterial community assembly processes, environmental conditions, and microbial interactions in the rivers with (out) vegetation restoration. The results indicated that the deterministic process dominated the protistan and bacterial community assembly (94.29% and 92.38%), influenced by biotic and abiotic factors. For biotic factors, microbial network connectivity was higher in the vegetation zone (average degree = 20.34) than in the bare zone (average degree = 11.00). For abiotic factors, the concentration of dissolved organic carbon ([DOC]) was the most important environmental factor affecting the microbial community composition. [DOC] was lower significantly in vegetation zone (18.65 ± 6.34 mg/L) than in the bare zone (28.22 ± 4.82 mg/L). In overlying water, vegetation restoration upregulated the protein-like fluorescence components (C1 and C2) by 1.26 and 1.01-folds and downregulated the terrestrial humic-like fluorescence components (C3 and C4) by 0.54 and 0.55-folds, respectively. The different DOM components guided bacteria and protists to select different interactive relationships. The protein-like DOM components led to bacterial competition, whereas the humus-like DOM components resulted in protistan competition. Finally, the structural equation model was established to explain that DOM components can affect protistan and bacterial diversity by providing substrates, facilitating microbial interactions, and promoting nutrient input. In general, our study provides insights into the responses of vegetation restored ecosystems to the dynamics and interactives in the anthropogenically influenced river and evaluates the ecological restoration performance of vegetation restoration from a molecular biology perspective.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhang-Mu Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, Beijing 100012, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, PR China
| | - Qing-Qian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, Beijing 100012, PR China
| | - Yan-Jie Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, Beijing 100012, PR China; College of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Shenyang Jianzhu University, 110168, PR China
| | - Bin Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, PR China
| | - Peng Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, Beijing 100012, PR China
| | - Rui-Xia Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, Beijing 100012, PR China
| | - Hong-Jie Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, Beijing 100012, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Rožman M, Lekunberri I, Grgić I, Borrego CM, Petrović M. Effects of combining flow intermittency and exposure to emerging contaminants on the composition and metabolic response of streambed biofilm bacterial communities. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 877:162818. [PMID: 36914121 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Freshwater ecosystems are characterised by the co-occurrence of stressors that simultaneously affect the biota. Among these, flow intermittency and chemical pollution severely impair the diversity and functioning of streambed bacterial communities. Using an artificial streams mesocosm facility, this study examined how desiccation and pollution caused by emerging contaminants affect the composition of stream biofilm bacterial communities, their metabolic profiles, and interactions with their environment. Through an integrative analysis of the composition of biofilm communities, characterization of their metabolome and composition of the dissolved organic matter, we found strong genotype-to-phenotype interconnections. The strongest correlation was found between the composition and metabolism of the bacterial community, both of which were influenced by incubation time and desiccation. Unexpectedly, no effect of the emerging contaminants was observed, which was due to the low concentration of the emerging contaminants and the dominant impact of desiccation. However, biofilm bacterial communities modified the chemical composition of their environment under the effect of pollution. Considering the tentatively identified classes of metabolites, we hypothesised that the biofilm response to desiccation was mainly intracellular while the response to chemical pollution was extracellular. The present study demonstrates that metabolite and dissolved organic matter profiling may be effectively integrated with compositional analysis of stream biofilm communities to yield a more complete picture of changes in response to stressors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marko Rožman
- Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain.
| | - Itziar Lekunberri
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain
| | - Ivana Grgić
- Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Carles M Borrego
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain; Group of Molecular Microbial Ecology, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, E-17001 Girona, Spain
| | - Mira Petrović
- Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain; Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|