DGT methodology is more sensitive than conventional extraction strategies in assessing amendment-induced soil cadmium availability to rice

Prediction of the bioaccessibility and accumulation of cadmium in the soil-rice-human system based on optimized DGT and BCR coupled models

Cadmium, as a typical heavy metal, has the potential to induce soil pollution and threaten human health through the soil-plant-human pathway. The conventional evaluation method based on the total content in soil cannot accurately represent the content migrated from the food chain to plants and the human body. Previous studies focused on the process of plant enrichment of heavy metals in soil, and very few studies directly predicted human exposure or risk through the labile state of Cd in soil. Hence, a relatively accurate and convenient prediction model of Cd release and translocation in the soil-rice-human system was developed. This model utilizes available Cd and soil parameters to predict the bioavailability of Cd in soil, as well as the in vitro bioaccessibility of Cd in cooked rice. The bioavailability of Cd was determined by the Diffusive Gradients in Thin-films technology and BCR sequential extraction procedure, offering in-situ quantification, which presents a significant advantage over traditional monitoring methods and aligns closely with the actual uptake of heavy metals by plants. The experimental results show that the prediction model based on the concentration of heavy metal forms measured by BCR sequential extraction procedure and diffusive gradients in thin-films technique can accurately predict the Cd uptake in rice grains, gastric and gastrointestinal phase (R2=0.712, 0.600 and 0.629). This model accurately predicts Cd bioavailability and bioaccessibility across the soil-rice-human pathway, informing actual human Cd intake, offering scientific support for developing more effective risk assessment methods.

A new simple index for characterizing the labile heavy metal concentration in soil by diffusive gradients in thin films technique

Diffusive gradients in thin films technique (DGT) is recognized as a more reliable method for determining labile heavy metal (HM) concentration in soil than traditional destructive methods. However, the current DGT measurement index, CDGT, theoretically underestimates the true labile concentration (Clabile) of HMs in soil and lacks direct comparability with the conventional soil HM content indices due to unit differences. Here, we proposed CDGT-W, a new simple index which is defined as the HM accumulation in the binding layer, normalized to the weight of soil (optimized water content = 100% of the maximum water holding capacity) filled in the open cavity-type DGT device over a specified deployment time (optimized time = 24 h). The procedure for measuring CDGT-W is analogous to that of CDGT but includes precise determination of water content (water/dry soil) and the mass of soil filled in the cavity. We conducted measurements of Cu, Pb, Cr(Ⅵ) and As(V) as CDGT-W, CDGT, solution concentration (Csoln), and CaCl2 extractable concentration (CCaCl2) on three soils with a diverse range of HM concentrations. CDGT-W showed significant linear correlations with all other tested indexes. The ratios of CDGT-W to CCaCl2 varied between 0.30 and 0.98 for all HM-soil combinations with only one exception, a range much greater than CDGT/Csoln (typically <0.1) but lower than 1. This suggested that CDGT-W may more accurately reflect Clabile than CDGT (theoretically underestimates Cliable) and CCaCl2(likely overestimates Cliable). Additionally, CDGT-W measurements for these four HMs exhibited a broad measure concentration range and a low detection limit (mg/kg level). Consequently, CDGT-W may offer a more reliable alternative to CDGT for characterizing Clabile in unsaturated soils.

Use of diffusive gradients in thin-film technique to predict the mobility and transfer of nutrients and toxic elements from agricultural soil to crops-an overview of recent studies

The purpose of this review was to survey the recent applications of the diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique in the assessment of mobility and bioavailability of nutrients and potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in agricultural soil. Many studies compared the capabilities of the DGT technique with those of classical soil chemical extractants used in single or sequential procedures to predict nutrients and PTE bioavailability to crops. In most of the published works, the DGT technique was reported to be superior to the conventional chemical extraction and fractionation methods in obtaining significant correlations with the metals and metalloids accumulated in crops. In the domain of nutrient bioavailability assessment, DGT-based studies focused mainly on phosphorous and selenium labile fraction measurement, but potassium, manganese, and nitrogen were also studied using the DGT tool. Different DGT configurations are reported, using binding and diffusive layers specific for certain analytes (Hg, P, and Se) or gels with wider applicability, such as Chelex-based binding gels for metal cations and ferrihydrite-based hydrogels for oxyanions. Overall, the literature demonstrates that the DGT technique is relevant for the evaluation of metal and nutrient bioavailability to crops, due to its capacity to mimic the plant root uptake process, which justifies future improvement efforts.

Quantitative relationship between soil pH and electrical conductivity values and cadmium phytoavailability for Chinese cabbage under simulated conditions

Pot experiments were conducted to investigate the impacts of continuous addition of different concentrations of calcium chloride (CaCl2) and/or low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs) on soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and cadmium (Cd) transformation. These factors subsequently affected Cd phytoavailability in a system consisting of Cd-contaminated soil and Chinese cabbage (Brassica chinensis L.). The results indicate that CaCl2 addition had a greater impact on reducing soil pH value, increasing soil EC value, and enhancing Cd phytoaccumulation in Chinese cabbage compared to LMWOAs. When soil pH dropped by 0.3 unit and the soil EC increased by 500 µS cm-1, the Cd concentration in the Chinese cabbage shoots was 3 times higher than that in the control group. Throughout two planting terms of Chinese cabbage, the addition of CaCl2 (1.6-3.2 g kg-1) and LMWOAs (≤ 1.0 g kg-1) led to phytoextracted Cd concentration exceeding exchangeable Cd concentration in soil samples before the pot experiment. Regarding phytoextracted Cd, desorption from carbonate-bound Cd contributes more than desorption from bound to organic matter Cd and adsorption to Fe/Mn oxide Cd. This study underscores the influence of soil pH and EC value variations and Cd transformation on Cd phytoavailability. Special attention should be given to leafy vegetables grown in Cd-contaminated soil, as the phytoavailable Cd concentration reaches approximately 2.0 µg kg-1, which may lead to Cd levels surpassing acceptable limits for Chinese cabbage.

Can simultaneous immobilization of arsenic and cadmium in paddy soils be achieved by liming?

Liming acidic paddy soils to near-neutral pH is the most cost-effective strategy to minimize cadmium (Cd) accumulation by rice. However, the liming-induced effect on arsenic (As) (im)mobilization remains controversial and is called upon for further investigation, particularly for the safe utilization of paddy soils co-contaminated with As and Cd. Here, we explored As and Cd dissolution along pH gradients in flooded paddy soils and extracted key factors accounting for their release discrepancy with liming. The minimum As and Cd dissolution occurred concurrently at pH 6.5-7.0 in an acidic paddy soil (LY). In contrast, As release was minimized at pH < 6 in the other two acidic soils (CZ and XX), while the minimum Cd release still appeared at pH 6.5-7.0. Such a discrepancy was determined largely by the relative availability of Fe under overwhelming competition from dissolved organic carbon (DOC). A mole ratio of porewater Fe/DOC at pH 6.5-7.0 is suggested as a key indicator of whether co-immobilization of As and Cd can occur in flooded paddy soils with liming. In general, a high mole ratio of porewater Fe/DOC (≥ 0.23 in LY) at pH 6.5-7.0 can endow co-immobilization of As and Cd, regardless of Fe supplement, whereas such a case is not in the other two soils with lower Fe/DOC mole ratios (0.01-0.03 in CZ and XX). Taking the example of LY, the introduction of ferrihydrite promoted the transformation of metastable As and Cd fractions to more stable ones in the soil during 35 days of flooded incubation, thus meeting a class I soil for safe rice production. This study demonstrates that the porewater Fe/DOC mole ratio can indicate a liming-induced effect on co-(im)mobilization of As and Cd in typical acidic paddy soils, providing new insights into the applicability of liming practice for the paddy soils.

Prediction model for Cd accumulation of rice (Oryza sativa L.) based on extractable Cd in soils and prediction for high Cd-risk regions of southern Zhejiang Province, China

Soil environmental quality in China for agricultural land always considers the effect of total cadmium (Cd) in soil, ignoring the bioavailability of soil Cd. The 139 paired rice (Oryza sativa L.) and soil samples were collected from the Cd-contaminated paddy fields of southern Zhejiang Province, China. The objectives of this study were to establish accurate prediction models for Cd accumulation in brown rice based on bioavailable Cd and physiochemical properties of soils and to evaluate the safety of rice production in Cd-contaminated paddy. The bioavailable Cd in soils was extracted and evaluated by using CaCl₂, HNO₃, diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA), diffusive gradients in thin-films technique (DGT), and sequential extraction method proposed by the European Community Bureau of Reference; 100 pairs of data were used as training sets, and the remaining 39 sets were used as validation sets. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis and random forest analysis showed that total Cd in soil could roughly indicate the content of Cd in rice, while extractable Cd could better explain the accumulation of Cd in rice grain and DTPA and DGT extractive technologies are the most evaluative. The validation sets also showed that the prediction model has a good fit. Based on the prediction model for Cd in brown rice based on soil pH and DGT extractive Cd, the Monte Carlo simulation showed that 74.32% and 89.35% of the estimated brown rice hazard quotient (HQ) of the daily Cd intake of adults and children in safe utilization paddy sites could exceed the safe level of 1, respectively. Additionally, the threshold values for extractable Cd by DGT or DTPA for rice safe production were 3.4 μg/kg or 0.13 mg/kg when the pH in soils was below 5.5. The results further proved the threshold concentration of extractable Cd for predicting high-risk soils of Cd contamination in brown rice.

How do controlled-release fertilizer coated microplastics dynamically affect Cd availability by regulating Fe species and DOC content in soil?

Microplastics (MPs) affect the accumulation of heavy metals by regulating the soil environment. However, studies on the dynamic effects of microplastics on the available states of heavy metals in soil are lacking. In particular, how controlled-release fertilizer coated microplastics can synergistically change the avsilable states of heavy metals in soil by affecting soil physical and chemical properties and microbial community structure is still lacking. The dynamic effect of polyurethane (PU) MPs on the effective state of soil cadmium (Cd; DGTCd), at different particle sizes and concentrations, was studied in situ by diffusive gradient in thin-films (DGT) for the first time. The bioavailability, soil chemical properties, and microbial effects of PU MPs on Cd depend on PU particle size and concentration; high-concentration (1 %) PU MPs cause a significant increase in DGT-Cd concentration. The addition of PU MPs decreased soil pH and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), while increasing the absolute zeta value, Fe(II) and Mn(II), in a manner dependent on particle size, concentration, and culture time. Correlation analysis combined with path analysis showed that PU MPs affected the effective state of Cd by changing soil properties, among which Fe(II) content and DOC were important factors controlling the activation of Cd. Meanwhile, changes in soil properties and heavy metal availability correlated significantly with microbial community composition, suggesting that PU MPs may indirectly impact heavy metal activity by affecting microorganisms and functional genes associated with C and Fe cycling. Therefore, when the concentration of PU MPs is higher than 1 %, we should strengthen ecological risk prevention and control of the compound pollution of controlled-release fertilizer coated microplastics and heavy metals in farmland soil.

Indigenous earthworms and gut bacteria are superior to chemical amendments in the remediation of cadmium-contaminated seleniferous soils

The natural selenium (Se)-rich areas in China are generally characterized by high geological background of cadmium (Cd) which poses potential risks to human health. Therefore, immobilization of Cd is the prerequisite to ensure the safe utilization of natural seleniferous soil resources. A pot experiment was conducted to compare the effects of indigenous earthworm (Amynthas hupeiensis) and its gut bacteria (Citrobacter freundii DS strain) on the remediation of Cd-contaminated seleniferous soil with two traditional chemical amendments. The results indicated that earthworms and DS strain decreased DGT-extractable Cd by 25.52 - 41.53% and reduced Cd accumulation in lettuce leaves by 20.83 - 37.50% compared with control through converting the exchangeable Cd (EX-Cd) into residual Cd (RE-Cd) fractions. Overall, earthworms and DS strain were more effective in Cd immobilization, growth and quality promotion, oxidative stress alleviation, Cd accumulation and bioaccessibility reduction in the soil-lettuce-human continuum than biochar and lime. Moreover, all amendments induced the antagonism between Se and Cd through increasing bioavailable Se/Cd molar ratios in soil. However, all the Cd concentrations in lettuce exceeded the maximum permissible limit of Cd for leaf vegetables, indicating that soil amendment alone could not ensure food safety. This study confirmed that biological amendments were superior to chemical amendments in the remediation of Cd-contaminated seleniferous soil.

Validation and application of diffusive gradient in thin-film (DGT) equipped novel cyclodextrin polymer gels for monitoring endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and environmental risk assessment in the Taihu lake basin

Taihu Lake is the most important drinking water source of the major cities in the Yangtze River Delta. The pollution of endocrine disruptors (EDCs)in Taihu Lake has been increasing recently, the accurate determination is an important guide for predicting its health risks and developing appropriate controls. Monitoring organic pollutants in water using the diffusive gradient in thin film technique (DGT) has attracted much attention due to more accuracy and convenience than the grab sampling methods. In this study, a novel cyclodextrin polymer (CDP) synthesized by the simple and green method in water was taken as an adsorbent for the binding gel. Four endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), bisphenol A (BPA), 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), 17β-estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3), were taken as models to determine the diffusion coefficients (4.68 × 10^-6, 3.38 × 10^-6, 3.34 × 10^-6 and 4.31 × 10^-6 cm²/s) and to test the performance of DGT, such as adsorption capacity and deployment time (1-5 day). The assembled CDP-DGT was adopted to determine four EDCs in a simulated water environment (3-9 of pH, 0.001-0.5 M of ionic strength (IS), and dissolved organic matter (DOM) of 0-20 mg/L). The ability of CDP-DGT sampling was verified in the Jiuxiang River and was carried out for a large-scale field application of in situ sampling EDCs in Taihu Lake basin. The results show that the total EDCs concentration range and the estradiol equivalent concentrations (EEQ) in Taihu Lake and its main rivers are 2.78 ng/L to 11.08 ng/L and 2.62 ng/L to 10.91 ng/L, respectively. The risk quotients (RQs) of all sampling sites in the region were greater than 1, indicating that EDCs pose a serious threat to aquatic organisms in the area. Therefore, the monitoring of EDCs in the Taihu Lake basin should be further strengthened.

Chemodiversity of dissolved organic matter in cadmium-contaminated paddy soil amended with different materials

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in soil is a key factor affecting the bioavailability of heavy metals, but very few studies have focused on the role of DOM in the use of soil amendments to mitigate heavy metal accumulation in crops. Here, eleven materials were added to cadmium (Cd)-contaminated paddy soil in greenhouse pot trials; rice was grown and harvested, the chemodiversity of post-harvest soil DOM was characterized using Fourier-Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry, and the specific associations between soil DOM traits and water-extractable soil Cd concentration were identified at the molecular level. The results showed that the endogenous release caused by altering soil pH had a greater effect on soil DOM concentration than did the exogenous chemical input due to the application of organic amendments, which in turn contributed to the chemodiversity of DOM. After one season of rice cultivation, soil DOM molecules were mainly dominated by relatively low molecular weight heteroatom-free lignins. C/N, C/H ratios of organic materials influenced DOM molecular fingerprint patterns, and soil pH and redox potential were the main driving forces affecting the chemodiversity of DOM. Furthermore, the low molecular weight, high saturation, low aromaticity, and heteroatom-free DOM molecules are more likely to dissolve Cd from the soil solid phase, thus increasing the potential risk of Cd to the environment. The results provide critical information about amendments-induced changes in DOM chemodiversity and will inform the selection of appropriate soil amendments.

In situ monitoring of phthalate esters (PAEs) pollution and environmental risk assessment in Poyang Lake Basin by DGT Technology using cyclodextrin polymer as binding phase

Poyang Lake is the first freshwater lake in China, which is an important drinking water source. In recent years, industrial pollution has led to the increased phthalate acid esters (PAEs) in Poyang Lake. PAEs are a class of typical endocrine disruptors that can accumulate in organisms and interfere with their secretion systems. Thus, the accurate determination of PAEs in Poyang Lake is important for health risk prediction and the development of corresponding control means. Monitoring organic pollutants in water using the diffusive gradient in thin films technique (DGT) has attracted much attention due to more accuracy and convenience than the traditional methods. This study used an inexpensive amphiphilic cyclodextrin polymer (PBCD) as the sorbent for the binding gel. This new binding gel has an ultra-high specific surface area and excellent adsorption performance. Diffusion coefficients of the five PAEs were determined, and the performance of DGT such as adsorption capacity and deployment time (1-4 days) was tested using five PAEs as models. The assembled PBCD-DGT was used to examine the performance in a complex simulated water environment. The sampling capability of PBCD-DGT was verified in Yangshan Lake, and a large-scale field application was conducted in Poyang Lake basin. The results of 11 sampling points showed that the concentration ranges of dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, diallyl phthalate, dipropyl phthalate, and dibutyl phthalate were 434-2594 ng/L, 40-314 ng/L, 80-527 ng/L, 45-308 ng/L, and ND-182 ng/L, respectively. The health risk index (HI) and ecological risk quotient (RQ) values of PAEs in the Poyang Lake watershed were far below 1, indictating a lower health and ecological risk. Considering that PAEs are bioaccumulative and persistent, it is very necessary to continue to pay attention to its pollution status and health and ecological risk changes in Poyang Lake Basin in the future.

Microbial induced carbonate precipitation contributes to the fates of Cd and Se in Cd-contaminated seleniferous soils

Bioremediation based on microbial induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) was conducted in Cd-contaminated seleniferous soils with objective to investigate effects of MICP on the fates of Cd and Se in soils. Results showed that soil indigenous microorganisms could induce MICP process to stabilize Cd and mobilize Se without inputting exogenous urease-producing strain. After remediation, soluble Cd (SOL-Cd) and exchangeable Cd (EXC-Cd) concentrations were decreased respectively by 59.8% and 9.4%, the labile Cd measured by the diffusive gradients in thin-films technique (DGT) was decreased by 14.2%. The MICP stabilized Cd mainly by increasing soil pH and co-precipitating Cd during the formation of calcium carbonate. Compared with chemical extraction method, DGT technique performs better in reflecting Cd bioavailability in soils remediated with MICP since this technique could eliminate the interference of Ca²⁺. The increase in pH resulted in Se conversion from nonlabile fraction to soluble and exchangeable fractions, thus improving Se bioavailability. And Se in soil solution could adsorb to or co-precipitate with the insoluble calcium carbonate during MICP, which would partly weaken Se bioavailability. Taken together, MICP had positive effects on the migration of Se. In conclusion, MICP could stabilize Cd and improve Se availability simultaneously in Cd-contaminated seleniferous soils.

Rhizosphere dissolved organic matter and iron plaque modified by organic amendments and its relations to cadmium bioavailability and accumulation in rice

Organic amendments can modify rhizosphere dissolved organic matter (DOM) properties and Fe-plaque quantity, thereby affecting cadmium (Cd) bioavailability and uptake by rice. Pot experiments were conducted to investigate effects of biochar (BC) and vermicompost (VC) at different rates (0, 1%, and 5%) on rhizosphere DOM characteristics and Fe-plaque quantity, and their impacts on Cd bioavailability and accumulation in high and low Cd-accumulation rice cultivars (HAC and LAC). Soil DOM was characterized by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) and fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (EEM) spectrum analyses. Hydroponic experiments were conducted to investigate effects of BC- or VC-derived DOM combined Fe-plaque on Cd uptake by rice. Results showed that increasing rates of organic amendments increased DOM concentration while decreased Cd availability in rhizosphere and bulk soils and Cd contents in rice tissues. The Cd reduction in LAC grains (31.9%-72.7%) was better than that in HAC grains (6.3%-25.4%) after organic amendment addition. Soil DOM properties were modified by organic amendments towards higher aromaticity, molecular weight, and stability. VC resulted in a greater increase of humic-like fractions but reduced protein-like proportions in rhizosphere DOM over BC. Negative correlations were observed between humic-like fractions and available Cd in the rhizosphere. Likewise, VC (especially 5%VC) promoted the formation of Fe-plaque and limited Cd soil-to-root transport, while BC groups showed a reverse trend. The results of hydroponic experiments confirmed BC- and VC-derived DOM and Fe-plaque further inhibited Cd uptake by rice via the complexation with Cd and the sequestration of Cd, respectively. Hence, VC application combined with low Cd-accumulation rice could be an effective strategy for the safe utilization of Cd-contamination soils.

Effects of Abiotic Stress on Soil Microbiome

Rhizospheric organisms have a unique manner of existence since many factors can influence the shape of the microbiome. As we all know, harnessing the interaction between soil microbes and plants is critical for sustainable agriculture and ecosystems. We can achieve sustainable agricultural practice by incorporating plant-microbiome interaction as a positive technology. The contribution of this interaction has piqued the interest of experts, who plan to do more research using beneficial microorganism in order to accomplish this vision. Plants engage in a wide range of interrelationship with soil microorganism, spanning the entire spectrum of ecological potential which can be mutualistic, commensal, neutral, exploitative, or competitive. Mutualistic microorganism found in plant-associated microbial communities assist their host in a number of ways. Many studies have demonstrated that the soil microbiome may provide significant advantages to the host plant. However, various soil conditions (pH, temperature, oxygen, physics-chemistry and moisture), soil environments (drought, submergence, metal toxicity and salinity), plant types/genotype, and agricultural practices may result in distinct microbial composition and characteristics, as well as its mechanism to promote plant development and defence against all these stressors. In this paper, we provide an in-depth overview of how the above factors are able to affect the soil microbial structure and communities and change above and below ground interactions. Future prospects will also be discussed.