1
|
Masinga P, Simbanegavi TT, Makuvara Z, Marumure J, Chaukura N, Gwenzi W. Emerging organic contaminants in the soil-plant-receptor continuum: transport, fate, health risks, and removal mechanisms. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:367. [PMID: 38488937 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-12282-7] [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] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
There is a lack of comprehensive reviews tracking emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) within the soil-plant continuum using the source-pathway-receptor-impact-mitigation (SPRIM) framework. Therefore, this review examines existing literature to gain insights into the occurrence, behaviour, fate, health hazards, and strategies for mitigating EOCs within the soil-plant system. EOCs identified in the soil-plant system encompass endocrine-disrupting chemicals, surfactants, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, plasticizers, gasoline additives, flame retardants, and per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Sources of EOCs in the soil-plant system include the land application of biosolids, wastewater, and solid wastes rich in EOCs. However, less-studied sources encompass plastics and atmospheric deposition. EOCs are transported from their sources to the soil-plant system and other receptors through human activities, wind-driven processes, and hydrological pathways. The behaviour, persistence, and fate of EOCs within the soil-plant system are discussed, including sorption, degradation, phase partitioning, (bio)transformation, biouptake, translocation, and bioaccumulation in plants. Factors governing the behaviour, persistence, and fate of EOCs in the soil-plant system include pH, redox potential, texture, temperature, and soil organic matter content. The review also discusses the environmental receptors of EOCs, including their exchange with other environmental compartments (aquatic and atmospheric), and interactions with soil organisms. The ecological health risks, human exposure via inhalation of particulate matter and consumption of contaminated food, and hazards associated with various EOCs in the soil-plant system are discussed. Various mitigation measures including removal technologies of EOCs in the soil are discussed. Finally, future research directions are presented.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Privilege Masinga
- Department of Soil Science and Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, Environment, and Food Systems, University of Zimbabwe, Mount Pleasant, P. O. Box MP 167, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Tinoziva T Simbanegavi
- Department of Soil Science and Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, Environment, and Food Systems, University of Zimbabwe, Mount Pleasant, P. O. Box MP 167, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Zakio Makuvara
- Department of Physics, Geography and Environmental Science, School of Natural Sciences, Great Zimbabwe University, Masvingo, Zimbabwe
- Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Jerikias Marumure
- Department of Physics, Geography and Environmental Science, School of Natural Sciences, Great Zimbabwe University, Masvingo, Zimbabwe
- Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Nhamo Chaukura
- Department of Physical and Earth Sciences, Sol Plaatje University, Kimberley, 8301, South Africa
| | - Willis Gwenzi
- Biosystems and Engineering Research Group, 380 New Adylin, Marlborough, Harare, Zimbabwe.
- Biosystems and Environmental Engineering Research Group, 380 New Adylin, Marlborough, Harare, Zimbabwe.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chen J, Zhang Q, Chen W, Farooq U, Lu T, Wang B, Ni J, Zhang H, Qi Z. Mobility of antipyretic drugs with different molecular structures in saturated soil porous media. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2023; 25:2092-2101. [PMID: 37905737 DOI: 10.1039/d3em00358b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
In the post-COVID-19 era, extensive quantities of antipyretic drugs are being haphazardly released from households into the environment, which may pose potential risks to ecological systems and human health. Identification of the mobility behaviors of these compounds in the subsurface environment is crucial to understand the environmental fate of these common contaminants. The mobility properties of three broad-spectrum antipyretic drugs, including ibuprofen (IBF), indometacin (IMC), and acetaminophen (APAP), in porous soil media, were investigated in this study. The results showed that the mobility of the three drugs (the background electrolyte was Na+) through the soil column followed the order of APAP > IBF > IMC. The difference in the physicochemical characteristics of various antipyretic drugs (e.g., the molecular structure and hydrophobicity) could explain this trend. Unlike Na+, Ca2+ ions tended to serve as bridging agents by linking the soil grains and antipyretic molecules, leading to the relatively weak mobility behaviors of antipyretic drugs. Furthermore, for a given antipyretic drug, the antipyretic mobility was promoted when the background solution pH values were raised from 5.0 to 9.0. The phenomenon stemmed from the improved electrostatic repulsion between the dissociated species of antipyretic molecules and soil grains, as well as the weakened hydrophobic interactions between antipyretic drugs and soil organic matter. Furthermore, a two-site non-equilibrium transport model was used to estimate the mobility of antipyretic drugs. The results obtained from this work provide vital information illustrating the transport and retention of various antipyretic drugs in aquifers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiuyan Chen
- Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Eco-physiology, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, China.
- Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Materials, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Ecology Institute of the Shandong Academy of Sciences, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250353, China
| | - Weifeng Chen
- Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Eco-physiology, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, China.
| | - Usman Farooq
- Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Materials, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
| | - Taotao Lu
- College of Hydraulic Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Materials, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
| | - Jinzhi Ni
- Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Eco-physiology, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, China.
| | - Huiying Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Eco-physiology, School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350007, China.
| | - Zhichong Qi
- Henan Joint International Research Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Materials, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ccanccapa-Cartagena A, Zheng W, Circenis S, Katuwal S, Scott JW. Influence of biosolids and sewage effluent application on sitagliptin soil sorption. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 895:165080. [PMID: 37356773 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Biosolids and sewage effluent application to agricultural fields is becoming a win-win practice as both an economical waste management strategy and a source of nutrients and organic matter for plant growth. However, these organic wastes contain a variety of trace chemicals of environmental concern such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), which may pose a risk to agricultural fields and ecosystems. This work aims to investigate the sorption of sitagliptin on four agricultural soils, evaluate the effects of biosolids and sewage effluent application, and elucidate the main sorption mechanism of the pharmaceutical on soils. The sorption study revealed that the sorption capacities of sitagliptin on different soils were positively related to the contents of soil organic matter and negatively associated with soil pH values. The application of biosolids and sewage effluent decreased the sorption capacity of sitagliptin, which may be attributed to the loading of dissolved organic matter derived from organic wastes. The Freundlich isotherm model demonstrated that the addition of biosolids from 0 to 100 % (W/W) consistently decreased the sorption affinity (Kf) of sitagliptin from 1.69 × 102 to 3.82 × 101 mg(1-n) Ln kg-1. Sewage application at 0, 10, 50, and 100 % (V/V) also reduced the Kf values from 1.69 × 102 to 9.17 × 101 mg(1-n) Ln kg-1. Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR)-Infrared (IR) spectroscopy analyses suggested that electrostatic interactions between carbonyl and amino groups of sitagliptin and the negatively charged soil surface are the main sorption mechanisms. In a co-solute system, the sorption affinity of sitagliptin on the soil decreased with increasing metformin concentrations, suggesting that competitive sorption may reduce the sorption capacity of individual contaminants in soil systems containing multiple PPCPs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Ccanccapa-Cartagena
- Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1 Hazelwood Drive, Champaign, IL 61820, United States.
| | - Wei Zheng
- Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1 Hazelwood Drive, Champaign, IL 61820, United States
| | - Sophie Circenis
- Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1 Hazelwood Drive, Champaign, IL 61820, United States
| | - Sarmila Katuwal
- Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1 Hazelwood Drive, Champaign, IL 61820, United States
| | - John W Scott
- Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1 Hazelwood Drive, Champaign, IL 61820, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mohana Rangan S, Rao S, Robles A, Mouti A, LaPat-Polasko L, Lowry GV, Krajmalnik-Brown R, Delgado AG. Decoupling Fe 0 Application and Bioaugmentation in Space and Time Enables Microbial Reductive Dechlorination of Trichloroethene to Ethene: Evidence from Soil Columns. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:4167-4179. [PMID: 36866930 PMCID: PMC10018760 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c06433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Fe0 is a powerful chemical reductant with applications for remediation of chlorinated solvents, including tetrachloroethene and trichloroethene. Its utilization efficiency at contaminated sites is limited because most of the electrons from Fe0 are channeled to the reduction of water to H2 rather than to the reduction of the contaminants. Coupling Fe0 with H2-utilizing organohalide-respiring bacteria (i.e., Dehalococcoides mccartyi) could enhance trichloroethene conversion to ethene while maximizing Fe0 utilization efficiency. Columns packed with aquifer materials have been used to assess the efficacy of a treatment combining in space and time Fe0 and aD. mccartyi-containing culture (bioaugmentation). To date, most column studies documented only partial conversion of the solvents to chlorinated byproducts, calling into question the feasibility of Fe0 to promote complete microbial reductive dechlorination. In this study, we decoupled the application of Fe0 in space and time from the addition of organic substrates andD. mccartyi-containing cultures. We used a column containing soil and Fe0 (at 15 g L-1 in porewater) and fed it with groundwater as a proxy for an upstream Fe0 injection zone dominated by abiotic reactions and biostimulated/bioaugmented soil columns (Bio-columns) as proxies for downstream microbiological zones. Results showed that Bio-columns receiving reduced groundwater from the Fe0-column supported microbial reductive dechlorination, yielding up to 98% trichloroethene conversion to ethene. The microbial community in the Bio-columns established with Fe0-reduced groundwater also sustained trichloroethene reduction to ethene (up to 100%) when challenged with aerobic groundwater. This study supports a conceptual model where decoupling the application of Fe0 and biostimulation/bioaugmentation in space and/or time could augment microbial trichloroethene reductive dechlorination, particularly under oxic conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Srivatsan Mohana Rangan
- School
of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- Center
for Bio-Mediated and Bio-Inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- Biodesign
Center for Health Through Microbiomes, Arizona
State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Shefali Rao
- School
of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- Center
for Bio-Mediated and Bio-Inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Aide Robles
- School
of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- Center
for Bio-Mediated and Bio-Inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Aatikah Mouti
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | | | - Gregory V. Lowry
- Center
for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (CEINT), Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
- Department
of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown
- School
of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- Center
for Bio-Mediated and Bio-Inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- Biodesign
Center for Health Through Microbiomes, Arizona
State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Anca G. Delgado
- School
of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
- Biodesign
Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
- Center
for Bio-Mediated and Bio-Inspired Geotechnics (CBBG), Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zhao Z, Zhao K, Zhang T, Xu Y, Chen R, Xue S, Liu M, Tang D, Yang X, Giessen V. Irrigation-facilitated low-density polyethylene microplastic vertical transport along soil profile: An empirical model developed by column experiment. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 247:114232. [PMID: 36308877 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The emerging issue of microplastic pollution of agricultural soils derives from the intensive utilization of plastic mulching film. Although surface runoff may transport microplastic off-site, infiltration may also facilitate microplastic transport from surface soil to deeper depths. Microplastic comprises a relatively new category of soil contaminants, whose transport in the soil has not yet been widely studied. In this study, we investigated microplastic transport from contaminated surface soil (50 g kg-1) driven by irrigation, from permanent wilting point to saturation, and developed an empirical model to characterize the resulting accumulation of microplastic along soil profile. A soil column experiment was conducted under various treatments: the control, 1, 2 and 4 runs of irrigation. Soil samples were collected from inside and outside of soil cracks (if present) in each soil layer (0-2 cm (source layer), 2-5 cm, 5-10 cm, 10-20 cm, 20-30 cm, 30-40 cm, 40-50 cm). The results showed that with increasing irrigation runs, microplastic in the source soil layer decreased, while microplastic contents in deeper soil depths increased significantly (p < 0.05), varying from 7.03 g kg-1 in 2-5 cm to 0.29 g kg-1 in 40-50 cm soil. The microplastic content detected in soil cracks was 1.3-17.8 times higher than that detected in the soil matrix at similar depths, indicating that the transported microplastic is prone to be enriched in soil cracks. In addition, the total amount of transported microplastic increased 1.5 times after four irrigation runs, and the variations were significantly observed especially at deeper soil depths. Based on correlation analyses, data-fitted empirical models that relate cumulative microplastic to the depth of soil layer and irrigation runs indicate that irrigation-facilitated microplastic transport could be well-characterized (R2 >0.92). Further research is needed to develop an physical-based model in order to assess microplastic migration risks driven by irrigation and other agricultural management practices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zeyu Zhao
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, and State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Keyue Zhao
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, and State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Taishuo Zhang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, and State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Yiwen Xu
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, and State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Ronglong Chen
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, and State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Sha Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Mengjuan Liu
- College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Darrell Tang
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, 6700AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Xiaomei Yang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, and State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, 6700AA Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Violette Giessen
- Soil Physics and Land Management Group, Wageningen University & Research, 6700AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Migration Behavior and Influencing Factors of Petroleum Hydrocarbon Phenanthrene in Soil around Typical Oilfields of China. Processes (Basel) 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/pr10081624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Petroleum spills and land contamination are becoming increasingly common around the world. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other pollutants found in petroleum are constantly migrating underground, making their migration in soil a hot research topic. Therefore, it is of great significance to evaluate the migratory process of petroleum hydrocarbons in petroleum-polluted soil to clarify its ecological and environmental risks. In this study, Phenanthrene (PHE) was used as a typical pollutant of PAHs. The soil was gathered from three typical oilfields in China, and a soil column apparatus was built to simulate the vertical migration of PHE in the soil. The migration law and penetration effect of PHE in various environmental conditions of soil were investigated by varying the ionic strength (IS), pH, particle size, and type of soil. According to the literature, pH has no discernible effect on the migration of PHE. The migration of PHE was adversely and positively linked with changes in IS and soil particle size, respectively. The influence of soil type was mainly manifested in the difference of organic matter and clay content. In the Yanchang Oilfield (YC) soil with the largest soil particle size and the least clay content, the mobility of PHE was the highest. This study may reveal the migration law of PAHs in soils around typical oilfields, establish a new foundation for PAH migration in the soil, and also provide new ideas for the management and control of petroleum pollution in the soil and groundwater.
Collapse
|
7
|
Maddela NR, Ramakrishnan B, Kakarla D, Venkateswarlu K, Megharaj M. Major contaminants of emerging concern in soils: a perspective on potential health risks. RSC Adv 2022; 12:12396-12415. [PMID: 35480371 PMCID: PMC9036571 DOI: 10.1039/d1ra09072k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Soil pollution by the contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) or emerging contaminants deserves attention worldwide because of their toxic health effects and the need for developing regulatory guidelines. Though the global soil burden by certain CECs is in several metric tons, the source-tracking of these contaminants in soil environments is difficult due to heterogeneity of the medium and complexities associated with the interactive mechanisms. Most CECs have higher affinities towards solid matrices for adsorption. The CECs alter not only soil functionalities but also those of plants and animals. Their toxicities are at nmol to μmol levels in cell cultures and test animals. These contaminants have a higher propensity in accumulating mostly in root-based food crops, threatening human health. Poor understanding on the fate of certain CECs in anaerobic environments and their transfer pathways in the food web limits the development of effective bioremediation strategies and restoration of the contaminated soils and endorsement of global regulatory efforts. Despite their proven toxicities to the biotic components, there are no environmental laws or guidelines for certain CECs. Moreover, the information available on the impact of soil pollution with CECs on human health is fragmentary. Therefore, we provide here a comprehensive account on five significantly important CECs, viz., (i) PFAS, (ii) micro/nanoplastics, (iii) additives (biphenyls, phthalates), (iv) novel flame retardants, and (v) nanoparticles. The emphasis is on (a) degree of soil burden of CECs and the consequences, (b) endocrine disruption and immunotoxicity, (c) genotoxicity and carcinogenicity, and (d) soil health guidelines. Contaminants of emerging concern: sources, soil burden, human exposure, and toxicities.![]()
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naga Raju Maddela
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Técnica de Manabí, Portoviejo 130105, Ecuador
- Instituto de Investigación, Universidad Técnica de Manabí, Portoviejo 130105, Ecuador
| | | | - Dhatri Kakarla
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kadiyala Venkateswarlu
- Formerly Department of Microbiology, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapuramu, 515003, India
| | - Mallavarapu Megharaj
- Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), Faculty of Science, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| |
Collapse
|