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Rivenbark KJ, Fawkes LS, Nikkhah H, Wang M, Sansom GT, Beykal B, Wade TL, Phillips TD. Using L. minor and C. elegans to assess the ecotoxicity of real-life contaminated soil samples and their remediation by clay- and carbon-based sorbents. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 347:123762. [PMID: 38479705 PMCID: PMC11323775 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Toxic substances, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals, can accumulate in soil, posing a risk to human health and the environment. To reduce the risk of exposure, rapid identification and remediation of potentially hazardous soils is necessary. Adsorption of contaminants by activated carbons and clay materials is commonly utilized to decrease the bioavailability of chemicals in soil and environmental toxicity in vitro, and this study aims to determine their efficacy in real-life soil samples. Two ecotoxicological models (Lemna minor and Caenorhabditis elegans) were used to test residential soil samples, known to contain an average of 5.3, 262, and 9.6 ppm of PAHs, lead, and mercury, for potential toxicity. Toxicity testing of these soils indicated that 86% and 58% of soils caused ≤50% inhibition of growth and survival of L. minor and C. elegans, respectively. Importantly, 3 soil samples caused ≥90% inhibition of growth in both models, and the toxicity was positively correlated with levels of heavy metals. These toxic soil samples were prioritized for remediation using activated carbon and SM-Tyrosine sorbents, which have been shown to immobilize PAHs and heavy metals, respectively. The inclusion of low levels of SM-Tyrosine protected the growth and survival of L. minor and C. elegans by 83% and 78%, respectively from the polluted soil samples while activated carbon offered no significant protection. These results also indicated that heavy metals were the driver of toxicity in the samples. Results from this study demonstrate that adsorption technologies are effective strategies for remediating complex, real-life soil samples contaminated with hazardous pollutants and protecting natural soil and groundwater resources and habitats. The results highlight the applicability of these ecotoxicological models as rapid screening tools for monitoring soil quality and verifying the efficacy of remediation practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly J Rivenbark
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA; Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Leanne S Fawkes
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Texas School of Public Health San Antonio at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Hasan Nikkhah
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; Center for Clean Energy Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Meichen Wang
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA; Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Garett T Sansom
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Burcu Beykal
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; Center for Clean Energy Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Terry L Wade
- Geochemical & Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Timothy D Phillips
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA; Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
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Suazo-Hernández J, Arancibia-Miranda N, Mlih R, Cáceres-Jensen L, Bolan N, Mora MDLL. Impact on Some Soil Physical and Chemical Properties Caused by Metal and Metallic Oxide Engineered Nanoparticles: A Review. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:572. [PMID: 36770533 PMCID: PMC9919586 DOI: 10.3390/nano13030572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the release of metal and metallic oxide engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) into the environment has generated an increase in their accumulation in agricultural soils, which is a serious risk to the ecosystem and soil health. Here, we show the impact of ENPs on the physical and chemical properties of soils. A literature search was performed in the Scopus database using the keywords ENPs, plus soil physical properties or soil chemical properties, and elements availability. In general, we found that the presence of metal and metallic oxide ENPs in soils can increase hydraulic conductivity and soil porosity and reduce the distance between soil particles, as well as causing a variation in pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), electrical conductivity (EC), redox potential (Eh), and soil organic matter (SOM) content. Furthermore, ENPs or the metal cations released from them in soils can interact with nutrients like phosphorus (P) forming complexes or precipitates, decreasing their bioavailability in the soil solution. The results depend on the soil properties and the doses, exposure duration, concentrations, and type of ENPs. Therefore, we suggest that particular attention should be paid to every kind of metal and metallic oxide ENPs deposited into the soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Suazo-Hernández
- Center of Plant, Soil Interaction and Natural Resources Biotechnology, Scientific and Biotechnological Bioresource Nucleus (BIOREN-UFRO), Universidad de La Frontera, Avenida Francisco Salazar 01145, Temuco 4780000, Chile
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Natural Resources, Universidad de La Frontera, Avenida Francisco Salazar 01145, Temuco 4811230, Chile
| | - Nicolás Arancibia-Miranda
- Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, University of Santiago of Chile (USACH), Santiago 8320000, Chile
- Center for the Development of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, CEDENNA, Santiago 9170124, Chile
| | - Rawan Mlih
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences, Agrosphere (IBG-3), Forschungszentrum Juelich (FZJ), 52425 Juelich, Germany
| | - Lizethly Cáceres-Jensen
- Physical & Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (PachemLab), Nucleus of Computational Thinking and Education for Sustainable Development (NuCES), Center for Research in Education (CIE-UMCE), Department of Chemistry, Metropolitan University of Educational Sciences, Santiago 776019, Chile
| | - Nanthi Bolan
- School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
- The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - María de la Luz Mora
- Center of Plant, Soil Interaction and Natural Resources Biotechnology, Scientific and Biotechnological Bioresource Nucleus (BIOREN-UFRO), Universidad de La Frontera, Avenida Francisco Salazar 01145, Temuco 4780000, Chile
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Natural Resources, Universidad de La Frontera, Avenida Francisco Salazar 01145, Temuco 4811230, Chile
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Cerqueira B, Covelo EF, Rúa-Díaz S, Marcet P, Forján R, Gallego JLR, Trakal L, Beesley L. Contrasting mobility of arsenic and copper in a mining soil: A comparative column leaching and pot testing approach. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 318:115530. [PMID: 35752005 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115530] [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: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The remediation of legacy metal(loid) contaminated soils in-situ relies on the addition of [organic] amendments to reduce the mobility and bioavailability of metal(loid)s, improve soil geochemical parameters and restore vegetation growth. Two vermicomposts of food and animal manure waste origin (V1 and V2) were amended to an arsenic (As) and copper (Cu) contaminated mine soil (≤1500 mg kg-1). Leaching columns and pot experiments evaluated copper and arsenic in soil pore waters, as well as pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and phosphate (PO43-) concentrations. The uptake of As and Cu to ryegrass was also measured via the pot experiment, whilst recovered biochars from the column leaching test were measured for metal sorption at the termination of leaching. Vermicompost amendment to soil facilitated ryegrass growth which was entirely absent from the untreated soil in the pot test. All amendment combinations raised pore water pH by ∼4 units. Copper concentrations in pore waters from columns and pots showed steep reductions (∼1 mg L-1), as a result of V1 & V2 compared to untreated soil (∼500 mg L-1). Combined with an increase in DOC and PO43-, As was mobilised an order of magnitude by V1. Biochar furthest reduced Cu in pore waters from the columns to <0.1 mg L-1, as a result of surface sorption. The results of this study indicate that biochar can restrict the mobility of Cu from a contaminated mine soil after other amendment interventions have been used to promote revegetation. However, the case of As, biochar cannot counter the profound impact of vermicompost on arsenic mobility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Cerqueira
- Department of Plant Biology and Soil Science, Faculty of Biology, University of Vigo, Vigo, Spain; Environmental and Geochemical Sciences Department, The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB158QH, UK.
| | - Emma F Covelo
- Department of Plant Biology and Soil Science, Faculty of Biology, University of Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Sandra Rúa-Díaz
- Department of Plant Biology and Soil Science, Faculty of Biology, University of Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Purificación Marcet
- Department of Plant Biology and Soil Science, Faculty of Biology, University of Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Rubén Forján
- Environmental Biogeochemistry & Raw Materials Group and INDUROT, University of Oviedo, Mieres, Spain
| | - José Luis R Gallego
- Environmental Biogeochemistry & Raw Materials Group and INDUROT, University of Oviedo, Mieres, Spain
| | - Lukas Trakal
- Department of Environmental Geosciences, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16500 Praha 6 Suchdol, Czech Republic
| | - Luke Beesley
- Department of Environmental Geosciences, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16500 Praha 6 Suchdol, Czech Republic; Environmental and Geochemical Sciences Department, The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB158QH, UK
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Rodríguez-Espinosa T, Navarro-Pedreño J, Gómez-Lucas I, Jordán-Vidal MM, Bech-Borras J, Zorpas AA. Urban areas, human health and technosols for the green deal. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2021; 43:5065-5086. [PMID: 33945056 PMCID: PMC8093134 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-021-00953-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Authors aim to carry out a bibliographic review as an initial approach to state of the art related to the quality of urban soils, as well as its possible link with human health. This concern arises from the need to highlight the consequences that soil could face, derived from the growth and aging of the population, as well as its predicted preference for urban settlement. Urban development may pose a challenge to the health of urban soils, due to degradative processes that it entails, such as land take, sealing, contamination or compaction. A healthy soil is the one which maintains the capacity to support ecosystem services, so it can provide numerous benefits to human health and well-being (carbon sequestration, protection against flooding, retention and immobilization of pollutants and a growth media for vegetation and food production). This article addresses threats facing urban soils, the strategies put forward by the European Union to deal with them, as well as the issues that require further attention. Greening cities could be a consensual solution, so authors analyze whether soils of cities are ready for that challenge and what resources need to maintain soil ecosystem functions. This review proposes to use made by waste Technosols for a sustainable green city. Although the use of Technosols as a type of soil is very recent, the interest of the scientific community in this field continues to grow.
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Affiliation(s)
- T. Rodríguez-Espinosa
- Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, University Miguel Hernández of Elche, Avd. de la Universidad s/n, 03202 Elche (Alicante), Spain
| | - J. Navarro-Pedreño
- Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, University Miguel Hernández of Elche, Avd. de la Universidad s/n, 03202 Elche (Alicante), Spain
| | - I. Gómez-Lucas
- Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, University Miguel Hernández of Elche, Avd. de la Universidad s/n, 03202 Elche (Alicante), Spain
| | - M. M. Jordán-Vidal
- Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, University Miguel Hernández of Elche, Avd. de la Universidad s/n, 03202 Elche (Alicante), Spain
| | - J. Bech-Borras
- Laboratory of Soil Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Plant Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A. A. Zorpas
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Engineering Sustainability, Open University of Cyprus, Environmental Conservation and Management, P.O. Box 12794, 2252 Latsia, Nicosia Cyprus
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Baragaño D, R Gallego JL, Forján R. Comparison of the effectiveness of biochar vs. magnesite amendments to immobilize metals and restore a polluted soil. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2021; 43:5053-5064. [PMID: 34043130 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-021-00981-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Here we addressed the remediation of a soil severely contaminated by Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn. In this regard, we tested the capacity of magnesite and biochar, inorganic and organic soil amendments, respectively, to reduce metal availability and improve soil properties. To this end, 1-kg pots containing the polluted soil were amended with either magnesite or biochar. Metal availability and soil properties were then measured at days 15 and 75. Also, to evaluate the impact of the two treatments on plant growth, we conducted experimental trials with Brassica juncea L. and compost addition. Both amendments, but particularly magnesite, markedly decreased metal availability. Soil properties were also enhanced, as reflected by increases in the cation exchangeable capacity. However, plant growth was inhibited by magnesite amendment. This observation could be attributable to an increase in soil pH and cation exchange capacity as well as a high Mg concentration. In contrast, biochar increased biomass production but decreased the quantity of metals recovered when the plants are harvested. In conclusion, on the basis of our results, we propose magnesite as a suitable approach for stabilizing contaminated soils (or even spoil heaps) where revegetation is not a priority. In contrast, although biochar has a lower, but still significant, capacity to immobilize metals, it can be used to restore natural soil properties and thus favor plant growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Baragaño
- INDUROT and Environmental Technology, Biotechnology and Geochemistry Group, Campus de Mieres, Universidad de Oviedo, Mieres, Asturias, Spain
| | - José Luis R Gallego
- INDUROT and Environmental Technology, Biotechnology and Geochemistry Group, Campus de Mieres, Universidad de Oviedo, Mieres, Asturias, Spain
| | - Rubén Forján
- INDUROT and Environmental Technology, Biotechnology and Geochemistry Group, Campus de Mieres, Universidad de Oviedo, Mieres, Asturias, Spain.
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