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Ojeda G, Moreira-Santos M, Sousa JP, Pratas J, Ribeiro R, Costa M, Natal-da-Luz T. Amendment of soils with metal-rich sludge: Potential water toxicity due to metal release via over-time slaking. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 338:139482. [PMID: 37442393 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139482] [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: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Industrial metal-rich sludge can improve soil properties, but it is potentially toxic to soils and adjacent aquatic systems. The soil-sludge-water interactions influence metals bioavailability over time, a phenomenon mostly regulated by the still debatable "sludge physical protection" or "sludge delayed release" hypotheses. The present study aimed to investigate: (1) whether sludge increases soil aggregate stability against slaking, (2) which hypothesis mostly regulates metal release from soils to water and (3) the ecotoxicity of the metals released during soil slaking for aquatic organisms. Under a realistic field scale, soils amended with an industrial sludge or spiked with equivalent metal solutions (of Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn) were collected over three months to test soil aggregate stability, the ecotoxicity of the slaking water and metal contents in soil and water. The "sludge physical protection" was verified for all metals, though for Cu the "sludge delayed release" hypothesis appears plausible after three months. Soil amendment with sludge did not lead to effects on the growth of the microalga Raphidocelis subcapitata, contrarily to the observed for the metal-spiked soil. Criteria regulating soils sludge-amendment management should thus include doses not hazardous to biota, and not only metal threshold levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerardo Ojeda
- Escuela de Ciencias Agrícolas, Pecuarias y del Medio Ambiente - ECAPMA, Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia - UNAD, Calle 14 sur # 14 - 31, Bogotá, DC, Colombia; CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Spain.
| | - Matilde Moreira-Santos
- CFE-Centre for Functional Ecology - Science for People and the Planet, Associate Laboratory TERRA, University of Coimbra, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - José P Sousa
- CFE-Centre for Functional Ecology - Science for People and the Planet, Associate Laboratory TERRA, University of Coimbra, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - João Pratas
- Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3001 401, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rui Ribeiro
- CFE-Centre for Functional Ecology - Science for People and the Planet, Associate Laboratory TERRA, University of Coimbra, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Manuela Costa
- DEQAL, Direção Regional de Agricultura e Pescas do Norte, Estrada Exterior da Circunvalação, 11846, 4460-281, Senhora da Hora, Portugal
| | - Tiago Natal-da-Luz
- CFE-Centre for Functional Ecology - Science for People and the Planet, Associate Laboratory TERRA, University of Coimbra, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
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Popoola LT, Olawale TO, Salami L. A review on the fate and effects of contaminants in biosolids applied on land: Hazards and government regulatory policies. Heliyon 2023; 9:e19788. [PMID: 37810801 PMCID: PMC10556614 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The increase in world population growth and its resultant increase in industrial production to meet its need, have continued to raise the volume of wastewater received by treatment plant facilities. This has expectedly, led to an upsurge in the volume of sewage sludge and biosolids generated from wastewater treatment systems. Biosolids are best managed by application on land because of their agronomic benefits. However, this usage has been discovered to negatively affect humans and impact the environment due to the accumulation of minute concentrations of contaminants still present in the biosolid after treatment, hence the need for government regulations. This review article examined the fate and effects of pollutants, especially persistent organic pollutants (PoPs) of concern and emerging contaminants found in biosolids used for land applications, and also discussed government regulations on biosolid reuse from the perspectives of the two major regulations governing biosolid land application-the EU's Sludge Directive and USEPA's Part 503 Rule, in an attempt to draw attention to their outdated contents since enactment, as they do not currently meet the challenges of biosolid land application and thus, require a comprehensive update. Any update efforts should focus on USEPA's Part 503 Rule, which is less stringent on the allowable concentration of biosolid pollutants. Furthermore, an update should include specific regulations on new and emerging contaminants and persistent organic pollutants (PoPs) such as microplastics, pharmaceutical and personal care products (P&PCPs), surfactants, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, flame retardants, pathogens, and organic pollutants; further reduction of heavy metal standard limits, and consideration of soil phosphate-metal interactions to regulate biosolid agronomic loading rate. Future biosolid research should focus on the concentration of TCS, TCC, and emerging pharmaceuticals, as well as Microplastic transport in biosolid-amended soils, soil-plant transfer mechanism, and metabolism of PFAs in the soils; all of which will inform government policies on biosolid application on land.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lekan Taofeek Popoola
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
| | - Theophilus Ogunwumi Olawale
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria
- Environmental Engineering Research Unit, Department of Chemical Engineering, Lagos State University, Epe, Lagos State, Nigeria
| | - Lukumon Salami
- Environmental Engineering Research Unit, Department of Chemical Engineering, Lagos State University, Epe, Lagos State, Nigeria
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3
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Al-Awwal N, Anderson SH, El-Dweik M, Udawatta RP, Yang J, Zaid F. Effects of conservation buffer systems on adsorption of fluorescent-labeled Escherichia coli. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 2023; 52:303-314. [PMID: 36382799 DOI: 10.1002/jeq2.20436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The magnitude of bacterial transport through runoff into surface water or infiltration into groundwater is influenced by the adsorption processes in soil. The objective of this study was to evaluate fluorescent-labeled Escherichia coli (E. coli) adsorption by soil under agroforestry buffer (AB), grass buffer (GB), and row crop (RC) management. Adsorption experiments were conducted by inoculating three masses (0.5, 1, and 10 g) of each treatment (AB, GB, and RC) with E. coli O157:H7-GFP with concentration ranges of 105 -108 colony-forming units (cfu) ml-1 . Adsorption data were evaluated using Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin adsorption isotherm models. The Freundlich isotherm model described the observed data well for all treatments using the 10-g soil mass, with the R2 values closer to unity in all treatments. The Freundlich Kf parameter, an indicator of adsorption capacity, was higher for the AB treatment (9.93 cfu ml-1 ) compared with the GB and RC treatments (2.32 and 1.27 cfu ml-1 , respectively). The multiple pairwise comparisons test (Tukey test) of the Freundlich 1/nf parameter demonstrated a significant difference (p < .05) between the AB treatment and the RC and GB treatments. Similarly, the Kf values were significantly (p = .05) higher for the 10-g mass under the same test conditions, but no significant differences were observed in the 0.5- and 1-g masses. This study demonstrated that AB has a higher E. coli adsorption capacity and the potential for mitigating the effects of E. coli O157:H7 transport to surface or groundwater through the soil ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasruddeen Al-Awwal
- School of Natural Resources, Univ. of Missouri-Columbia, 302 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building, Columbia, MO, USA
- Dep. of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences and Cooperative Research Program, Lincoln Univ., Jefferson City, MO, USA
| | - Stephen H Anderson
- School of Natural Resources, Univ. of Missouri-Columbia, 302 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Majed El-Dweik
- Dep. of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences and Cooperative Research Program, Lincoln Univ., Jefferson City, MO, USA
| | - Ranjith P Udawatta
- School of Natural Resources, Univ. of Missouri-Columbia, 302 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building, Columbia, MO, USA
- The Center for Agroforestry, Univ. of Missouri-Columbia, 203 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - John Yang
- Dep. of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences and Cooperative Research Program, Lincoln Univ., Jefferson City, MO, USA
| | - Faraj Zaid
- Dep. of Chemical Engineering, Sirte Univ., Sirte, Libya
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4
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Mware NA, Hall MC, Rajendran S, Gilley JE, Schmidt AM, Bartelt-Hunt SL, Zhang Y, Li X. Resistome and mobilome in surface runoff from manured soil as affected by setback distance. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 429:128278. [PMID: 35065306 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Land application of livestock manure introduces antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) into the soil environment. The objectives of this study were to examine the changes of resistome and mobilome in runoff and soil as a function of setback distance, i.e., the distance between manured soil and surface water, and to quantify the contributions of manure and background soil to the ARGs and MGEs in surface runoff. The resistome and mobilome in runoff and soil from a field-scale plot study were characterized using a high throughput quantitative polymerase chain reaction (HT-qPCR) array. It was estimated that a setback distance of ~40 m is required to reduce the total abundance of ARGs and MGEs in runoff from amended plots to that in control runoff. The resistome and mobilome of the soil in the setback region was not affected by manure-borne ARGs and MGEs. SourceTracker analyses revealed that background soil gradually became the predominant source of the ARGs and MGEs in runoff as setback distance increased. The results demonstrate how manure-borne ARGs and MGEs dissipated in agricultural runoff with increasing setback distance and had limited impacts on the resistome and mobilome of soil within the setback region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noelle A Mware
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA
| | - Maria C Hall
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA
| | - Selvakumar Rajendran
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA; Department of Nanobiotechnology, PSG Institute of Advanced Studies, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - John E Gilley
- Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, USA
| | - Amy M Schmidt
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA
| | | | - Yifan Zhang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Wayne State University, USA
| | - Xu Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA.
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5
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Wiesner-Friedman C, Beattie RE, Stewart JR, Hristova KR, Serre ML. Characterizing Differences in Sources of and Contributions to Fecal Contamination of Sediment and Surface Water with the Microbial FIT Framework. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:4231-4240. [PMID: 35298143 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c00224] [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] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Surface water monitoring and microbial source tracking (MST) are used to identify host sources of fecal pollution and protect public health. However, knowledge of the locations of spatial sources and their relative impacts on the environment is needed to effectively mitigate health risks. Additionally, sediment samples may offer time-integrated information compared to transient surface water. Thus, we implemented the newly developed microbial find, inform, and test framework to identify spatial sources and their impacts on human (HuBac) and bovine (BoBac) MST markers, quantified from both riverbed sediment and surface water in a bovine-dense region. Dairy feeding operations and low-intensity developed land-cover were associated with 99% (p-value < 0.05) and 108% (p-value < 0.05) increases, respectively, in the relative abundance of BoBac in sediment, and with 79% (p-value < 0.05) and 39% increases in surface water. Septic systems were associated with a 48% increase in the relative abundance of HuBac in sediment and a 56% increase in surface water. Stronger source signals were observed for sediment responses compared to water. By defining source locations, predicting river impacts, and estimating source influence ranges in a Great Lakes region, this work informs pollution mitigation strategies of local and global significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinne Wiesner-Friedman
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7400, United States
| | - Rachelle E Beattie
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233, United States
| | - Jill R Stewart
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7400, United States
| | - Krassimira R Hristova
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233, United States
| | - Marc L Serre
- Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7400, United States
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6
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Beattie RE, Hristova KR. Manure derived nutrients alter microbial community composition and increase the presence of potential pathogens in freshwater sediment. J Appl Microbiol 2021; 132:747-757. [PMID: 34312944 DOI: 10.1111/jam.15232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
AIM To determine the impact of an acute, pulse disturbance of nutrients from manure on freshwater sediment microbiomes in an experimental system. METHODS AND RESULTS A controlled freshwater mesocosm experiment was designed to compare the effect of disturbance from nutrients derived from sterile manure (SM), disturbance from equivalent concentrations of laboratory-derived nutrients, and a nondisturbed control on freshwater sediment microbial community composition and function using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Sediment microbiomes impacted by nutrients from SM showed no sign of compositional recovery after 28 days but those impacted by laboratory-derived chemicals lead to a new steady-state (p < 0.05). Carbon and nitrate sources within disturbed mesocosms were the primary drivers of altered microbial community composition. Additionally, multiple potential pathogens (based on exact sequence matching at the species level) were enriched in mesocosms treated with SM. CONCLUSIONS Nutrient disturbance from SM, in the absence of the manure microbial community, alters the microbiome of sediments without recovery after 28 days and enriches potential pathogens. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY These results suggest manure land application practices should be re-evaluated to account for impact of nutrient disturbance on environmental microbiomes in addition to the impact of the manure microbial community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachelle E Beattie
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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7
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Sorinolu AJ, Tyagi N, Kumar A, Munir M. Antibiotic resistance development and human health risks during wastewater reuse and biosolids application in agriculture. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 265:129032. [PMID: 33293048 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The reuse of treated wastewater (TWW) and sewage sludge are considered as solutions to the limited water resource and sludge disposal issues, respectively. The associated environmental and human health risks need to be analyzed to assess whether they are safe solutions or not. This paper discusses issues that relate to the accumulation of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance (AR) determinants in agricultural lands and crops, following TWW irrigation and biosolid amendment. Exposure assessment and dose-response assessment are the two important aspects of risk assessment discussed in this paper. Finally, research gaps in current knowledge that are relevant to a comprehensive and quantitative AR risk assessment were identified which includes: 1.) Studies on soil conditions that increase the frequency of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) between native soil resistome and pathogenic microbes in biosolids and TWW 2.) Holistic studies that examine the accumulation or dissipation of antibiotics, antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from the irrigation/biosolids application stage to crop consumption stage 3.) The influences of soil environmental conditions (e.g. salinity, nutrients) on the fate of ARB and ARGs in soil and translocation in edible plants 4.) The development of dose-response models that explicitly incorporate the potential for ARGs transfer between microbes when quantifying the risks of infection due to ARB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeola Julian Sorinolu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC, 28223, United States
| | - Neha Tyagi
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, 110 016, India
| | - Arun Kumar
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, 110 016, India
| | - Mariya Munir
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC, 28223, United States.
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8
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Beattie RE, Bandla A, Swarup S, Hristova KR. Freshwater Sediment Microbial Communities Are Not Resilient to Disturbance From Agricultural Land Runoff. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:539921. [PMID: 33178143 PMCID: PMC7593329 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.539921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms are critically important for the function of surface water ecosystems but are frequently subjected to anthropogenic disturbances at either acute (pulse) or long-term (press) scales. Response and recovery of microbial community composition and function following pulse disturbance is well-studied in controlled, laboratory scale experiments but is less well-understood in natural environments undergoing continual press disturbance. The objectives of this study were to determine the drivers of sediment microbial compositional and functional changes in freshwaters receiving continual press disturbance from agricultural land runoff and to evaluate the ability of the native microbial community to resist disturbance related changes as a proxy for freshwater ecosystem health. Freshwater sediments were collected seasonally over 1 year in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin, a region impacted by concentrated dairy cattle farming, manure fertilization, and associated agricultural runoff which together serve as a press disturbance. Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we found that sediments in locations strongly impacted by intensive agriculture contain significantly higher abundances (p < 0.01) of the genera Thiobacillus, Methylotenera, Crenotrhix, Nitrospira, and Rhodoferax compared to reference sediments, and functions including nitrate reduction, nitrite reduction, and nitrogen respiration are significantly higher (p < 0.05) at locations in close proximity to large farms. Nine species-level potential human pathogens were identified in riverine sediments including Acinetobacer lwoffi and Arcobacter skirrowii, two pathogens associated with the cattle microbiome. Microbial community composition at locations in close proximity to intensive agriculture was not resistant nor resilient to agricultural runoff disturbance within 5 months post-disturbance but did reach a new, stable microbial composition. From this data, we conclude that sediment microbial community composition is sensitive and shifts in response to chemical and microbial pollution from intensive agriculture, has a low capacity to resist infiltration by non-native, harmful bacteria and, overall, the natural buffering capacity of freshwater ecosystems is unable to fully resist the impacts from agricultural press disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachelle E. Beattie
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Aditya Bandla
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sanjay Swarup
- NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biological Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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9
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Manure-borne pathogens as an important source of water contamination: An update on the dynamics of pathogen survival/transport as well as practical risk mitigation strategies. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2020; 227:113524. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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10
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Hall MC, Mware NA, Gilley JE, Bartelt-Hunt SL, Snow DD, Schmidt AM, Eskridge KM, Li X. Influence of Setback Distance on Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Runoff and Soil Following the Land Application of Swine Manure Slurry. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:4800-4809. [PMID: 32207931 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b04834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The environmental spread of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from the land application of livestock wastes can be a potential public health threat. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of setback distance, which determines how close manure may be applied in relation to surface water, on the transport of antibiotics and ARGs in runoff and soil following land application of swine manure slurry. Rainfall simulation tests were conducted on field plots covered with wheat residues, each of which contained an upslope manure region where slurry was applied and an adjacent downslope setback region that did not receive slurry. Results show that all three antibiotics (chlortetracycline, lincomycin, and tiamulin) and seven out of the ten genes tested (erm(B), erm(C), intI1, tet(O), tet(Q), tet(X), and the 16S rRNA gene) decreased significantly in runoff with increased setback distance. Only blaTEM, chlortetracycline, and tiamulin decreased significantly in surface soil with increased setback distance, while the other analytes did not exhibit statistically significant trends. By using linear regression models with field data, we estimate that a setback distance between 34-67 m may allow manure-borne antibiotics and ARGs in runoff to reach background levels under the experimental conditions tested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria C Hall
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
| | - Noelle A Mware
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
| | | | - Shannon L Bartelt-Hunt
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
| | - Daniel D Snow
- School of Natural Resources, Water Sciences Laboratory, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68583, United States
| | - Amy M Schmidt
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68583, United States
| | - Kent M Eskridge
- Department of Statistics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68583, United States
| | - Xu Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
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11
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Nag R, Auer A, Markey BK, Whyte P, Nolan S, O'Flaherty V, Russell L, Bolton D, Fenton O, Richards K, Cummins E. Anaerobic digestion of agricultural manure and biomass - Critical indicators of risk and knowledge gaps. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 690:460-479. [PMID: 31299578 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Anaerobic digestion (AD) has been identified as a potential green technology to treat food and municipal waste, agricultural residues, including farmyard manure and slurry (FYM&S), to produce biogas. FYM&S and digestate can act as soil conditioners and provide valuable nutrients to plants; however, it may also contain harmful pathogens. This study looks at the critical indicators in determining the microbial inactivation potential of AD and the possible implications for human and environmental health of spreading the resulting digestate on agricultural land. In addition, available strategies for risk assessment in the context of EU and Irish legislation are assessed. Storage time and process parameters (including temperature, pH, organic loading rate, hydraulic retention time), feedstock recipe (carbon-nitrogen ratio) to the AD plant (both mesophilic and thermophilic) were all assessed to significantly influence pathogen inactivation. However, complete inactivation of all pathogens is unlikely. There are limited studies evaluating risks from FYM&S as a feedstock in AD and the spreading of resulting digestate. The lack of process standardisation and varying feedstocks between AD farms means risk must be evaluated on a case by case basis and calls for a more unified risk assessment methodology. In addition, there is a need for the enhancement of AD farm-based modelling techniques and datasets to help in advancing knowledge in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajat Nag
- University College Dublin School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Agathe Auer
- University College Dublin School of Veterinary Medicine, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Bryan K Markey
- University College Dublin School of Veterinary Medicine, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Paul Whyte
- University College Dublin School of Veterinary Medicine, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Stephen Nolan
- National University of Ireland Galway, School of Natural Sciences, Galway, Ireland
| | - Vincent O'Flaherty
- National University of Ireland Galway, School of Natural Sciences, Galway, Ireland.
| | - Lauren Russell
- TEAGASC, Ashtown Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin 15, Ireland.
| | - Declan Bolton
- TEAGASC, Ashtown Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin 15, Ireland.
| | - Owen Fenton
- TEAGASC, Environment Research Centre, Johnstown Castle, County Wexford, Ireland.
| | - Karl Richards
- TEAGASC, Environment Research Centre, Johnstown Castle, County Wexford, Ireland.
| | - Enda Cummins
- University College Dublin School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
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12
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Identification of Human and Animal Fecal Contamination in Drinking Water Sources in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, Using Host-Associated Bacteroidales Quantitative PCR Assays. WATER 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/w10121796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This study identified the sources of fecal contamination in the groundwater of different land covers. A total of 300 groundwater samples were collected in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, in the dry (n = 152) and wet (n = 148) seasons of 2016. Fecal indicator bacteria were initially enumerated, and then fecal contamination sources were identified using human (BacHum), ruminant (BacR), and pig-associated (Pig2Bac) Bacteroidales quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays. Sixty-six percent (197/300) of the tested groundwater samples had Escherichia coli concentrations higher than the World Health Organization threshold for drinking (<1 most probable number/100 mL). The fecal contamination of the groundwater was of human (22%, 55/250), ruminant (11%, 28/250), and pig (3%, 8/250) origin. Deep tube wells were less likely to be positive for E. coli and fecal markers compared to shallow dug wells. The human fecal marker was more likely to be detected in sources from built-up as compared to agricultural areas (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.60, p = 0.002). Likewise, the ruminant fecal marker was more likely to be detected in sources from agricultural as compared to built-up areas (AOR = 2.90, p = 0.018). These findings suggest the preparation of mitigation strategies for controlling fecal pollution based on land cover and well types.
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13
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Devane ML, Weaver L, Singh SK, Gilpin BJ. Fecal source tracking methods to elucidate critical sources of pathogens and contaminant microbial transport through New Zealand agricultural watersheds - A review. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2018; 222:293-303. [PMID: 29860123 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.05.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In New Zealand, there is substantial potential for microbial contaminants from agricultural fecal sources to be transported into waterways. The flow and transport pathways for fecal contaminants vary at a range of scales and is dependent on chemical, physical and biological attributes of pathways, soils, microorganisms and landscape characteristics. Understanding contaminant transport pathways from catchment to stream can aid water management strategies. It is not practical, however to conduct direct field measurement for all catchments on the fate and transport of fecal pathogens due to constraints on time, personnel, and material resources. To overcome this problem, fecal source tracking can be utilised to link catchment characteristics to fecal signatures identifying critical sources. In this article, we have reviewed approaches to identifying critical sources and pathways for fecal microorganisms from agricultural sources, and make recommendations for the appropriate use of these fecal source tracking (FST) tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L Devane
- Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd. (ESR), P.O. Box 29181, Christchurch, New Zealand.
| | - Louise Weaver
- Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd. (ESR), P.O. Box 29181, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Shailesh K Singh
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, 10 Kyle St, Riccarton Christchurch, 8011, New Zealand
| | - Brent J Gilpin
- Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd. (ESR), P.O. Box 29181, Christchurch, New Zealand
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14
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Chae M, Xia L, Zhu C, Bressler DC. Accelerating settling rates of biosolids lagoons through thermal hydrolysis. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2018; 220:227-232. [PMID: 29778959 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.05.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Revised: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Although the improved dewaterability and digestibility of primary biosolids subjected to thermal hydrolysis has been studied for decades, there are a surprisingly small number of studies exploring the use of this thermal treatment for digested biosolids that are typically left to settle in large settling lagoons. This is likely because of the high capital and operating costs associated with thermal hydrolysis, coupled with the limited applications and value of the resulting products. However, due to the anticipated increases in the amount of generated biosolids combined with issues surrounding potential environmental release and the limited availability of land for additional lagoons, other biosolids management strategies are being explored. Here, we show that thermal hydrolysis at 280 °C for 1 h resulted in 78.2 ± 0.8% settling after 2 h. Furthermore, addition of phosphoric acid to lower the pH of the hydrolysate to pH 3 resulted in increased settling rates, but the final volume of unsettled material after 2 h was statistically similar to the thermally hydrolyzed material without pH adjustment (75.7 ± 2.3%). Remarkably, when the pH of the digested biosolids was adjusted to 3 prior to thermal hydrolysis, a settling rate of 87.3 ± 1.1% was observed after just 15 min. Significantly, the dewaterability of thermally hydrolyzed biosolids was measured in our experiments through natural settling, without the use of external mechanics. Taken together, the data presented in this paper demonstrate that high temperature thermal hydrolysis is a promising method for accelerating the settling rates of digested biosolids and may represent a viable alternative to building and maintaining biosolids lagoons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Chae
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2P5, Canada.
| | - Lin Xia
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2P5, Canada.
| | - Chengyong Zhu
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2P5, Canada.
| | - David C Bressler
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2P5, Canada.
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15
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Healy MG, Fenton O, Cormican M, Peyton DP, Ordsmith N, Kimber K, Morrison L. Antimicrobial compounds (triclosan and triclocarban) in sewage sludges, and their presence in runoff following land application. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2017; 142:448-453. [PMID: 28458228 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.04.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Revised: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 04/22/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The reuse of treated municipal sewage ('biosolids') on land is an effective method to divert waste away from landfill and to use an alternative, low cost method of fertilisation. While legislation has mainly focused on the control of nutrient and metal application rates to land, other potentially harmful emerging contaminants (ECs) may be present in biosolids. Up to 80% of municipal sewage sludge is reused in agriculture in Ireland, which is currently the highest rate of reuse in Europe. However, unlike other countries, no study has been conducted on the presence of ECs across a range of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in this country. This study evaluated the concentrations of two ECs in sewage sludge, the antimicrobials triclosan (TCS) and triclocarban (TCC), and their presence in surface runoff following land application in controlled rainfall simulation studies. In 16 WWTPs, concentrations of TCS and TCC were 0.61 and 0.08µgg-1, which is at the lower end of concentrations measured in other countries. The concentrations in runoff post land application were also mainly below the limits of detection (90ngL-1 for TCS, 6ngL-1 for TCC), indicating that runoff is not a significant pathway of entry into the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- M G Healy
- Civil Engineering, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - O Fenton
- Teagasc Johnstown Castle Environment Research Centre, Co., Wexford, Ireland
| | - M Cormican
- School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - D P Peyton
- Civil Engineering, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland; Teagasc Johnstown Castle Environment Research Centre, Co., Wexford, Ireland
| | - N Ordsmith
- Crawford Scientific Ltd., Holm Street, Strathaven, South Lanarkshire, ML10 6NB, Scotland, United Kingdom; Hall Analytical Laboratories Ltd., Unit A, Millbrook Business Centre, Floats Road, Manchester M23 9YJ, England, United Kingdom
| | - K Kimber
- Crawford Scientific Ltd., Holm Street, Strathaven, South Lanarkshire, ML10 6NB, Scotland, United Kingdom; Hall Analytical Laboratories Ltd., Unit A, Millbrook Business Centre, Floats Road, Manchester M23 9YJ, England, United Kingdom
| | - L Morrison
- Earth and Ocean Sciences, School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
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Manyi-Loh CE, Mamphweli SN, Meyer EL, Makaka G, Simon M, Okoh AI. An Overview of the Control of Bacterial Pathogens in Cattle Manure. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2016; 13:ijerph13090843. [PMID: 27571092 PMCID: PMC5036676 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph13090843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Revised: 08/16/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Cattle manure harbors microbial constituents that make it a potential source of pollution in the environment and infections in humans. Knowledge of, and microbial assessment of, manure is crucial in a bid to prevent public health and environmental hazards through the development of better management practices and policies that should govern manure handling. Physical, chemical and biological methods to reduce pathogen population in manure do exist, but are faced with challenges such as cost, odor pollution, green house gas emission, etc. Consequently, anaerobic digestion of animal manure is currently one of the most widely used treatment method that can help to salvage the above-mentioned adverse effects and in addition, produces biogas that can serve as an alternative/complementary source of energy. However, this method has to be monitored closely as it could be fraught with challenges during operation, caused by the inherent characteristics of the manure. In addition, to further reduce bacterial pathogens to a significant level, anaerobic digestion can be combined with other methods such as thermal, aerobic and physical methods. In this paper, we review the bacterial composition of cattle manure as well as methods engaged in the control of pathogenic microbes present in manure and recommendations that need to be respected and implemented in order to prevent microbial contamination of the environment, animals and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christy E Manyi-Loh
- Fort Hare Institute of Technology, University of Fort Hare, Alice Campus, Alice 5700, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
- Applied and Environmental Microbiology Research Group (AEMREG), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Fort Hare, Alice Campus, Alice 5700, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
| | - Sampson N Mamphweli
- Fort Hare Institute of Technology, University of Fort Hare, Alice Campus, Alice 5700, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
| | - Edson L Meyer
- Fort Hare Institute of Technology, University of Fort Hare, Alice Campus, Alice 5700, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
| | - Golden Makaka
- Department of Physics, University of Fort Hare, Alice Campus, Alice 5700, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
| | - Michael Simon
- Fort Hare Institute of Technology, University of Fort Hare, Alice Campus, Alice 5700, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
| | - Anthony I Okoh
- Applied and Environmental Microbiology Research Group (AEMREG), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Fort Hare, Alice Campus, Alice 5700, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
- South Africa Medical Research Council Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
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17
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Healy MG, Fenton O, Forrestal PJ, Danaher M, Brennan RB, Morrison L. Metal concentrations in lime stabilised, thermally dried and anaerobically digested sewage sludges. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2016; 48:404-408. [PMID: 26611400 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2015.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2015] [Revised: 10/20/2015] [Accepted: 11/14/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Cognisant of the negative debate and public sentiment about the land application of treated sewage sludges ('biosolids'), it is important to characterise such wastes beyond current regulated parameters. Concerns may be warranted, as many priority metal pollutants may be present in biosolids. This study represents the first time that extensive use was made of a handheld X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyser to characterise metals in sludges, having undergone treatment by thermal drying, lime stabilisation, or anaerobic digestion, in 16 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Ireland. The concentrations of metals, expressed as mgkg(-1) dry solids (DS), which are currently regulated in the European Union, ranged from 11 (cadmium, anaerobically digested (AD) biosolids) to 1273mgkg(-1) (zinc, AD biosolids), and with the exception of lead in one WWTP (which had a concentration of 3696mgkg(-1)), all metals were within EU regulatory limits. Two potentially hazardous metals, antimony (Sb) and tin (Sn), for which no legislation currently exists, were much higher than their baseline concentrations in soils (17-20mgSbkg(-1) and 23-55mgSnkg(-1)), meaning that potentially large amounts of these elements may be applied to the soil without regulation. This study recommends that the regulations governing the values for metal concentrations in sludges for reuse in agriculture are extended to include Sb and Sn.
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Affiliation(s)
- M G Healy
- Civil Engineering, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - O Fenton
- Teagasc Johnstown Castle Environment Research Centre, Co. Wexford, Ireland
| | - P J Forrestal
- Teagasc Johnstown Castle Environment Research Centre, Co. Wexford, Ireland
| | - M Danaher
- Food Safety Department, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin 15, Ireland
| | - R B Brennan
- Civil Engineering, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - L Morrison
- Earth and Ocean Sciences, School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
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