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Determination of EC 50 Values for Cu, Zn, and Cr on Microorganisms Activity in a Mediterranean Sandy Soil
Author(s) -
Carabassa Vicenç,
Domene Xavier,
Ortiz Oriol,
Marks Evan A. N.,
Alcañiz Josep M.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
clean – soil, air, water
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.444
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1863-0669
pISSN - 1863-0650
DOI - 10.1002/clen.201700617
Subject(s) - amendment , environmental chemistry , ecotoxicity , chemistry , microorganism , soil respiration , respiration , mediterranean climate , ecotoxicology , metal , soil contamination , metal toxicity , soil water , toxicity , environmental science , heavy metals , soil science , ecology , botany , biology , bacteria , organic chemistry , political science , law , genetics
Ecotoxicity of three potentially toxic metals (PTM) (Cu, Zn, and Cr) in a slightly acidic sandy soil is tested using the soil respiration test (OECD‐217) in order to determine EC 50 values for the carbon transformation activity of microorganisms. Addition of an organic amendment of Populus leaves is also crossed with metal spiking in order to investigate possible interaction with metal toxicity. Soil respiration is measured at day 1 and 28 after the soil spiking with the PTM to assess short‐term effects on soil microbial activity. Of the three metals tested, Cu shows the highest toxicity at the longest exposure times (day 28) and Zn shows a strong inhibitory effect in the short‐term (day 1), even though later toxicity diminish significantly. Cr is the least toxic studied PTM. Organic amendment outweighs any adverse effects of these metals, increasing soil respiration, even in the treatments with high doses of metals.