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Effect of lead, cadmium, and mercury co‐contaminants on biodegradation in PAH‐polluted soils
Author(s) -
Deary Michael E.,
Ekumankama Chinedu C.,
Cummings Stephen P.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
land degradation and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1099-145X
pISSN - 1085-3278
DOI - 10.1002/ldr.2958
Subject(s) - environmental chemistry , cadmium , microcosm , bioremediation , chemistry , pollutant , mercury (programming language) , contamination , biodegradation , soil water , soil contamination , organic matter , microbial population biology , environmental science , ecology , soil science , bacteria , organic chemistry , computer science , biology , programming language , genetics
Contamination of land by persistent organic pollutants has significant implications for human health and for future development potential. Bioremediation is an effective method for reducing the concentrations of such contaminants to below harmful levels, but the presence of co‐contaminants may hinder this process. Here, we present the results of a 40‐week microcosm study in which the biodegradation of 16 United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; total: 2,166 mg kg −1 ) was followed in the presence of 3 different concentrations of cadmium (up to 620 mg kg −1 ) and lead (up to 782 mg kg −1 ) in a high organic matter soil. In the absence of metal treatment, 82% of PAHs were removed during the study period. Lead exerts a greater negative effect on total PAH removal than cadmium at low concentrations (approximately 100 mg kg −1 ) whilst cadmium exerts the greatest effect at higher concentrations (up to −27.7% reduction). Mercury, intended as the abiotic control (approximately 1,150 mg kg −1 ), exerts the greatest effect overall (−37%). Principal Component Analysis showed that PAH degradation was strongly associated with soil respiration rate, biomass content, and Ecoplate Average Well Colour Development. During the initial phase of the experiment, reduced microbial diversity was associated with increased PAH removal, consistent with literature observations for other organic contaminants, though this association was reversed after Week 12. Degradation of higher molecular weight PAHs showed the greatest sensitivity to the health of the microbial community. The effect of metal treatments on biotic parameters in microcosms without PAH amendment is also presented.