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Location‐specific ecotoxicological risk assessment of metal‐polluted soils
Author(s) -
van Beelen Patrick,
Wouterse Marja,
Posthuma Leo,
Rutgers Michiel
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1897/03-568
Subject(s) - environmental chemistry , chromium , ecotoxicology , zinc , bioavailability , chemistry , microorganism , pollution , soil water , metal , soil contamination , nickel , copper , environmental science , ecology , biology , bacteria , soil science , bioinformatics , genetics , organic chemistry
When chemical analysis indicates metal pollution, a second‐tier method is needed to evaluate whether toxic effects occur at the polluted sites. A method based on pollution‐induced community tolerance (PICT) was developed using samples taken from locations polluted with sewage more than 20 years ago. Microorganisms extracted from soil samples were exposed to a concentration range of zinc, nickel, copper, chromium (III), or chromium (VI) salts in a buffer suspension. The remaining activity of the intoxicated microorganisms was determined by color formation with 31 different organic substrates in microtiter plates. Microorganisms from moderately Zn‐polluted sites (>45 mg/kg) showed an increased tolerance for zinc. Nickel tolerance was observed at 51 mg Ni/kg soil, chromium (VI) tolerance at 923 mg Cr/kg. In most cases, tolerance also was observed at higher concentrations. High concentrations of 1,494 mg Cu/kg or 3,935 mg Cr/kg did not show PICT, indicating a limited bioavailability of Cu and Cr at these sites. The benefits of our method are its greater sensitivity compared to other tests used at these sites, and its specificity for those metals that exceed allowable levels.