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Effects of Triclosan and Biosolids on Microbial Community Composition in an Agricultural Soil
Author(s) -
Park Inmyoung,
Zhang Nannan,
Ogunyoku Temitope A.,
Young Thomas M.,
Scow Kate M.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143012x13560205144335
Subject(s) - biosolids , triclosan , microbial population biology , nutrient , chemistry , bacteria , environmental chemistry , food science , soil water , wastewater , antimicrobial , composition (language) , sewage treatment , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , environmental engineering , environmental science , ecology , medicine , linguistics , philosophy , organic chemistry , pathology , genetics
Triclosan (TCS) is a widely used antimicrobial agent found at high concentrations in biosolids produced during municipal wastewater treatment. The effect of adding TCS, in the presence or absence of biosolids, on the composition of an agricultural soil microbial community was measured using phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PLFA). Most changes observed in microbial community composition were attributable to the addition of biosolids or to the passage of time, with smaller changes due to TCS exposure, regardless of the presence of biosolids. TCS slightly reduced the relative abundance of Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria and fungi, with or without biosolids. Bacteria were more sensitive than eukaryotes, consistent with the mode of action of TCS, which selectively targets fatty acid synthesis and disrupts cell membranes of bacteria. TCS slightly increased biomarkers of microbial stress, but stress biomarkers were lower in all biosolid treated soils, presumably due to increased availability of nutrients mitigating potential TCS toxicity.