In recent years, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are increasingly used in various industries due to their antibacterial properties, which lead to an increase in pollution of the environment and soil ecosystems. However, the ecological effects of soil pollution by AgNPs were poorly studied than that with AgNPs of other metal-based NPs. The aim of this study is to assess the influence of AgNPs on the biological properties of Haplic Chernozem. Silver was introduced into the soil in the form of AgNPs with a concentration of 0.5; 1; 5; 10; 50, and 100 mg/kg in laboratory conditions. The influence of AgNPs on the biological properties of Haplic Chernozem was assessed 30 days after contamination. The degree of reduction in biological properties depends on the AgNPs concentration in the soil. This study showed that the sensitivity to contamination by AgNPs in the total number of bacteria and enzymatic activity was more than that in the abundance of bacteria of the genus Azotobacter. The integrated index of biological state (IIBS) of Haplic Chernozem was decreased by contamination with AgNPs. Silver nanoparticles in the concentration of 10 mg/kg caused a decrease in the indicator by 13% relative to the control. It also decreased IIBS by doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg by 22 and 27% relative to the control. All used biological indicators could be used for biomonitoring, biodiagnosis, bioindication, and regulation of ecological condition of soil contamination by AgNPs.
The use of silver in various spheres of life and production leads to an increase in environmental pollution, including soil. At the same time, the environmental consequences of silver pollution of soils have been studied to a much lesser extent than those of other heavy metals. The aim of this study is to estimate silver ecotoxicity using the soil state biological indicators. We studied soils that are significantly different in resistance to heavy metal pollution: ordinary chernozem (Haplic Chernozems, Loamic), sierosands (Haplic Arenosols, Eutric), and brown forest acidic soil (Haplic Cambisols, Eutric). Contamination was simulated in the laboratory. Silver was introduced into the soil in the form of nitrate in doses of 1, 10, and 100 mg/kg. Changes in biological parameters were assessed 10, 30, and 90 days after contamination. Silver pollution of soils in most cases leads to deterioration of their biological properties: the total number of bacteria, the abundance of bacteria of the genus Azotobacter, the activity of enzymes (catalase and dehydrogenases), and the phytotoxicity indicators decrease. The degree of reduction in biological properties depends on the silver concentration in the soil and the period from the contamination moment. In most cases, there is a direct relationship between the silver concentration and the degree of deterioration of the studied soil properties. The silver toxic effect was most pronounced on the 30th day after contamination. In terms of their resistance to silver pollution, the studied soils are in the following order: ordinary chernozem > sierosands ≥ brown forest soil. The light granulometric composition of sierosands and the acidic reaction of the environment of brown forest soils, as well as the low content of organic matter, contribute to high mobility and, consequently, high ecotoxicity of silver in these soils. The regional maximum permissible concentration (rMPC) of silver in ordinary chernozem (Haplic Chernozems, Loamic) is 4.4 mg/kg, in sierosands (Haplic Arenosols, Eutric) 0.9 mg/kg, and in brown forest soils (Haplic Cambisols, Eutric) 0.8 mg/kg.
An increase in the penetration of metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) into the environment requires an assessment of their ecotoxicity as they impair the critical activity of plants, animals, bacteria, and enzymes. Therefore, the study aimed to observe the effects of metal-based NPs, including copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn), on the Cambisols, which cover a significant part of the earth's soil and play an important role in the biosphere. Metal-based NPs were introduced into the soil at concentrations of 100, 1,000, and 10,000 mg/kg. The biological properties of the soil are being investigated as the most sensitive to external contamination. The highest ecotoxicity of the studied pollutants introduced into the soil at the same concentrations was shown by Cu (up to 34%) and Zn (up to 30%) NPs, while Ni NPs showed less (up to 22%). Microbiological (total number of bacteria, Azotobacter sp. abundance) and phytotoxic properties (radish seed germination and length of roots) of Cambisols were more sensitive (22–53%) to pollution by NPs of Cu, Zn, and Ni, while enzymatic activity (catalase and dehydrogenases) showed less sensitivity (14–32%). The present results could be useful for biomonitoring the state of contaminated soils, especially by NPs.
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The purpose of the review was to analyze soil pollution with various chemical compounds of silver (oxides, sulfides, nitrates, nanoparticles) and the ecotoxic effect on the response of microbiological indicators, enzymatic activity, initial growth, and development of plants to soil pollution. The objectives of the study were to analyze modern literature sources, versus to data on chemical compounds, silver concentrations, and duration of exposure. The analytical review is devoted to the presentation and analysis of the ecotoxicity of chemical compounds of silver (Ag) for animals, plants, and soil. It has been established that the main anthropogenic sources of Ag pollution of the environment, including soils, are emissions from thermal power plants when burning coal, the operation of non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgy enterprises, cement plants, waste storage at solid waste landfills, the production of photographic and electrical materials, the use of pesticides, and the use of sewage sludge as fertilizer. The published values for the Ag content in contaminated soil range from 8 to 35 mg/kg, and in soils of ore deposits up to 7000 mg/kg. The negative effect of Ag is manifested in a decrease in the length of roots and biomass of plants, suppression of the growth and reproduction of earthworms, a decrease in the number of soil bacteria, and inhibition of the activity of soil enzymes. It is concluded that it is necessary to conduct experiments aimed at assessing the consequences of the entry of various chemical compounds of Ag into soils and ecosystems. The duration of experiments is from days to a year, when using concentrations of oxide, sulfide, nitrate, and nanoparticles of Ag more than 0.5 mg/kg. It is advisable to develop maximum permissible concentrations (MPCs) and approximate permissible concentrations (APCs) for Ag chemical compounds in the soil.
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