Bio-indicators to assess impacts of heavy metals in land-applied sewage sludge

Horswell, Jacqui; Speir, T. W.; Schaik, Andrew P. van

doi:10.1016/s0038-0717(03)00247-5

Cited by 56 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 19 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Rough estimates indicate that at least 20 million hectares in 50 countries are irrigated with raw or partially treated wastewater (Scott et al 2004;Hussain et al 2001). The major objectives of wastewater irrigation are that it provides a reliable source of water supply to farmers and has the beneficial aspects of adding valuable plant nutrients and organic matter to soil (Liu et al 2005b;Horswell et al 2003). With careful planning and management, the positive aspects of wastewater irrigation can be achieved (WHO 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of untreated wastewater irrigation on soils and crops in Shiraz suburban area, SW Iran

Qishlaqi

Moore

Forghani

2007

Environ Monit Assess

106

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In this study an assessment is made of the negative impacts of wastewater irrigation on soils and crops sampled along the Khoshk River channel in suburban area of Shiraz City, SW Iran. For this purpose, samples of soil profiles (0-60 cm in depth) and crops were collected from two wastewater irrigated sites and a tube well-irrigated (control) site. Total concentrations of the five heavy metals (Ni, Pb, Cd, Zn and Cr) and their phytoavailable contents were determined. The Pollution Load Indexes (PLIs) and Contamination Factors (CFs) for soils and Hazard quotients (Sigma HQ) for some vegetables were also calculated. The results showed the use of untreated wastewater has caused the following changes as compared to control site: (1) a 20-30% increase in organic matter content of soil; (2) increase in pH by 2-3 units; (3) significant concentration increase in Ex-Ca especially in top layers of soil resulting in high CEC; (4) build up of heavy metals (notably Pb and Ni) in topsoil above Maximum Permissible Limits (MPLs) indicating a moderate contamination (PLI > 1, CF > 2.5); (5) contamination of some vegetables (spinach and lettuce) with Cd due to its high phytoavailability in topsoil causing a HQ > 1; (6) excessive accumulation of Ni and Pb in wheat due to continual addition of heavy metals through long-term wastewater application. The study concludes that strict protection measures, stringent guidelines and an integrated system for the treatment and recycling of wastewater are needed to minimize the negative impacts of wastewater irrigation in the study area.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of untreated wastewater irrigation on soils and crops in Shiraz suburban area, SW Iran

Qishlaqi

Moore

Forghani

2007

Environ Monit Assess

106

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Few studies have focused on the effect on microorganisms of heavy metal pollution in soil and water pollution [25,26,38] or of atmospheric pollution [16,27,28,49].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship Between Testate Amoeba (Protist) Communities and Atmospheric Heavy Metals Accumulated in Barbula indica (Bryophyta) in Vietnam

et al. 2006

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We studied the relationships between testate amoeba communities and heavy metal (Pb, Cd, Zn, Ni, Cu, Mn, and Fe) concentrations in the moss Barbula indica sampled at 29 sites in and around the city of Hanoi (Vietnam). Our first approach was to compare the heavy metal concentrations and testate amoeba variables between the city (zone 1) and the surrounding (zone 2). Mean moss concentrations of Pb, Cd, Zn, Ni, and Cu were significantly higher and testate amoeba species richness and abundance were significantly lower in zone 1 and the abundance of eight taxa differed significantly between the two zones. We then studied the correlation between heavy metals and testate amoebae. Species richness and abundance were correlated negatively to Pb concentration. Shannon H 0 was negatively correlated to both Pb and Cd. The abundance of several species was negatively correlated with Pb, Cd, Zn, and Ni; however, at the community level, Pb emerged as the only significant variable in a redundancy analysis. Our results suggest that testate amoebae are sensitive to and may be good bioindicators for heavy metal pollution, especially lead. Further research is needed to understand the causal relationships underlying the observed patterns.

show abstract

“…Nodule biomass (Table 3) was also not statistically different between treatments (only collected first year) and no relation to ARA was seen (P = 0.05). Decreased nodulation and suppression of N fixation as a result of soil available N has been well documented for Alnus (Huss-Danell et al, 2001;Martin et al, 2003;Wall, 2000), but in this study the reverse was observed. At the 500 Mg ha -1 amendment the high metal biosolids amendment added 12 Mg total N ha -1 and the compost 9 Mg total N ha -1 .…”

Section: Soil Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 39%

“…As wastewater treatment programs outside of the US become more common, questions will arise on appropriate metal limits for land application of these materials. There are still uncertainties around the potential for the metals in biosolids to have a negative effect on soil ecosystems (Horswell et al, 2003). The bioavailability of metals to soil microorganisms is a factor to be considered in this evaluation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen fixation and growth response of Alnus rubra amended with low and high metal content biosolids

Gaulke

Henry

Brown

2006

Sci. agric. (Piracicaba, Braz.)

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Forest application of biosolids offers a potential environmentally friendly alternative to landfilling. This two-year investigation was designed to analyze the effects of elevated soil metal concentration resulting from the land application of biosolids on the symbiotic, nitrogen (N) fixing relationship between Alnus rubra Bong. (red alder) and Frankia. High metal biosolids and a modernday composted biosolid applied at high loading rates of 250, 500, and 1000 Mg ha -1 , were used to represent a worst-case scenario for metal contamination. The high metal biosolids were obtained before the current regulations were formulated and had been lagooned prior to use in this study. Total cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in the high metal biosolids were 45, 958, and 2623 mg kg -1 respectively. These metal concentrations are above current regulatory limits in the US. The compost was made using biosolids that are currently produced and had Cd, Pb and Zn of 0.8, 20 and 160 mg kg -1 respectively. Trees were harvested and analyzed for rate of N fixation (as measured by acetylene reduction activity), biomass, and foliar metals. Soils were analyzed for available N, total carbon and N, pH and total Cd, Pb and Zn. Rates of N fixation were not affected by soil amendment. In year 2, shoot biomass of trees grown in both the compost and high metal amendments were higher than the control. Shoot biomass increased with increasing amount of compost amendments, but decreased with increasing amount of high metal amendments. There was no relationship between soil metal concentration and plant biomass. Foliar Cd and Pb were below detection for all trees and foliar Zn increased with increasing amount of both compost and high metal amendment, with concentrations of 249 mg kg -1 for trees grown in the compost amendment and 279 mg kg -1 for the high metal amendment. The results from this study indicate that the growth of A. rubra benefited from both types of biosolids used in the study and that the Alnus/Frankia relationship was not negatively impacted by metal concentrations resulting from the high metal biosolids amendments. Key words: Frankia, cadmium, lead, zinc CRESCIMENTO E FIXAÇÃO DE NITROGÊNIO POR Alnus rubra CULTIVADO SOB FERTILIZAÇÃO COM BIOSÓLIDOS COM ALTOS E BAIXOS TEORES DE METAISRESUMO: A aplicação de biosólidos em florestas representa uma potencial alternativa ambientalmente correta para aterros sanitários. Os efeitos de fertilização de nitrogênio na relação simbiôntica e de fixação de nitrogênio Alnus rubra Bong. (amieiro vermelho) e Frankia foram avaliados em um estudo de campo conduzido por dois anos. Um biosólido com concentração de metais muito acima dos marcos regulatórios (45 mg kg -1 Cd; 958 mg kg -1 Pb; 2623 mg kg -1 Zn) produzido há mais de 25 anos e um biosólido composto recente foram aplicados nas doses de 250, 500 e 1000 Mg ha -1 , representando um cenário pior possível de concentração de metais. Ao final do segundo ano, a biomassa da parte aérea das plantas cultivadas sob ambos os compostos era maior que...

show abstract

Bio-indicators to assess impacts of heavy metals in land-applied sewage sludge

Cited by 56 publications

References 19 publications

Impact of untreated wastewater irrigation on soils and crops in Shiraz suburban area, SW Iran

Impact of untreated wastewater irrigation on soils and crops in Shiraz suburban area, SW Iran

Relationship Between Testate Amoeba (Protist) Communities and Atmospheric Heavy Metals Accumulated in Barbula indica (Bryophyta) in Vietnam

Nitrogen fixation and growth response of Alnus rubra amended with low and high metal content biosolids

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About