The Effects of Heavy Metals and Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons on Soil Bacterial Activity and Functional Diversity in the Upper Silesia Industrial Region (Poland)

Abstract

Various inorganic and organic pollutants in industrial soils may adversely affect soil microorganisms and terrestrial ecosystem functioning. The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between the microbial activity, microbial biomass, and functional diversity of soil bacteria and the metals and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) in the Upper Silesian Industrial Region (Poland). We collected soil samples in pine-dominated forest stands and analyzed them according to a range of soil physicochemical properties, including metal content (cadmium, lead, and zinc) and TPH content. Metal concentrations were normalized to their toxicity to soil microorganisms and integrated in a toxicity index (TI). Soil microbial activity measured as soil respiration rate, microbial biomass measured as substrate-induced respiration rate, and the bacterial catabolic activity (area under the curve, AUC) assessed using Biolog® ECO plates were negatively related to TPH pollution as shown in multiple regressions. The canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that both TPH and TI affected the community-level physiological profiles (CLPPs) of soil bacteria and the pollutants’ effects were much stronger than the effects of other soil properties, including nutrient content.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11270-016-2966-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Community-level physiological profiles of microorganisms inhabiting soil contaminated with heavy metals

“…Muñiz et al (2014) noted that Cd in an exposed microbial community modified the physiological profile of the microorganisms. Klimek et al (2016) reported the negative relationship between total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and functional soil bacterial diversity (CLPP). The effect is indicative of a significantly decreased or increased rate of cell proliferations resulting from the short-or long-term contact of bacteria with the metals (Piotrowska-Seget and Kozdrój, 2008).…”

“…However, the Pb and Cd concentrations in the studied soil (CT) were significantly higher (1 409.91 -6 887.87 mg kg -1 -Pb; 1-147.27 mg kg -1 -Cd). Klimek et al (2016) suggest that the metal concentration in soils from the Upper Silesian region (Olkusz and Miasteczko Śląskie) are 1 577 mg Pb kg -1 and 5437 mg Zn kg -1 . In conclusion, the concentration of heavy metals in the studied soils was higher in comparison to the earlier studies carried out in the Upper Silesian region (Biernacka and Małuszyński, 2006;Klimek et al, 2016).…”

Distance-dependent varieties of microbial community structure and metabolic functions in the rhizosphere of Sedum alfredii Hance during phytoextraction of a cadmium-contaminated soil

“…Metals are toxic to microorganisms by replacement of essential metals, damaging cell membrane and cellular function disruption . Thus, lower catabolic functions of microorganisms in metal-contaminated soils were well documented (Boshoff et al 2014;Klimek et al 2016). In addition, carbon resources are considered as the driving force for microbial density and activity (Burton et al 2010).…”

Conformity of Refrigerated Raw Milk From Family Production Units of Southern Espírito Santo

“…For Cd and Pb analysis milk samples were digested in a MARS 6 (CEM Corporation, Matthews, USA) using MARSX press tubes. A total of 0.5 g of lyophilized raw milk sample was added, and 10 mL of 65% PA nitric acid (Vetec, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) was added according to the methodology described by Klimek et al (9) . The digestion was performed between 180 °C and 210 °C, with a ramp time of 20 to 25 minutes, and a hold time of 15 minutes, as recommended by the manufacturer for organic samples.…”