A Study of Soil Pollution by Road Runoff

Road runoff, a representative non-point source pollution, is known to seriously deteriorate the river water quality. In order to prevent river contamination due to road runoff, road runoff is infiltrated into the soil along the river. However, road runoff containing high concentrations of heavy metals and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) can cause soil pollution. In this study, soil samples were collected at the point where road runoff flows, and the concentrations of heavy metals, such as cadmium, lead, and zinc, and TPH in them were compared with that in uncontaminated soil. Consequently, the concentration of heavy metals in the soil into which the road runoff flows was up to 21 times higher than that of the nearby uncontaminated soil. In conclusion, the discharge of road runoff into the soil seriously pollutes the soil. Therefore, direct discharge of road runoff to soil should be prevented to prevent soil pollution.

Differential analysis of pesticides biodegradation in soil using conventional and high-throughput technology

A potential pesticide degrading bacterial isolate (2D), showing maximum tolerance (450 ppm) for cypermethrin, fipronil, imidacloprid and sulfosulfuron was recovered from a pesticide contaminated agricultural field. The isolate degraded cypermethrin, imidacloprid, fipronil and sulfosulfuron in minimal salt medium with 94, 91, 89 and 86% respectively as revealed by HPLC and GC analysis after 15 days of incubation. Presence of cyclobutane, pyrrolidine, chloroacetic acid, formic acid and decyl ester as major intermediate metabolites of cypermethrin biodegradation was observed in GC-MS analysis. Results based on 16S rDNA sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis showed maximum similarity of 2D with Bacillus cereus (MH341691). Stress responsive and catabolic/ pesticide degrading proteins were over expressed in the presence of cypermethrin in bacteria. Enzyme kinetics of laccase was deduced in the test isolate under normal and pesticide stress conditions. Amplification of laccase gene showed a major band of 1200bp. Maximum copy number of 16S rDNA was seenin uncontaminated soil as compared to pesticide contaminated soil using qRT-PCR. The metagenome sequencing revealed reduction in the population of proteobacteria in contaminated soil as compared to uncontaminated soil but showed dominance of actinobacteria, firmicutes and bacteriodates in pesticide spiked soil. Presence of some new phyla like chloroflexi, planctomycetes, verrucomicrobia was observed followed by extinction of acidobacteria and crenarchaeota in spiked soil. The present study highlights on the potential of 2D bacterial strain i.e., high tolerance level of pesticide, effective biodegradation rate, and presence of laccase gene in bacterial strain 2D, could become a potential biological agent for large-scale treatment of mixture of pesticide (cypermethrin, fipronil, imidacloprid and sulfosulfuron) in natural environment (soil and water).

Dynamic of Morphological and Physiological Parameters and Variation of Soil Characteristics during Miscanthus × giganteus Cultivation in the Diesel-Contaminated Land

Miscanthus × giganteus (M. × giganteus) is a perspective plant produced on marginal and contaminated lands with biomass used for energy or bioproducts. In the current study, M. × giganteus development was tested in the diesel-contaminated soils (ranged from 250 mg kg−1 to 5000 mg kg−1) and the growth dynamic, leaves quantity, plants total area, number of harvested stems and leaves, SPAD and NPQt parameters were evaluated. Results showed a remarkable M. × giganteus growth in a selected interval of diesel-contaminated soil with sufficient harvested biomass. The amendment of soil by biochar 1 (produced from wastewater sludge) and biochar 2 (produced from a mixture of wood waste and biohumus) improved the crop’s morphological and physiological parameters. Biochar 1 stimulated the increase of the stems’ biomass, while biochar 2 increased the leaves biomass. The plants growing in the uncontaminated soil decreased the content of NO3, pH (KCl), P2O5 and increased the content of NH4. Photosynthesis parameters showed that incorporating biochar 1 and biochar 2 to the diesel-contaminated soil prolonged the plants’ vegetation, which was more potent for biochar 1. M. × giganteus utilization united with biochar amendment can be recommended to remediate diesel-contaminated land in concentration range 250–5000 mg kg−1.

Nickel and cadmium speciation in soils under long-term aerosol pollution

<p>Coal mining and burning are major anthropogenic sources of atmospheric particles and heavy metals (HMs) (Wang et al., 2011).Coal dust contains a wide range of metal including Ni and Cd. Sequential extractions are the most used methods to estimate the mobility of metals closely related to bioavailability. The classic sequential extraction methods by Tessier (Tessier et al., 1979) are the most popular method of HMs. The aim of this work was to study the speciation of Ni and Cd in soils under anthropogenic contamination with combustion products from the Novocherkassk power plant (NPP).</p><p>The monitoring plots were arranged along predominant wind direction at 1.6 and 15 km from the emission source. The studied soils are represented by Haplic Chernozem. The properties of the soil were: pH - 7.3-7.4; 28.6-30.9% of silt, the content of organic carbon is 3.0-3.7%; carbonates - 0.3%; content of nonsilicate Fe – 3.8-3.9%; CEC – 35-37 cmol kg<sup>–1</sup>. Areas located within 4 km from the power plants are subjected to the highest ecological disturbances; and a zone almost free from contamination is located beyond 15 km (Minkina et al., 2013).</p><p>It was found that the total content of Ni (39.0 mg kg<sup>–1</sup>) and Cd (0.1 mg kg<sup>–1</sup>) in the unpolluted soil far away from NPP (at 15 km) matching the background metal content in Haplic Chernozem was almost four times lower (145 mg kg<sup>–1</sup> and 3.8 mg kg<sup>–1</sup> accordingly) than in the soil located under the influence of aerosol emissions (at 1.6 km). In an uncontaminated soil occurring far from the emission source, 62–64% of total Ni and Cd fractions are concentrated in the residual fraction characterizing the metal bond with silicates. The following distribution of Ni among the fractions in the uncontaminated soil is noted: residual fraction > bound to organic matter > bound to Fe-Mn oxides > bound to carbonates > exchangeable. In uncontaminated soil, the following fractional distribution of Cd is observed: residual fraction> bound to Fe-Mn oxides > bound to organic matter > bound to carbonates > exchangeable.</p><p>Metals accumulate in the soil occurring near the power plant (at 1.6 km), which increases the total contents of Ni and Cd and their mobile (exchangeable and carbonate-bound) compounds in 18 and 33 times accordingly. With increasing pollution, the share of the residual fraction decreases (up to 42-47%) and the amount of the most mobile HM compounds increases. The high mobility in soils is established for Cd (exchangeable fraction was 9%). An increase in the Ni and Cd content in the soil increases its adsorption on the surface of Fe oxides (up to 20% and 27% accordingly). The role of soil organic matter in the absorption of Ni (up to 15%) is also noticeable.</p><p>Thus, the largest contributions to the adsorption and retention of metals are made by silicates, as well as nonsilicate Fe compounds for Cd and soil organic matter and nonsilicate Fe for Ni.</p><p>This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project no. 19-74-00085</p>

Evaluation of long-term dermal exposure to soil contaminated with spent engine oil in male Wistar rats: An experimental approach

Continuous occupational exposure to spent engine oil (SEO) poses physiological risks to humans, especially to automobile mechanics. This study investigated the physiological effects of SEO-contaminated soil in a male Wistar rat model. Animals were dermally exposed to soil contaminated with SEO for 120 consecutive days and compared with rats exposed to uncontaminated soil (negative control). Heavy metal (lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), zinc, and cadmium (Cd)) accumulations, hematology, biochemical (aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), urea, and creatinine) parameters, sperm morphology, and histopathology (liver, kidney, lungs, brain, skin, and testis) were evaluated as end points. Results revealed that the heavy metals in SEO-contaminated soil are far greater than the World Health Organisation permissible limits, with significant ( p < 0.05) increases of Pb and Ni present in the brain, and Pb and Cd in the serum compared with the uncontaminated soil for the negative control. Only significant ( p < 0.05) values were observed in the lymphocytes, activities of AST and ALP, and sperm abnormalities of the exposed rats compared with those used for the negative control. Histopathological changes were not evident in the brain but lesions were observed in the liver, kidney, lungs, skin, and testis of the exposed rats. Results herein suggest that the constituents of SEO may elicit harmful physiological changes to humans who are directly exposed to them.

A novel method to test for lead contamination in soil around US schools

It has been rumored that soils around schools in the US are contaminated with lead, which is known to be harmful to children, and is known to inhibit plant growth. The purpose of this study is to investigate the growth of plants in soil sampled from US schools to see if decreased plant growth can indicate lead contamination before testing is done. After comparing the time until germination, height, and root length of radishes grown in soil from the surrounding area of the school to that of those grown in uncontaminated soil, we found that radishes grown in soil from schools germinated at a rate 38% slower than radishes grown in uncontaminated soil (HR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.33-1.2, Ptrend = 0.13). The mean radish heights between the two groups were also found to be significantly different (p = 0.12). Decreased plant growth may serve as an indicator for soil contamination before other laboratory tests are done. It is recommended that further testing for lead and other toxins should be conducted on the soil of the surrounding area, and larger studies with multiple species of plants should be conducted to see if these trends could be applied to the general plant population around schools. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 10(1): 94-96, June 2020

Monitoring the in-situ Bioremediation of Spend engine-oil contaminated soil After Irrigation with Fermented Chicken-droppings

Preparation for the bioremediation of petroleum contaminants is explored to provide a low-cost and capable strategy for biodegradation of contaminants and renewal of soil fertility. In this study, fermented chicken droppings were used as novel in-situ bio-stimulants and bio- augmentation materials. The investigation determines the capability of fermented chicken droppings to biodegrade the residual total petroleum hydrocarbon compounds in-used engine oil contaminated soil – in the case of auto mechanic shops. The soil was collected at 10 cm depth from the ground, air-dried and sieved with 2.5mm mesh. A 4 kg of soil was weighed into 13 perforated buckets to allow aeration and prevent waterlogging. The setup consists of three replicates that were spiked with 150 ml of used engine oil. 500 ml of the fermented chicken droppings were used to irrigate the contaminated soil at ratio 1:8 periodically for every 3 days per irrigation for 21 days. The uncontaminated soil used as the control group was irrigated with normal water. The TPH composition of the contaminated and remediated soil samples was screened using gas Chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy. Results show that the uncontaminated soil (A-group) had C10 - 24.058 ± 0.02 ppm, C12 - 37.327 ± 0.01 ppm, C14 - 28.515 ± 0.02 ppm and C16 - 12.097 ± 0.02 ppm, respectively out of about 35 TPH compounds that ought to be detected from C8 to C40. The Concentration of TPH in Contaminated soil before irrigation with Chicken droppings – positive control (ppm) B-group gave a significant qualitative and quantitative presence of TPHs in contaminated soil at varying concentrations. 36 TPHs were detected out of forty, starting from C10 - 1.836 ± 0.01 ppm to C38 - 50.150±0.01 ppm. Whereas, the Concentration of residual TPH in Contaminated soil after irrigation with Chicken droppings gave varying levels of residual TPHs ranging from C8 - 1.519 ± 0.02 ppm to C38 - 41.487 ±0.02 ppm. This also gave a resultant/differences in the degradation level of TPHs. Differences in TPH Concentration between before the irrigation and after irrigation of contaminated soil were calculated, C8 had - 0.317 ppm while another TPHs concentration varies accordingly. From the results, one can be deduced that despite other environmental factors that influence the degradation of TPHs, fermented chicken droppings showed great capability in the degradation of TPHs in the contaminated soil. Keywords: Bioremediation, auto-mechanic-yard, Soil-fertility, Used-engine-oil, fermented-chicken-droppings

Use of phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities in the assessment of calcium peroxide and citric acid effects in soil contaminated with petrol

The objective of the study was to compare the effect of calcium peroxide and citric acid on the activity of acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and dehydrogenases (DHA) in uncontaminated soil and soil contaminated with petrol. The experiment was carried out on samples of loamy sand under laboratory conditions. Petrol was introduced to soil samples at a dose of 0 and 50 g·kg 1 DM, as well as calcium peroxide or citric acid at a dose of 0, 50, 100, or 150 mg·kg 1 DM. The humidity of the samples was brought to 60% maximum water holding capacity, and the samples were incubated at 20°C for 8 weeks. Enzyme activity was determined on days 1, 14, 28, and 56. The obtained results demonstrated that the addition of calcium peroxide and citric acid did not result in significant changes in the activity of the determined enzymes in uncontaminated soil. However, it was observed that the application of calcium peroxide, particularly at the dose of 150 mg·kg 1 DM, largely alleviated the impact of petrol on the enzymatic activity of the soil contaminated with petrol. Moreover, among the determined enzymes, the activity of DHA was found to be the best indicator of the effect of calcium peroxide on the soil ecosystem.

INFLUENCE OF POLLUTION OF GRAY FOREST SOIL BY OIL ON SPRING BARLEY PRODUCTIVITY AND COEFFICIENTS OF USE OF NUTRIENT SUBSTANCES FROM SOIL

The work is devoted to assessing the effect of a single oil pollution of the soil on the yield and chemical composition of spring barley plants during four rotations of crop rotation. The study was conducted in 2004-2018 on the experimental field of Agrochemistry and Soil Science Department of Kazan State Agrarian University, located in the ancestral zone of the Republic of Tatarstan. The soil of the experimental plot is gray forest medium loamy, which is the prevailing soil difference for this zone. Uncontaminated soil was characterized by a low humus content and a slightly acidic reaction of the medium, an increased content of mobile phosphorus and an average supply of mobile forms of potassium and trace elements (B, Mo, Mn, Cu, Zn, Co). The soil was artificially contaminated with salable oil at the rate of 20 l/m2, which, as shown by previous studies of the department, corresponds to the average level of pollution. The effect of oil pollution of gray forest soil on the productivity of barley sown 2, 6, 10 and 14 years after pollution was studied. A statistically significant decrease in the yield of spring barley was established within 14 years from the moment of contamination. As the pollution ages, the yields on contaminated soil gradually approach the yield level of the control (uncontaminated) soil. In all years of observation, a decrease in grain yield from oil pollution of the soil was more significant than a decrease in straw yield. Old oil pollution of gray forest soil had a weak effect on the content of total nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the plants of spring barley. The spring barley utilization rates of mineral nitrogen and mobile phosphorus in gray forest soil under the influence of old oil pollution decreased by about 1/4, and mobile potassium by 1/5.