Nanoparticles within WWTP sludges have minimal impact on leachate quality and soil microbial community structure and function

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Durenkamp, M., Pawlett, M., Ritz, K., Harris, J. A., Neal, A. L. and McGrath, S. P. 2016. Nanoparticles within WWTP sludges have minimal impact on leachate quality and soil microbial community structure and function. Environmental Pollution. 211 (April), pp. 399-405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2015.12.063

AuthorsDurenkamp, M., Pawlett, M., Ritz, K., Harris, J. A., Neal, A. L. and McGrath, S. P.
Abstract

One of the main pathways by which engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) enter the environment is through land application of waste water treatment plant (WWTP) sewage sludges. WWTP sludges, enriched with Ag and ZnO ENPs or their corresponding soluble metal salts during anaerobic digestion and subsequently mixed with soil (targeting a final concentration of 1400 and 140 mg/kg for Zn and Ag, respectively), were subjected to 6 months of ageing and leaching in lysimeter columns outdoors. Amounts of Zn and Ag leached were very low, accounting for <0.3% and <1.4% of the total Zn and Ag, respectively. No differences in total leaching rates were observed between treatments of Zn or Ag originally input to WWTP as ENP or salt forms. Phospholipid fatty acid profiling indicated a reduction in the fungal component of the soil microbial community upon metal exposure. However, overall, the leachate composition and response of the soil microbial community following addition of sewage sludge enriched either with ENPs or metal salts was very similar.

KeywordsGreenhouse gases; Nitrification; PLFA; Silver nanoparticles; Zinc oxide nanoparticles
Year of Publication2016
JournalEnvironmental Pollution
Journal citation211 (April), pp. 399-405
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2015.12.063
Open accessPublished as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
FunderBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Funder project or codeDelivering Sustainable Systems (SS) [ISPG]
Transatlantic initiative for nanotechnology and the environment (TINE)
Publisher's version
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online19 Jan 2016
Publication process dates
Accepted31 Dec 2015
Copyright licenseCC BY
ISSN0269-7491
PublisherElsevier Sci Ltd

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