Journal Article

The impact of zero-valent iron nanoparticles upon soil microbial communities is context dependent

Ramsden, Jeremy, Pawlett, Mark, Harris, Jim A., Rocks, Sophie, Ritz, Karl, Dorey, Robert A.

2013

Overview

Nanosized zero-valent iron (nZVI) is an effective land remediation tool, but there remains little information regarding its impact upon and interactions with the soil microbial community. nZVI stabilised with sodium carboxymethyl cellulose was applied to soils of three contrasting textures and organic matter contents to determine impacts on soil microbial biomass, phenotypic (phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA)), and functional (multiple substrate-induced respiration (MSIR)) profiles. The nZVI significantly reduced microbial biomass by 29 % but only where soil was amended with 5 % straw. Effects of nZVI on MSIR profiles were only evident in the clay soils and were independent of organic matter content. PLFA profiling indicated that the soil microbial community structure in sandy soils were apparently the most, and clay soils the least, vulnerable to nZVI suggesting a protective effect imparted by clays. Evidence of nZVI bactericidal effects on Gram-negative bacteria and a potential reduction of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are presented. Data imply that the impact of nZVI on soil microbial communities is dependent on organic matter content and soil mineral type. Thereby, evaluations of nZVI toxicity on soil microbial communities should consider context. The reduction of AM fungi following nZVI application may have implications for land remediation.

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Acidic soils / Aluminum Silicates / Aquatic Pollution / Arbuscular mycorrhizas / Bacteria / Biomass / Bioremediation / Carboxymethylcellulose / Cellulose / Clay / Community structure / Earth and Environmental Science / Ecotoxicology / Environment / Environmental Chemistry / Environmental Health / Enzymes / Fatty acids / Fatty Acids - analysis / Fungi / Gram-negative bacteria / Gram-Negative Bacteria - drug effects / Iron / Iron - pharmacology / Metabolism / Metal Nanoparticles / Microbial activity / microbial biomass / Microbiomes / Microorganisms / Mycorrhizae - drug effects / Nanoparticles / Organic matter / Organic soils / Oxidation / Particle size / phenotype / phospholipid fatty acids / Phospholipids / Phospholipids - chemistry / pollution / protective effect / Remediation / Research Article / Respiration / Sandy soils / Silicon Dioxide / Sodium / Soil contamination / Soil Microbiology / Soil microorganisms / soil minerals / Soil Pollutants / Soil remediation / Soils / straw / Studies / Toxicity / vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae / Waste Water Technology / Water Management / Water Pollution Control