title: Compost-mediated removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from contaminated soil.
abstract: Compost-assisted remediation of a manufactured-gas plant soil contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was performed in thermally insulated composting chamber using mushroom compost consisting wheat straw, chicken manure, and gypsum. The degradation of individual PAHs was in range of 20-60% at the end of 54 days of composting followed by further increase of PAH removal (37-80%) after another 100 days of maturation. Both chemical analysis of the contaminated soil for PAHs and ecotoxicity tests on bioluminescent bacteria, earthworms, and plant seeds were performed before and after the composting. After the composting, inhibition of bioluminescence decreased, whereas no significant change in toxicity was observed for earthworm survival and seed germination. Using bacterial culture of Escherichia coli K12 genotoxicity tests were performed on samples taken from different parts of the composting pile; after the composting the decrease in genotoxicity was observed only in the sample taken from upper part of the composted pile.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Videnská 1083, 14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic. sasek@biomed.cas.sz
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sasek
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bhatt
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cajthaml
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Malachová
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lednická
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002617:Chemical Industry; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D009149:Mustard Plant / Q000187:drug effects; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000187:drug effects; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D018675:Toxicity Tests
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012989:Soil Pollutants