title: The effects of sewage sludge and sewage sludge biochar on PAHs and potentially toxic element bioaccumulation in Cucumis sativa L.
abstract: The presence of contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and potentially toxic elements (PTEs), including As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn, restricts the application of sewage sludge (SS) to agricultural land. This research established that the conversion of SS to SS biochar (SSBC) significantly (p ≤ 0.01) decreased PAH and available PTE concentrations. Once added to soil both SS and SSBC significantly (p ≤ 0.05) decrease PAH availability. Bioaccumulation of PAHs into Cucumis sativa L. was reduced by both SSBC (44-57%) and (to a lesser extent 20-36%) by SS. Following addition to soil SSBC significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced available PTEs (except Cd), while SS significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased PTE availability. As a consequence SSBC significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced PTE bioaccumulation (except Cd and Zn), while SS increased PTE bioaccumulation. These results suggest SSBC to be a candidate for soil amendment that offers advantages over SS in terms of PAH/PTE bioaccumulation mitigation.
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, CAS, Xiamen, China; Department of Environmental Science, University of Peshawar, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Waqas
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, CAS, Xiamen, China; Department of Environmental Science, University of Peshawar, Pakistan. Electronic address: sardar.khan2008@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sardar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, CAS, Xiamen, China.
authors.forename: Huang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qing
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, CAS, Xiamen, China.
authors.forename: Cai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chao
mesh_terms: D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D001682:Biological Availability; D002606:Charcoal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D028462:Cucumis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D005638:Fruit / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012722:Sewage; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012722:Sewage; D012989:Soil Pollutants; C540010:biochar; D002606:Charcoal; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Accumulation; Cucumber; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Potentially toxic elements; Sewage sludge biochar