title: A study on temporal trends and estimates of fate of Bisphenol A in agricultural soils after sewage sludge amendment.
abstract: Temporal concentration trends of BPA in soils were investigated following sewage sludge application to pasture (study 1: short term sludge application; study 2: long term multiple applications over 13 years). The background levels of BPA in control soils were similar, ranging between 0.67-10.57 ng g(-1) (mean: 3.02 ng g(-1)) and 0.51-6.58 ng g(-1) (mean: 3.22 ng g(-1)) for studies 1 and 2, respectively. Concentrations in both treated and control plots increased over the earlier sampling times of the study to a maximum and then decreased over later sampling times, suggesting other sources of BPA to both the treated and control soils over the study period. In study 1 there was a significant treatment effect of sludge application in the autumn (p=0.002) although no significant difference was observed between treatment and control soils in the spring. In study 2 treated soils contained considerably higher BPA concentrations than controls ranging between 12.89-167.9 ng g(-1) (mean: 63.15 ng g(-1)). This and earlier studies indicate the long-term accumulation of multiple contaminants by multiple sewage sludge applications over a prolonged period although the effects of the presence of such contaminant mixtures have not yet been elucidated. Fugacity modelling was undertaken to estimate partitioning of Bisphenol A (soil plus sewage: pore water: soil air partitioning) and potential uptake into a range of food crops. While Bisphenol A sorbs strongly to the sewage-amended soil, 4% by mass was predicted to enter soil pore water resulting in significant uptake by crops particularly leafy vegetables (3.12-75.5 ng g(-1)), but also for root crops (1.28-31.0 ng g(-1)) with much lower uptake into cereal grains (0.62-15.0 ng g(-1)). This work forms part of a larger programme of research aimed at assessing the risks associated with the long-term application of sewage sludge to agricultural soils.
authors: The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK. Electronic address: zulin.zhang@hutton.ac.uk.
authors: Zulin
authors: Z
authors: Zhang
authors: The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK; Robert Gordon University, Institute for Innovation Design and Sustainability (IDEAS), Riverside East, Garthdee, Aberdeen AB10 7GJ, UK.
authors: Morgane
authors: M
authors: Le Velly
authors: The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK.
authors: Stewart M
authors: SM
authors: Rhind
authors: The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK.
authors: Carol E
authors: CE
authors: Kyle
authors: The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK.
authors: Rupert L
authors: RL
authors: Hough
authors: Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK.
authors: Elizabeth I
authors: EI
authors: Duff
authors: Robert Gordon University, Institute for Innovation Design and Sustainability (IDEAS), Riverside East, Garthdee, Aberdeen AB10 7GJ, UK.
authors: Craig
authors: C
authors: McKenzie
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D018556:Crops, Agricultural; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005308:Fertilizers; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis*; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D005308:Fertilizers; D010636:Phenols; D012722:Sewage; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
keywords: Bisphenol A; Modelling; Risk assessment; Sewage sludge; Soil; Temporal trend