title: Nanoparticles within WWTP sludges have minimal impact on leachate quality and soil microbial community structure and function.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sustainable Soils and Grassland Systems, Rothamsted Research, West Common, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom. Electronic address: mark.durenkamp@rothamsted.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Durenkamp
authors.affiliation: Environmental Science and Technology Department, School of Energy Environment and Agrifood, Cranfield University, College Road, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pawlett
authors.affiliation: Environmental Science and Technology Department, School of Energy Environment and Agrifood, Cranfield University, College Road, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ritz
authors.affiliation: Environmental Science and Technology Department, School of Energy Environment and Agrifood, Cranfield University, College Road, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jim A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Department of Sustainable Soils and Grassland Systems, Rothamsted Research, West Common, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Andrew L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Neal
authors.affiliation: Department of Sustainable Soils and Grassland Systems, Rothamsted Research, West Common, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Steve P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: McGrath
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D053758:Nanoparticles; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D062065:Wastewater; D014867:Water
keywords: Greenhouse gases; Nitrification; PLFA; Silver nanoparticles; Zinc oxide nanoparticles