Effect of agricultural antibiotics on the persistence and transformation of 17beta-estradiol in a Sequatchie loam

A laboratory incubation study was conducted to investigate the effect of agricultural antibiotics (sulfamethazine, tylosin, and chlortetracycline) on the persistence and transformation of 17beta-estradiol in Sequatchie loam. We measured concentrations of 17beta-estradiol and its primary metabolite (estrone) in soils spiked with antibiotics and 17beta-estradiol. Dehydrogenase activity (DHA) was also measured as an indicator of the total microbial activity of the soils. The presence of antibiotics significantly decreased transformation of 17beta-estradiol to estrone. There was a positive correlation between the DHA and the concentrations of estrone in soil spiked with 17beta-estradiol only, implying that the reaction is mainly catalyzed by dehydrogenases. However, the positive correlation was weakened in soil spiked with 17beta-estradiol and antibiotics together. We recommend that any study evaluating the fate and transport of estrogenic hormones in soil should include the effect of agricultural antibiotics because antibiotics and estrogenic hormones are commonly excreted together in environmental samples.     

Persistence and fate of 17beta-estradiol and testosterone in agricultural soils

Steroidal hormones are constantly released into the environment by man-made and natural sources. The goal of this study was to examine the persistence and fate of 17beta-estradiol and testosterone, the two primary natural sex hormones. Incubation experiments were conducted under aerobic and anaerobic conditions using [4-(14)C]-radiolabeled 17beta-estradiol and testosterone. The results indicated that 6% of 17beta-estradiol and 63% of testosterone could be mineralized to (14)CO(2) in native soils under aerobic conditions. In native soils under anaerobic conditions, 2% of testosterone and no 17beta-estradiol was methanogenized to (14)CH(4). Essentially, no mineralization of either testosterone or 17beta-estradiol to (14)CO(2) occurred in autoclaved soils under aerobic or anaerobic condition. Results also indicated that 17beta-estradiol could be transformed to an unidentified polar compound through abiotic chemical processes; however, 17beta-estradiol was only oxidized to estrone via biological processes. The TLC results also indicated that testosterone was degraded, not by physical-chemical processes but by biological processes. Results also indicated that the assumed risks of estrogenic hormones in the environment might be over-estimated due to the soil's humic substances, which can immobilize majority of estrogenic hormones, and thereby reduce their bioavailability and toxicity.     

Effects of sulfonamide and tetracycline antibiotics on soil microbial activity and microbial biomass

Increasingly often soil residual concentrations of pharmaceutical antibiotics are detected, while their ecotoxic relevance is scarcely known. Thus, dose related effects of two antibiotics, sulfapyridine and oxytetracycline, on microorganisms of two different topsoils were investigated. The fumigation-extracted microbial C (E(C)) and ergosterol were determined to indicate soil microbial and fungal biomass, respectively. Microbial activity was tested as basal respiration (BR), dehydrogenase activity (DHA), substrate-induced respiration (SIR), and Fe(III) reduction. The BR and DHA were uninfluenced even at antibiotic concentrations of 1000 microg g(-1). This revealed that an activation of microbial growth through nutrient substrate addition is required to test possible effects of the bacteriostatic antibiotics. In addition, the effects of both antibiotics were time dependent, showing that short-term tests were not suitable. Clear dose-response relations were determined with SIR when the short-term incubation of 4h was extended into the growth phase of the microorganisms (24 and 48 h). The Fe(III) reduction test, with a 7-d incubation, was also found to be suitable for toxicity testing of antibiotics in soils. Effective doses inhibiting the microbial activity by 10% (ED(10)) ranged from total antibiotic concentrations of 0.003-7.35 microg g(-1), depending on the antibiotic compound and its soil adsorption. Effective solution concentrations (EC(10)), calculated from distribution coefficients, ranged from 0.2 to 160 ng g(-1). The antibiotics significantly (p<0.05) reduced numbers of soil bacteria, resulting in dose related shifts in the fungal:bacterial ratio, which increased during 14 d, as determined from analysis of ergosterol and E(C). It was concluded that pharmaceutical antibiotics can exert a temporary selective pressure on soil microorganisms even at environmentally relevant concentrations.     

Effect of tetraconazole application on the soil microbial community

Tetraconazole is one of the most commonly used triazole fungicides in agricultural practice, and its continuous application poses a potential risk for non-target soil microorganisms. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of tetraconazole at the field rate (T1, 0.33 mgkg^?1 of soil), three times the field rate (T3, 1.00 mgkg^?1 of soil) and 10 times the field rate (T10, 3.33 mgkg^?1 of soil) on the soil microorganisms. To ascertain this effect, the tetraconazole concentration and the microbial properties with potential as bioindicators of soil health (i.e. microbial biomass C, basal respiration, substrate-induced respiration, structure diversity and functional community profiling) were determined. The results showed that the degradation half-lives of tetraconazole varied from 69 to 87 days, depending on the three application concentrations. The microbial biomass C, basal respiration and substrate-induced respiration were inhibited, but they tended to recover at the end of the incubation when tetraconazole was applied at the recommended field rate. The ratios of the gram-negative to gram-positive (GN to GP) bacteria decreased, and the fungi to bacteria ratio increased after a temporal decrease on the seventh day. A principal component analysis of the PLFAs showed that tetraconazole application significantly shifted the microbial community structure on day 7. Different functional community profiles were observed, depending on the tetraconazole application rates. It was concluded that tetraconazole application decreases the soil microbial biomass and activity and changes the structures of the soil microbial community.     

Effects of biochar on nitrification and denitrification-mediated N2O emissions and the associated microbial community in an agricultural soil

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a strong greenhouse gas, and it is of great significance for N2O reduction to study the effects of biochar on its production...     

Influence of benomyl and prometryn on the soil microbial activities and community structures in pasture grasslands of Slovakia

The effects of pesticides (a herbicide and a fungicide) on the microbial community structure and their activity were analyzed in soil from four alpine pasture grasslands in Slovakia. Specifically, the effects of the herbicide, Gesagard (prometryn active ingredient), and fungicide, Fundazol 50 WP (benomyl active ingredient), on the microbial respiration activity (CO₂ production), the numbers of selective microbial physiological groups (CFU.g^?1) and the structure (relative abundance) of soil microbial communities [(phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA)] were analyzed under controlled laboratory conditions. All treatments including the treatments with pesticides increased (statistically significantly) the production of CO₂ in all fields during 21 days of incubation and posed a statistically insignificant negative influence on the numbers of the observed physiological groups of microorganisms. The significantly negative influence was evaluated only in the numbers of two physiological groups; spores of bacteria utilizing organic nitrogen and bacteria, and their spores utilizing inorganic nitrogen. A shift in the microbial composition was evident when the PLFA patterns of samples from different sites and treatments were compared by the Principal Component Analysis (PCA). According to the second component PCA 2 (15.95 %) the locations were grouped into two clusters. The first one involved the Donovaly and Dubakovo sites and the second one contained the Velka Fatra and Mala Fatra locations. The PLFA composition of the soils showed important changes after the treatment with pesticides according to PCA 1 (66.06 %). Other treatments had not had a significant effect on the soil microbial community with the exception of the population of fungi. The lower relative abundance (significant effect) of Gram-positive bacteria, actinomycetes and general group of bacteria were determined in samples treated by the herbicide Gesagard. The application of fungicide Fundazol decreased (statistically significantly) the relative abundance of actinomycetes and general group of bacteria and paradoxically increased the population of fungi.     

Chloride concentration affects soil microbial community

We studied the effect of increased inorganic chloride concentration on forest soil microflora in a laboratory experiment. Microbial DNA extracted from experimental soil samples was amplified with PCR using primer pairs specifically amplifying bacterial, eukaryotic and fungal DNA fragments. The resulting amplified DNA was further used for terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) analysis. Our work revealed that chloride concentration affects the indigenous microbial community in experimental soil. This was documented on an unidentified microorganism whose DNA was detectable in soil high in chloride but was not found in soil with low chloride concentration. The presence of the organism responsive to increased chloride concentration was associated with the highest observed value of chlorination of humic acid, suggesting possible role of this organism in soil chlorine turnover. High chloride concentration in the soil tended to decrease the rate of degradation of trichloroacetic acid. The problems connected with measurement of chlorination rates in soil are discussed.     

RAPD marker and substrate utilization pattern applied to study microbial community diversity in the soil affected by agricultural chemicals

Present analyses of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Biolog GN substrate utilization pattern are combined to further study the diversity of microbial communities in four soils affected by agricultural chemicals. The results showed that the four soil microbial communities were apparently distinguishable in the diversity at RAPD level in terms of the richness and modified richness in the summer, which supports our previous report using the same soils in winter. A significant difference for the average well color development (AWCD) at 72 h incubation was found among the soils in winter using Biolog GN substrate utilization pattern, but this difference was not found among the soils in summer. However, Shannon-Weaver indices for microbial communities in the summer soils polluted by agricultural chemicals were significantly higher than those in winter at metabolic level; in contrast, no significant difference existed between the two seasons for microbial communities in the soil without chemical pollution. Present results suggest that the combined approach using RAPD and substrate utilization pattern could be used to effectively quantify microbial community diversity and its changes among the seasons in the soils affected by agricultural chemicals, simultaneously at molecular and physiological levels.     

Effects of Cd and Pb on soil microbial community structure and activities

Background, aim, and scope  

Soil contamination with heavy metals occurs as a result of both anthropogenic and natural activities. Heavy metals could have long-term hazardous impacts on the health of soil ecosystems and adverse influences on soil biological processes. Soil enzymatic activities are recognized as sensors towards any natural and anthropogenic disturbance occurring in the soil ecosystem. Similarly, microbial biomass carbon (MBC) is also considered as one of the important soil biological activities frequently influenced by heavy metal contamination. The polymerase chain reaction–denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) has recently been used to investigate changes in soil microbial community composition in response to environmental stresses. Soil microbial community structure and activities are difficult to elucidate using single monitoring approach; therefore, for a better insight and complete depiction of the soil microbial situation, different approaches need to be used. This study was conducted in a greenhouse for a period of 12 weeks to evaluate the changes in indigenous microbial community structure and activities in the soil amended with different application rates of Cd, Pb, and Cd/Pb mix. In a field environment, soil is contaminated with single or mixed heavy metals; so that, in this research, we used the selected metals in both single and mixed forms at different application rates and investigated their toxic effects on microbial community structure and activities, using soil enzyme assays, plate counting, and advanced molecular DGGE technique. Soil microbial activities, including acid phosphatase (ACP), urease (URE), and MBC, and microbial community structure were studied.     

Influence of ciprofloxacin on the microbial catabolic diversity in soil

In this study, the effect of ciprofloxacin (CIP) on the catabolic diversity of soil microbial communities was evaluated. Soil samples were spiked with ciprofloxacin (0, 1, 5 and 50 mg?kg^?1) and were incubated for 1, 3, 9, 22 and 40 days. Untreated controls received only water. The functional diversity of the microbial community studied was characterized using a catabolic response profile (CRP). Six substrate groups were tested: carbohydrates, amino acids, carboxylic acids, aromatic chemicals, alcohols and polymers. After 40 days, the CIP concentrations in the soil samples ranged from 25% to 58% of the initial concentrations. Soil respiratory responses to the individual substrates D-glucose, lactose, D-mannose, L-glutamic, Na-citrate, malic acid and inosine were inhibited at the high CIP concentrations (5 and 50 mg·kg^?1) in the soils and were increased at the lowest CIP concentration (1 mg·kg^?1). Soil respiration was inhibited at all of the CIP concentrations after the addition of D-galactose and glycerol. The CIP concentration and incubation time explained 45.3% of the variance of the catabolic responses. The CRP analysis clearly discriminated among the different CIP concentrations. The results suggest that CIP strongly affects the catabolic diversities of soil microbial communities and that its effect is more significant than that of incubation time.     

Ageing processes and soil microbial community effects on the biodegradation of soil C-2,4-D nonextractable residues

The biodegradation of nonextractable residues (NER) of pesticides in soil is still poorly understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of NER ageing and fresh soil addition on the microbial communities responsible for their mineralisation. Soil containing either 15 or 90-day-old NER of ¹³C-2,4-D (NER15 and NER90, respectively) was incubated for 90 days with or without fresh soil. The addition of fresh soil had no effect on the mineralisation of NER90 or of SOM, but increased the extent and rate of NER15 mineralisation. The analyses of ¹³C-enriched FAME (fatty acids methyl esters) profiles showed that the fresh soil amendment only influenced the amount and structure of microbial populations responsible for the biodegradation of NER15. By coupling biological and chemical analyses, we gained some insight into the nature and the biodegradability of pesticide NER.     

Effects of six selected antibiotics on plant growth and soil microbial and enzymatic activities

The potential impact of six antibiotics (chlortetracycline, tetracycline and tylosin; sulfamethoxazole, sulfamethazine and trimethoprim) on plant growth and soil quality was studied by using seed germination test on filter paper and plant growth test in soil, soil respiration and phosphatase activity tests. The phytotoxic effects varied between the antibiotics and between plant species (sweet oat, rice and cucumber). Rice was most sensitive to sulfamethoxazole with the EC10 value of 0.1 mg/L. The antibiotics tested inhibited soil phosphatase activity during the 22 days' incubation. Significant effects on soil respiration were found for the two sulfonamides (sulfamethoxazole and sulfamethazine) and trimethoprim, whereas little effects were observed for the two tetracyclines and tylosin. The effective concentrations (EC10 values) for soil respiration in the first 2 days were 7 mg/kg for sulfamethoxazole, 13 mg/kg for sulfamethazine and 20 mg/kg for trimethoprim. Antibiotic residues in manure and soils may affect soil microbial and enzyme activities.     

SBR中SRT对总细菌群落结构的影响研究

为了揭示序批式反应器不同污泥停留时间(SRT)下总细菌群落结构的异同及SRT变化对总细菌群落结构的影响,应用聚合酶链式反应-变性梯度凝胶电泳(PCR-DGGE)进行研究。通过克隆测序发现,不同的SRT条件下生物多样性和种群结构会有所差异,既存在各SRT条件下相同的优势菌群(Escherichia coli和Aeromonas sp.),也存在某些SRT下特有的优势菌群(Uncultured Peptostreptococcaceae),SRT为40 d时检测到以降解硫酸盐获得能源的优势微生物。研究还表明,SRT为40 d时多样性指数取得最大值,各SRT条件下微生物的种群相似性差别较大。     

Influence of root-exudates concentration on pyrene degradation and soil microbial characteristics in pyrene contaminated soil

The effect of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) root-exudates concentration on pyrene degradation and the microbial ecological characteristics in the pyrene contaminated soil was investigated by simulating a gradually reducing concentration of root exudates with the distance away from root surface in the rhizosphere. Results showed that, after the root-exudates were added 15 d, the pyrene residue in contaminated soil responded nonlinearly in the soils with the same pyrene contaminated level as the added root-exudates concentration increased, which decreased first and increased latter with the increase of the added root-exudates concentration. The lowest pyrene concentration appeared when the root exudates concentration of 32.75 mg kg(-1) total organic carbon (TOC) was added. At the same time, changes of microbial biomass carbon (MBC, C(mic)) and microbial quotient (C(mic)/C(org)) were opposite to the trend of pyrene degradation as the added root-exudates concentration increased. Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis revealed that bacteria was the dominating microbial community in pyrene contaminated soil, and the changing trends of pyrene degradation and bacteria number were the same. The changing trend of endoenzyme-dehydrogenase activity was in accordance with that of soil microbe, indicating which could reflect the quantitative characteristic of detoxification to pyrene by soil microbe. The changes in the soils microbial community and corresponding microbial biochemistry characteristics were the ecological mechanism influencing pyrene degradation with increasing concentration of the added root-exudates in the pyrene contaminated soil.     

农业管理实践对除草剂环境行为的影响

除草剂的土壤环境行为与受人为控制的农业管理实践有密切的关系。本文通过文献调研综合分析了农田灌溉、耕作制度、施肥、作物秸秆还田和除草剂施用量等农业管理实践对除草剂土壤环境行为的影响 ,并据此提出了减轻除草剂污染地下水的若干思路。     

The veterinary antibiotic oxytetracycline and Cu influence functional diversity of the soil microbial community

There are increasing concerns over the effects of veterinary antibiotics and heavy metals in agricultural soils. The widely used veterinary antibiotic oxytetracycline (OTC), Cu and their combination on soil microbial community function were assessed with the Biolog method. The microbial community was extracted from the soil and exposed to a 0.85% sodium chloride solution containing OTC (0, 1, 5, 11, 43, 109 and 217 microM), or Cu (0, 10, 20, 100 and 300 microM), or combination of the two pollutants (OTC 0, 5, 11 microM and Cu 0, 20 microM). Functional diversity, evenness, average well color development (AWCD) and substrate utilization decreased significantly with increasing concentrations of OTC or Cu (p < 0.005). The critical concentrations were 11 microM for OTC and 20 microM for Cu. The combination of OTC and Cu significantly decreased Shannon's diversity, evenness and utilization of carbohydrates and carboxylic acids compared to individual one of the contaminants. The antibiotic OTC and Cu had significant negative effects on soil microbial community function, particularly when both pollutants were present.     

全细胞脂肪酶(菌)对SBR系统中微生物群落演替的影响

将具有油脂污水处理功能的全细胞脂肪酶（菌）制剂,直接加入到SBR系统的活性污泥中,应用PCR-DGGE技术的应用,研究该制剂对活性污泥中微生物群落演替的影响。16S rDNA DGGE图谱表明投加全细胞脂肪酶（菌）制剂72 h后,菌群丰富度Rs为57%、与空白组的48%相比变化不明显,不同样品相似性系数Cs在48.1%~74.4%之间,表明投加全细胞脂肪酶（菌）对活性污泥中原核微生物群落的演替没有明显影响。18S rDNA DGGE图谱表明,投加全细胞脂肪酶（菌）制剂72 h后,菌群丰富度Rs为72%、与空白组的22%相比存在显著性的差异,不同样品相似性系数Cs在14.5%~73.7%之间,而且优势菌体也发生动态变化,表明投加全细胞脂肪酶（菌）后,对活性污泥中的真核微生物群落演替影响明显。     

Triclosan affects the microbial community in simulated sewage-drain-field soil and slows down xenobiotic degradation

Effects of the common antibacterial agent triclosan on microbial communities and degradation of domestic xenobiotics were studied in simulated sewage-drain-field soil. Cultivable microbial populations decreased 22-fold in the presence of 4 mg kg⁻¹ of triclosan, and triclosan-resistant Pseudomonas strains were strongly enriched. Exposure to triclosan also changed the general metabolic profile (Ecoplate substrate profiling) and the general profile (T-RFLP) of the microbial community. Triclosan degradation was slow at all concentrations tested (0.33-81 mg kg⁻¹) during 50-days of incubation. Mineralization experiments (¹⁴C-tracers) and chemical analyses (LC-MS/MS) showed that the persistence of a linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) and a common analgesic (ibuprofen) increased with increasing triclosan concentrations (0.16-100 mg kg⁻¹). The largest effect was seen for LAS mineralization which was severely reduced by 0.16 mg kg⁻¹ of triclosan. Our findings indicate that environmentally realistic concentrations of triclosan may affect the efficiency of biodegradation in percolation systems.     

Seasonal variations in sugar contents and microbial community in a ryegrass soil

The relationship among sugar concentrations, microbial community and physical variables (precipitation and soil temperature) was investigated in a ryegrass soil from January 2004 to January 2005. Mono- and disaccharide sugars were extracted using a mixture of dichloromethane and methanol and analyzed as their TMS derivatives by GC-MS. Changes in microbial community were assessed using phospholipid and neutral lipid fatty acids (PLFA and NLFA, respectively) analysis. The results of a one-year study showed that the seasonal variability of sugar contents found in the soil samples is mainly related to biomass or nutritional status of the fungal community. The increase in sucrose and fructose exudation by plant roots in the beginning of the growing season (early spring) may be responsible for the highest fungal biomass amount (PLFAs) observed in this study. Fungal storage lipid abundances (NLFAs) peaked in summer, during the same period that the highest concentrations of mannitol and trehalose were detected. This is consistent with these two sugars being stress-induced fungal metabolites, produced due to the low soil moisture observed during this season. In contrast, bacterial community growth seems to be more dependent on plant substrate than on physical variables, since the strongest decrease in bacterial biomass amounts (PLFAs) was found after cutting of the ryegrass field in early July.     

Influence of lead acetate on soil microbial biomass and community structure in two different soils with the growth of Chinese cabbage (Brassica chinensis)

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of different concentrations of lead acetate on soil microbial biomass and community structure during growth of Chinese cabbage (Brassica chinensis) in two different soils. The field soils were used for a small pot, short-term 60-day growth chamber study. The soils were amended with different Pb concentrations, ranging from 0 to 900mgkg(-1) soil. The experimental design was a 2 soilx2 vegetation/non-vegetationx6 treatments (Pb)x3 replicate factorial experiment. At 60 days the study was terminated and soils were analyzed for microbial parameters, namely, microbial biomass, basal respiration and PLFAs. The results indicated that the application of Pb at lower concentrations (100 and 300mgkg(-1)) as lead acetate resulted in a slight increase in soil microbial biomass, whereas Pb concentrations >500mgkg(-1) caused an immediate gradual significant decline in biomass. However, the degree of impact on soil microbial biomass and basal respiration by Pb was related to management (plant vegetation) or the contents of clay and organic matter in soils. The profiles of 21 phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) were used to assess whether observed changes in functional microbial parameters were accompanied by changes in the composition of the microbial communities after Pb application at 0, 300 and 900mg Pbkg(-1) soil. The results of principal component analyses (PCA) indicated that there were significant increases in fungi biomarkers of 18:3omega6c, 18:1omega9c and a decrease in cy17:0, which is an indicator of gram-negative bacteria for the high levels of Pb treatments In a word, soil microbial biomass and community structure, therefore, may be sensitive indicators reflecting environmental stress in soil-Pb-plant system. However, further studies will be needed to better understand how these changes in microbial community structure might actually impact soil microbial community function.