Aerobic Bioremediation of PAH Contaminated Soil Results in Increased Genotoxicity and Developmental Toxicity.

TitleAerobic Bioremediation of PAH Contaminated Soil Results in Increased Genotoxicity and Developmental Toxicity.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsChibwe, L, Geier, MC, Nakamura, J, Tanguay, RL, Aitken, MD, Simonich, SLMassey
JournalEnviron Sci Technol
Volume49
Issue23
Pagination13889-98
Date Published2015 Dec 01
ISSN1520-5851
KeywordsAerobiosis, Animals, Biodegradation, Environmental, Biological Assay, Chickens, Ecotoxicology, Embryo, Nonmammalian, Environmental Restoration and Remediation, Mutagenicity Tests, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Soil, Soil Pollutants, Toxicity Tests, Zebrafish
Abstract

The formation of more polar and toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) transformation products is one of the concerns associated with the bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soils. Soil contaminated with coal tar (prebioremediation) from a former manufactured gas plant (MGP) site was treated in a laboratory scale bioreactor (postbioremediation) and extracted using pressurized liquid extraction. The soil extracts were fractionated, based on polarity, and analyzed for 88 PAHs (unsubstituted, oxygenated, nitrated, and heterocyclic PAHs). The PAH concentrations in the soil tested, postbioremediation, were lower than their regulatory maximum allowable concentrations (MACs), with the exception of the higher molecular weight PAHs (BaA, BkF, BbF, BaP, and IcdP), most of which did not undergo significant biodegradation. The soil extract fractions were tested for genotoxicity using the DT40 chicken lymphocyte bioassay and developmental toxicity using the embryonic zebrafish (Danio rerio) bioassay. A statistically significant increase in genotoxicity was measured in the unfractionated soil extract, as well as in four polar soil extract fractions, postbioremediation (p < 0.05). In addition, a statistically significant increase in developmental toxicity was measured in one polar soil extract fraction, postbioremediation (p < 0.05). A series of morphological abnormalities, including peculiar caudal fin malformations and hyperpigmentation in the tail, were measured in several soil extract fractions in embryonic zebrafish, both pre- and postbioremediation. The increased toxicity measured postbioremediation is not likely due to the 88 PAHs measured in this study (including quinones), because most were not present in the toxic polar fractions and/or because their concentrations did not increase postbioremediation. However, the increased toxicity measured postbioremediation is likely due to hydroxylated and carboxylated transformation products of the 3- and 4-ring PAHs (PHE, 1MPHE, 2MPHE, PRY, BaA, and FLA) that were most degraded.

DOI10.1021/acs.est.5b00499
Alternate JournalEnviron. Sci. Technol.
PubMed ID26200254
PubMed Central IDPMC4666737
Grant ListP30 ES010126 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
P30ES00210 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
P42 ES016465 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
P30-ES10126 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
T32 ES007060 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
P30 ES000210 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
P42 ES005948 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States