Biobeds for environmental protection from pesticide use--a review

Identification of microbial species present in a pesticide dissipation process in biobed systems using typical substrates from southeastern Mexico as a biomixture at a laboratory scale

Biobed systems are an important option to control point pollution in agricultural areas. Substrates used and microbial diversity present in a biomixture perform an essential function in pesticide dissipation. In this study, the effects of soil (50% of volume/volume [V/V] proportion for all biomixtures) and four soil-based biomixtures (miniaturized biobeds; addition of novel substrates from southeastern Mexico) on dissipation of high concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), atrazine, carbofuran, diazinon, and glyphosate and on microbial diversity in biomixtures were evaluated. Small residual amounts of all pesticides at 20 (<2%) and 41 (<1%) days were observed; however, the lowest efficiency rates were observed in soil. Glyphosate was the only pesticide that completely dissipated in soil and biomixtures. Archaea, bacteria, and fungi were identified in biobeds, with bacteria being the most diverse microorganisms according to the identified species. The presence of white-rot fungi (normally related to pesticide degradation in biomixtures) was observed. Effects of the pesticide type and of biomixtures on pesticide dissipation were significant (P<0.05); however, only the effect of biomixtures on microbial diversity was significant (P<0.05); microbial diversity and richness had a significant effect on the residual amount of pesticides (P<0.05). Microbial diversity in terms of phyla was directly related to physicochemical parameters such as organic matter, lignin, water-holding capacity, and pH of soil and biomixtures.

Removal of Two Neonicotinoid Insecticides and Mineralization of 14C-Imidacloprid in Biomixtures

Environmental contamination with neonicotinoid insecticides represents an issue of wide concern due to their negative effects on pollinators. The goal of this work was to evaluate the potential use of biomixtures employed in biopurification systems (BPS) to remove two neonicotinoid pesticides, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam, from wastewater of agricultural origin. The removal was assayed by quantification of the parent compounds and the detection of putative transformation products of imidacloprid by means of LC-MS/MS, and mineralization of radiolabeled imidacloprid. Two biomixtures (B1, B2) were prepared using coconut fiber, compost and two soils pre-exposed to imidacloprid (volumetric composition 50:25:25). After spiking of neonicotinoids and 228 days of treatment, the removal ranged from 22.3%-30.3% and 38.6%-43.7% for imidacloprid and thiamethoxam, respectively. Transformation products imidacloprid-urea, desnitro-imidacloprid and desnitro-olefin-imidacloprid were detected in both biomixtures. The mineralization of ¹⁴C-imidacloprid revealed DT50 (mineralization half-lives) values of 3466 and 7702 days in the biomixtures B1 and B2, respectively, markedly lower than those in the soil used in their preparation (8667 and 9902 days, respectively). As demonstrated by these findings, the high persistence of these compounds in the BPS suggests that additional biological (or physicochemical) approaches should be explored in order to decrease the impact of neonicotinoid-containing wastewater of agricultural origin.

Impact of oxytetracycline and bacterial bioaugmentation on the efficiency and microbial community structure of a pesticide-degrading biomixture

An experimental study evaluating the effect of bioaugmentation and antibiotic (oxytetracycline) application on pesticide degradation and microbial community structure of a biomixture used in a biopurification system (BPR) was conducted. The bioaugmentation employed a carbofuran-degrading bacterial consortium. The non-bioaugmented biomixture showed excellent performance for removal of atrazine (t_1/2: 9.9 days), carbendazim (t_1/2: 3.0 days), carbofuran (t_1/2: 2.8 days), and metalaxyl (t_1/2: 2.7 days). Neither the addition of oxytetracycline nor bioaugmentation affected the efficiency of pesticide removal or microbial community (bacterial and fungal) structure, as determined by DGGE analysis. Instead, biomixture aging was mainly responsible for microbial population shifts. Even though the bioaugmentation did not enhance the biomixtures' performance, this matrix showed a high capability to sustain initial stresses related to antibiotic addition; therefore, simultaneous elimination of this particular mixture of pesticides together with oxytetracycline residues is not discouraged.

Enhanced Dissipation of Selected Herbicides in a Simulated Organic Matrix Biobed: A System to Control On-Farm Point-Source Pollution

Most farms have a centralized location to fill spray tanks with pesticides and to flush and clean application equipment. These sites, depending on the frequency of use, could be significant sources of surface and groundwater contamination. One approach to minimize this contamination is to install a treatment system, such as a biobed. This study sought to construct a biobed and test the effects of different biomix materials in enhancing the dissipation of herbicides widely used in crop production. The four types of biomix evaluated had mixing ratios by volume of (1) 12.5% straw:62.5% soil:25% peat, (2) 25% straw:50% soil:25% peat, (3) 12.5% straw:62.5% soil:25% compost, and (4) 25% straw:50% soil:25% compost. The dissipation rates of acetochlor, atrazine, pendimethalin, and trifluralin at different incubation times over 90 d were evaluated. The dissipation of atrazine and pendimethalin in the biomixes were faster than in soil. The half-lives for atrazine were 27.8 d in soil and 14.3 to 20.2 d in the biomixes and those of pendimethalin were 25.5 d in soil and 11.9 to 14.8 d in the biomixes. The dissipation rates and half-lives of acetochlor were similar to those in soil; the trifluralin dissipation rates were slower in the biomixes. The phenol oxidase activity was higher in the peat biomixes than in those containing compost. The results showed that biobed materials, especially those with peat, are effective in degrading selected herbicides.

Potential impact of the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid on human and ecosystems

The herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is applied directly to aquatic and conventional farming systems to control weeds, and is among the most widely distributed pollutants in the environment. Non-target organisms are exposed to 2,4-D via several ways, which could produce toxic effects depending on the dose, frequency of exposure, and the host factors that influence susceptibility and sensitivity. An increasing number of experimental evidences have shown concerns about its presence/detection in the environment, because several investigations have pointed out its potential lethal effects on non-target organisms. In this review, we critically evaluated the environmental fate and behavior of 2,4-D along with its eco-toxicological effects on aquatic, plants and human life to provide concise assessment in the light of recently published reports. The findings demonstrate that 2,4-D is present in a low concentration in surface water of regions where its usage is high. The highest concentrations of 2,4-D were detected in soil, air and surface water surrounded by crop fields, which suggest that mitigation strategies must be implanted locally to prevent the entry of 2,4-D into the environment. A general public may have frequent exposure to 2,4-D due to its wide applications at home lawns and public parks, etc. Various in vivo and in vitro investigations suggest that several species (or their organs) at different trophic levels are extremely sensitive to the 2,4-D exposure, which may explain variation in outcomes of reported investigations. However, implications for the prenatal exposure to 2,4-D remain unknown because 2,4-D-induced toxicity thresholds in organism have only been derived from juveniles or adults. In near future, introduction of 2,4-D resistant crops will increase its use in agriculture, which may cause relatively high and potentially unsafe residue levels in the environment. The recent findings indicate the urgent need to further explore fate, accumulation and its continuous low level exposure impacts on the environment to generate reliable database which is key in drafting new regulation and policies to protect the population from further exposure.

Expanding the application scope of on-farm biopurification systems: Effect and removal of oxytetracycline in a biomixture

Antibiotic-containing wastewaters produced in agricultural activities may depress the pesticide-degrading capacity of biomixtures contained in biopurification systems. This work aimed to assay the effect of oxytetracycline (OTC) on the removal of carbofuran (CFN) in an optimized biomixture, and to determine the capacity of the system to dissipate OTC. During co-application of CFN+OTC, CFN removal and its accelerated degradation were not negatively affected. Similarly, different doses of OTC (10-500mgkg^-1) did not significantly affect CFN mineralization, and the process even exhibited a hormetic-like effect. Moreover, the biomixture was able to remove OTC with a half-life of 34.0 d. DGGE-cluster analyses indicated that fungal and bacterial communities remained relatively stable during OTC application and CFN+OTC co-application, with similarities of over 70% (bacteria) and 80% (fungi). Overall, these findings support the potential use of this matrix to discard OTC-containing wastewater in this system originally intended for CFN removal.

Biodegradation of high doses of commercial pesticide products in pilot-scale biobeds using olive-oil agroindustry wastes

Biobeds systems containing soil, peat and straw (SPS) are used worldwide to eliminate pesticide point-source contamination, but implantation is difficult when peat and/or straw are not available. Novel biobeds composed of soil, olive pruning and wet olive mill cake (SCPr) or its vermicompost (SVPr) were assayed at pilot scale for its use in olive grove areas. Their removal efficiency for five pesticides applied at high concentration was compared with the biobed with SPS. The effect of a grass layer on the efficiency of these biobeds was also evaluated. Pesticides were retained mainly in the upper layer. In non-planted biobeds with SCPr and SVPr, pesticides dissipation was higher than in SPS, except for diuron. In the biobed with SVPr, with the highest pesticide dissipation capacity, the removed amount of dimethoate, imidacloprid, tebuconazole, diuron and oxyfluorfen was 100, 80, 73, 75 and 50%, respectively. The grass layer enhanced dehydrogenase and diphenol-oxidase activities, modified the pesticides dissipation kinetics and favored the pesticide downward movement. One metabolite of imidacloprid, 3 of oxyfluorfen and 4 of diuron were identified by GC-MS. These novel biobeds represent an alternative to the traditional one and a contribution to promote a circular economy for the olive-oil production.

Elimination of fungicides in biopurification systems: Effect of fungal bioaugmentation on removal performance and microbial community structure

Bioaugmentation with ligninolytic fungi represents a potential way to improve the performance of biomixtures used in biopurification systems for the treatment of pesticide-containing agricultural wastewater. The fungus Trametes versicolor was employed in the bioaugmentation of a biomixture to be used in the simultaneous removal of seven fungicides. Liquid cultures of the fungus were able to remove tebuconazole, while no evidence of carbendazim, metalaxyl and triadimenol depletion was found. When applied in the biomixture, the bioaugmented matrix failed to remove all the triazole fungicides (including tebuconazole) under the assayed conditions, but was efficient to eliminate carbendazim, edifenphos and metalaxyl (the latter only after a second pesticide application). The re-addition of pesticides markedly increased the elimination of carbendazim and metalaxyl; nonetheless, no clear enhancement of the biomixture performance could be ascribed to fungal bioaugmentation, not even after the re-inoculation of fungal biomass. Detoxification efficiently took place in the biomixture (9 d after pesticide applications) according to acute tests on Daphnia magna. DGGE-analysis revealed only moderate time-divergence in bacterial and fungal communities, and a weak establishment of T. versicolor in the matrix. Data suggest that the non-bioaugmented biomixture is useful for the treatment of fungicides other than triazoles.

Atrazine, chlorpyrifos, and iprodione effect on the biodiversity of bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi in a pilot biopurification system with a green cover

The use of biopurification systems can mitigate the effects of pesticide contamination on farms. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pesticide dissipation on microbial communities in a pilot biopurification system. The pesticide dissipation of atrazine, chlorpyrifos and iprodione (35 mg kg^-1 active ingredient [a.i.]) and biological activity were determined for 40 days. The microbial communities (bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi) were analyzed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). In general, pesticide dissipation was the highest by day 5 and reached 95%. The pesticides did not affect biological activity during the experiment. The structure of the actinomycete and bacterial communities in the rhizosphere was more stable during the evaluation than that in the communities in the control without pesticides. The rhizosphere fungal communities, detected using DGGE, showed small and transitory shifts with time. To conclude, rhizosphere microbial communities were not affected during pesticide dissipation in a pilot biopurification system.

Removal of pesticides and ecotoxicological changes during the simultaneous treatment of triazines and chlorpyrifos in biomixtures

Biopurification systems constitute a biological approach for the treatment of pesticide-containing wastewaters produced in agricultural activities, and contain an active core called biomixture. This work evaluated the performance of a biomixture to remove and detoxify a combination of three triazine herbicides (atrazine/terbuthylazine/terbutryn) and one insecticide (chlorpyrifos), and this efficiency was compared with dissipation in soil alone. The potential enhancement of the process was also assayed by bioaugmentation with the ligninolytic fungi Trametes versicolor. Globally, the non-bioaugmented biomixture exhibited faster pesticide removal than soil, but only in the first stages of the treatment. After 20 d, the largest pesticide removal was achieved in the biomixture, while significant removal was detected only for chlorpyrifos in soil. However, after 60 d the removal values in soil matched those achieved in the biomixture for all the pesticides. The bioaugmentation failed to enhance, and even significantly decreased the biomixture removal capacity. Final removal values were 82.8% (non-bioaugmented biomixture), 43.8% (fungal bioaugmented biomixture), and 84.7% (soil). The ecotoxicological analysis revealed rapid detoxification (from 100 to 170 TU to <1 TU in 20 d) towards Daphnia magna in the biomixture and soil, and slower in the bioaugmented biomixture, coinciding with pesticide removal. On the contrary, despite important herbicide elimination, no clear detoxification patterns were observed in the phytotoxicity towards Lactuca sativa. Findings suggest that the proposed biomixture is useful for fast removal of the target pesticides; even though soil also removes the agrochemicals, longer periods would be required. On the other hand, the use of fungal bioaugmentation is discouraged in this matrix.

Pesticide dissipation and microbial community changes in a biopurification system: influence of the rhizosphere

The dissipation of atrazine, chlorpyrifos and iprodione in a biopurification system and changes in the microbial and some biological parameters influenced by the rhizosphere of Lolium perenne were studied in a column system packed with an organic biomixture. Three column depths were analyzed for residual pesticides, peroxidase, fluorescein diacetate activity and microbial communities. Fungal colonization was analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy to assess the extent of its proliferation in wheat straw. The L. perenne rhizosphere enhanced pesticide dissipation and negligible pesticide residues were detected at 20-30 cm column depth. Atrazine, chlorpyrifos and iprodione removal was 82, 89 and 74% respectively in the first 10 cm depth for columns with vegetal cover. The presence of L. perenne in contaminated columns stimulated peroxidase activity in all three column depth sections. Fluorescein diacetate activity decreased over time in all column sections with the highest values in biomixtures with vegetal cover. Microbial communities, analyzed by PCR-DGGE, were not affected by the pesticide mixture application, presenting high values of similarity (>65%) with and without vegetal cover. Microbial abundance of Actinobacteria varied according to treatment and no clear link was observed. However, bacterial abundance increased over time and was similar with and without vegetal cover. On the other hand, fungal abundance decreased in all sections of columns after 40 days, but an increase was observed in response to pesticide application. Fungal colonization and straw degradation during pesticide dissipation were verified by monitoring the lignin autofluorescence loss.

Biomineralisation of fipronil and its major metabolite, fipronil sulfone, by Aspergillus glaucus strain AJAG1 with enzymes studies and bioformulation

Fipronil is a phenylpryazole insecticide which is extensively used for the protection of agricultural yields. However, this insecticide poses various threats to  the environment. Therefore it is essential to develop an effective method to degrade or eliminate this pollutant from the  environment. In this present study, a fungal strain AJAG1 capable of degrading fipronil and its metabolite, fipronil sulfone, was isolated through enrichment technique. Isolated fungal strain was identified as Aspergillus glaucus based upon its morphological, and 18S rRNA sequence analysis. Strain AJAG1 could degrade 900 mg L^-1 of fipronil efficiently in both aqueous medium and soil. In addition, fipronil degradation was tested with various kinetic models and the results revealed that biodegradation in aqueous medium and soil was ascertained by pseudo-first order and zero order rate kinetics, respectively. The infrared spectrum of fipronil degraded sample confirmed the formation of esters, nitro, and alkanes groups. A tentative degradation pathway of fipronil by strain AJAG1 has been proposed on the basis of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The lignolytic enzymes activities were studied during fipronil degradation by strain AJAG1. Further, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the surface morphology of strain AJAG1 after fipronil degradation. In the present investigation, bioformulation of strain AJAG1 was developed using low cost materials such as groundnut shell powder, molasses, and fly ash to remediate the fipronil from agricultural field. These results highlight A. glaucus strain AJAG1 may have potential for use in bioremediation of fipronil-contaminated environment.

Study of processes influencing bioavailability of pesticides in wood-soil systems: Effect of different factors

Lignocellulosic wastes and by-products containing lignin are now available in large amounts from forestry and industrial activities, and could be promising organic materials for the biosorption of pesticides by soils in order to reduce point-source pollution. Adding these materials to soil requires understanding the process of pesticide sorption-desorption by wood-soils, as sorption capacity could increase, with changes in pesticide bioavailability and final fate. The objective of this work was to study the effect that pine and oak wood added to soils had on the sorption/desorption of the pesticides linuron, alachlor, and metalaxyl. Experiments were conducted with two sandy loam and sandy clay soils each amended with two wood doses (5% and 50%) after different incubation times (0, 5 and 12 months). A low wood dose (5%) had no significant impact on the sorption (K_f) of alachlor, but K_f increased for linuron (up to 5.4-1.7 times) and metalaxyl (up to 4.4 and 8.6 times) in all wood-soil systems. The results were not significantly different after different incubation times. The desorption results indicated that wood decreases the sorption irreversibility of alachlor, and increases that of linuron and metalaxyl, with a varying effect of the wood-soil incubation time. The addition of a high wood dose to soil (50%) was more significant for increasing the sorption of all the pesticides, and the sorbed amounts remaining after desorption (>49% for linuron, >33% for alachlor and >6% for metalaxyl), although there was no apparent discrimination between the two types of woods. The role of the nature of the organic carbón (K_oc values) for sorption was evidenced for alachlor and metalaxyl, but not for linuron. These outcomes are of interest for extending wood application to soil as a barrier for avoiding environmental risk by point-source pollution due to the use and management of pesticides in farming systems.

Agricultural effluent treatment in biobed systems using novel substrates from southeastern Mexico: the relationship with physicochemical parameters of biomixtures

Misuse of pesticides in farming activities leads to contamination of drinking water sources and is responsible for animal and human health problems. The biobeds are practicable option to minimize contamination by pesticides during preparation, use and washing of equipment for pesticide treatments. This research aimed at testing substrate mixtures to optimize biobed efficiency to remove pesticides under the climate of the Yucatan (México). Agricultural soil and 11 mixtures adding vegetable compost, sisal pulp, corn stover and seaweed were tested under controlled conditions. Each biomixture was exposed to a mixture of five pesticides (2,4-diclorophenoxyacetic acid "2,4-D" [1.08 mg cm^-3], atrazine [2.50 mg cm^-3], carbofuran [0.23 mg cm^-3], diazinon [0.34 mg cm^-3], and glyphosate [0.36 mg cm^-3]) in a period of 41 days. Monitoring of the dissipation of pesticide residues showed that pesticides were quickly dissipated in soil at microcosm level experiment, while at two critical times of 20 and 41 days, all mixtures of substrates (biomixtures) were efficient in dissipation of high concentrations of pesticide in a short time (>99%). Time, biomixture and type of pesticide were shown to be the main parameters influencing pesticide dissipation (P < 0.05). Several other physicochemical parameters of the biomixtures, such as organic matter (OM), lignin, water holding capacity (WHC), and pH, were also significant on pesticide dissipation (P < 0.05), being pH the most significant.

Simultaneous removal of structurally different pesticides in a biomixture: Detoxification and effect of oxytetracycline

The biopurification systems (BPS) used for the treatment of pesticide-containing wastewater must present a versatile degrading ability, in order to remove different active ingredients according to the crop protection programs. This work aimed to assay the simultaneous removal of several pesticides (combinations of herbicides/insecticides/fungicides, or insecticides/fungicides) in a biomixture used in a BPS over a period of 115 d, and in the presence of oxytetracycline (OTC), an antibiotic of agricultural use that could be present in wastewater from agricultural pesticide application practices. The biomixture was able to mostly remove the herbicides during the treatment (removal rates: atrazine ≈ linuron > ametryn), and suffered no inhibition by OTC (only slightly for ametryn). Two fungicides (carbendazim and metalaxyl) were removed, nonetheless, in the systems containing only fungicides and insecticides, a clear increase in their half-lives was obtained in the treatments containing OTC. The neonicotinoid insecticides (imidacloprid and thiamethoxam) and the triazole fungicides (tebuconazole and triadimenol) were not significantly eliminated in the biomixture. Globally, the total removal of active ingredients ranged from 40.9% to 61.2% depending on the system, following the pattern: herbicides > fungicides > insecticides. The ecotoxicological analysis of the process revealed no detoxification towards the microcrustacean Daphnia magna, but a significant decay in the phytotoxicity towards Lactuca sativa in some cases, according to seed germination tests; in this case, OTC proved to be partially responsible for the phytotoxicity. The patterns of pesticide removal and detoxification provide inputs for the improvement of BPS use and their relevance as devices for wastewater treatment according to specific pesticide application programs.

Bioaugmentation and rhizosphere-assisted biodegradation as strategies for optimization of the dissipation capacity of biobeds

Biobeds are on-farm biodepuration systems whose efficiency rely on their high pesticide biodegradation capacity. We evaluated two optimization strategies, bioaugmentation and/or rhizosphere-assisted biodegradation, to maximize the dissipation capacity of biobeds. Iprodione was used as a model pesticide. Its dissipation and metabolism was determined in a biobed packing material inoculated with an iprodione-degrading Arthrobacter strain C1 (bioaugmentation, treatments B+C1) and/or seeded with ryegrass (rhizosphere-assisted biodegradation, treatments B+P). The impact of those strategies on the activity and composition of the microbial community was determined. Bioaugmentation accelerated the dissipation of iprodione which was further enhanced in the bioaugmented, rhizosphere-assisted treatment (treatment B+P+C1, Half-life (DT₅₀) = 3.4 d), compared to the non-bioaugmented, non rhizosphere-assisted control (DT₅₀ = 9.5 d, treatment B). Bioaugmentation resulted in the earlier formation of intermediate formation of metabolites I (3,5-dichlorophenyl-carboxamide), II (3,5-dichlorophenylurea acetate) and 3,5-dichloroaniline (3,5-DCA). The latter was further dissipated by the indigenous microbial community. Acid phosphatase (AP) and β-glucosidase (GLU) were temporarily stimulated in rhizosphere-assisted treatments, whereas a stimulation of the fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolytic activity in the bioaugmented treatments coincided with the hydrolysis of iprodione. q-PCR showed that changes in the abundance of alpha-proteobacteria and firmicutes was driven by the presence of rhizosphere while bioaugmentation had no significant effect.

Aging of biomixtures: Effects on carbofuran removal and microbial community structure

The aim of this work was to determine the efficiency of a straw/compost/soil biomixture for pesticide depuration during its aging and continuous use, for a period of over a year, based on its capacity to remove carbofuran (CFN), while simultaneously monitoring the variations in microbial community structure. Successive CFN spikings were applied in the biomixture at 6-week intervals, and the removal efficiency was determined 48 h post-application. Initially, only a discrete degradation performance was observed (9.9%), but one CFN application was sufficient to induce efficient elimination (>88.5%) of the pesticide at subsequent influxes for a period of over 6 months. A statistically significant reduction on CFN removal efficiency after this time was detected, reaching levels similar to the fresh-prepared biomixture (14.8%) at the end of the experiment. Simultaneous DGGE analyses showed only modest changes on microbial community patterns through time for both, bacteria and fungi. The clustering of genetic fingerprints in chronological groups corresponding to significantly different CFN degradation efficiencies indicates that biomixture aging changes not only the composition of microbial communities, but also their suitability to engage in pesticide degradation. Periodic substitution of straw/compost/soil biomixture in biopurification systems or regular provision of easily-degradable organic substrates should be considered to maintain an adequate depuration capacity on this system.

Effects of oxytetracycline on the performance and activity of biomixtures: Removal of herbicides and mineralization of chlorpyrifos

Biopurification systems (BPS) are design to remove pesticides from agricultural wastewater. This work assays for the first time the potential effect of an antibiotic of agricultural use (oxytetracycline, OTC) on the performance of a biomixture (biologically active core of BPS), considering that antibiotic-containing wastewaters are also produced in agricultural labors. The respiration of the biomixture was stimulated in the presence of increasing doses of OTC (≥100mgkg^-1), and only slightly increased with lower doses (≤10mgkg^-1). When co-applied during the removal of chlorpyrifos, OTC increased chlorpyrifos mineralization rates at low doses, resembling a hormetic effect. The biomixture was also able to remove three herbicides (atrazine, ametryn and linuron) with half-lives of 24.3 d, 43.9 d and 30.7 d; during co-application of OTC at a biomixture-relevant concentration, only the removal of ametryn was significantly inhibited, increasing its half-life to 92.4 d. Ecotoxicological assays revealed that detoxification takes place in the biomixture during the removal of herbicides in the presence of OTC. Overall results suggest that co-application of OTC in a biomixture does not negatively affect the performance of the matrix in every case; moreover, the co-application of this antibiotic could improve the mineralization of some pesticides.

Removal of carbamates and detoxification potential in a biomixture: Fungal bioaugmentation versus traditional use

The use of fungal bioaugmentation represents a promising way to improve the performance of biomixtures for the elimination of pesticides. The ligninolyitc fungus Trametes versicolor was employed for the removal of three carbamates (aldicarb, ALD; methomyl, MTM; and methiocarb, MTC) in defined liquid medium; in this matrix ALD and MTM showed similar half-lives (14d), nonetheless MTC exhibited a faster removal, with a half-life of 6.5d. Then the fungus was employed in the bioaugmentation of an optimized biomixture to remove the aforementioned carbamates plus carbofuran (CFN). Bioaugmented and non-bioaugmented systems removed over 99% ALD and MTM after 8d of treatment, nonetheless a slight initial delay in the removal was observed in the bioaugmented biomixtures (removal after 3d: ALD 87%/97%; MTM 86%/99%, in bioaugmented/non-bioaugmented systems). The elimination of the other carbamates was slower, but independent of the presence of the fungus: >98% for MTM after 35d and >99.5% for CFN after 22d. Though the bioaugmentation did not improve the removal capacity of the biomixture, it favored a lower production of transformation products at the first stages of the treatment, and in both cases, a marked decrease in the toxicity of the matrix was swiftly achieved along the process (from 435 to 448 TU to values <1TU in 16d).

Integrated biodepuration of pesticide-contaminated wastewaters from the fruit-packaging industry using biobeds: Bioaugmentation, risk assessment and optimized management

Wastewaters from fruit-packaging plants contain high loads of toxic and persistent pesticides and should be treated on site. We evaluated the depuration performance of five pilot biobeds against those effluents. In addition we tested bioaugmentation with bacterial inocula as a strategy for optimization of their depuration capacity. Finally we determined the composition and functional dynamics of the microbial community via q-PCR. Practical issues were also addressed including the risk associated with the direct environmental disposal of biobed-treated effluents and decontamination methods for the spent packing material. Biobeds showed high depuration capacity (>99.5%) against all pesticides with bioaugmentation maximizing their depuration performance against the persistent fungicide thiabendazole (TBZ). This was followed by a significant increase in the abundance of bacteria, fungi and of catabolic genes of aromatic compounds catA and pcaH. Bioaugmentation was the most potent decontamination method for spent packing material with composting being an effective alternative. Risk assessment based on practical scenarios (pome and citrus fruit-packaging plants) and the depuration performance of the pilot biobeds showed that discharge of the treated effluents into an 0.1-ha disposal site did not entail an environmental risk, except for TBZ-containing effluents where a larger disposal area (0.2ha) or bioaugmentation alleviated the risk.

Immobilization of the white-rot fungus Anthracophyllum discolor to degrade the herbicide atrazine

Herbicides cause environmental concerns because they are toxic and accumulate in the environment, food products and water supplies. There is a need to develop safe, efficient and economical methods to remove them from the environment, often by biodegradation. Atrazine is such herbicide. White-rot fungi have the ability to degrade herbicides of potential utility. This study formulated a novel pelletized support to immobilize the white-rot fungus Anthracophyllum discolor to improve its capability to degrade the atrazine using a biopurification system (BS). Different proportions of sawdust, starch, corn meal and flaxseed were used to generate three pelletized supports (F1, F2 and F3). In addition, immobilization with coated and uncoated pelletized supports (CPS and UPS, respectively) was assessed. UPS-F1 was determined as the most effective system as it provided high level of manganese peroxidase activity and fungal viability. The half-life (t_1/2) of atrazine decreased from 14 to 6 days for the control and inoculated samples respectively. Inoculation with immobilized A. discolor produced an increase in the fungal taxa assessed by DGGE and on phenoloxidase activity determined. The treatment improves atrazine degradation and reduces migration to surface and groundwater.

Mineralisation and degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid dimethylamine salt in a biobed matrix and in topsoil

BACKGROUND

Biobeds are used for on-farm bioremediation of pesticides in sprayer rinsate and from spills during sprayer filling. Using locally sourced materials from Saskatchewan, Canada, a biobed matrix was evaluated for its effectiveness for mineralising and degrading 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid dimethylamine salt (2,4-D DMA) compared with the topsoil used in the biobed matrix.

RESULTS

Applying 2,4-D DMA to the biobed matrix caused a 2-3 day lag in CO2 production not observed when the herbicide was applied to topsoil. Despite the initial lag, less residual 2,4-D was measured in the biobed (0%) matrix than in the topsoil (57%) after a 28 day incubation. When the herbicide was applied 5 times to the biobed matrix, net CO2 increased immediately after each 2,4-D DMA application. Mineralisation of 2,4-D DMA was 61.9% and residual 2,4-D in the biobed matrix was 0.3% after 60 days, compared with corresponding values of 32.9 and 70.9% in topsoil.

CONCLUSION

The biobed matrix enhanced the mineralisation and degradation of 2,4-D DMA, indicating the potential for successful implementation of biobeds under Canadian conditions. The biobed matrix was more effective for mineralising and degrading the herbicide compared with the topsoil used in the biobed matrix. By correcting for biobed matrix and formulation blank, CO2 evolution was a reliable indicator of 2,4-D DMA mineralisation. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Assessing the effectiveness of a three-stage on-farm biobed in treating pesticide contaminated wastewater

Agricultural point source pesticide pollution arising from contaminated machinery washings and accidental spillages pose a significant threat to river water and groundwater quality. In this study, we assess the effectiveness of a three-stage on-farm biobed for treating pesticide contaminated wastewater from a large (20 km(2)) commercial arable estate. The facility consisted of an enclosed machinery wash-down unit (stage 1), a 49 m(2) lined compost-straw-topsoil biobed (stage 2), and a 200 m(2) drainage field with a trickle irrigation system (stage 3). Pesticide concentrations were analysed in water samples collected fortnightly between November 2013 and November 2015 from the biobed input and output sumps and from 20 porous pots buried at 45 cm and 90 cm depth within the drainage field. The results revealed that the biobed removed 68-98% of individual pesticides within the contaminated washings, with mean total pesticide concentrations reducing by 91.6% between the biobed input and output sumps. Drainage field irrigation removed a further 68-99% of individual pesticides, with total mean pesticide concentrations reducing by 98.4% and 97.2% in the 45 cm and 90 cm depth porous pots, respectively. The average total pesticide concentration at 45 cm depth in the drainage field (57 μg L(-1)) was 760 times lower than the mean concentration recorded in the input sump (43,334 μg L(-1)). There was no evidence of seasonality in the efficiency of biobed pesticide removal, nor was there evidence of a decline in removal efficiency over the two-year monitoring period. However, higher mean total pesticide concentrations at 90 cm (102 μg L(-1)) relative to 45 cm (57 μg L(-1)) depth indicated an accumulation of pesticide residues deeper within the soil profile. Overall, the results presented here demonstrate that a three-stage biobed can successfully reduce pesticide pollution risk from contaminated machinery washings on a commercial farm.

Mobile soak pits improve spray team mobility, productivity and safety of PMI malaria control programs

In the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI)-funded Africa Indoor Residual Spraying Project (AIRS), end-of-day clean-up operations require the safe disposal of wash water resulting from washing the exterior of spray tanks and spray operators' personal protective equipment. Indoor residual spraying (IRS) programs typically use soak pits - large, in-ground filters - to adsorb, filter and then safely degrade the traces of insecticide found in the wash water. Usually these soak pits are permanent installations serving 30 or more operators, located in a central area that is accessible to multiple spray teams at the end of their workday. However, in remote areas, it is often impractical for teams to return to a central soak pit location for cleanup. To increase operational efficiency and improve environmental compliance, the PMI AIRS Project developed and tested mobile soak pits (MSP) in the laboratory and in field applications in Madagascar, Mali, Senegal, and Ethiopia where the distance between villages can be substantial and the road conditions poor. Laboratory testing confirmed the ability of the easily-assembled MSP to reduce effluent concentrations of two insecticides (Actellic 300-CS and Ficam VC) used by the PMI AIRS Project, and to generate the minimal practicable environmental "footprint" in these remote areas. Field testing in the Mali 2014 IRS campaign demonstrated ease of installation and use, resulted in improved and more consistent standards of clean-up, decreased transportation requirements, improved spray team working conditions, and reduced potential for operator exposure to insecticide.

Impact of Spent Mushroom Substrates on the Fate of Pesticides in Soil, and Their Use for Preventing and/or Controlling Soil and Water Contamination: A Review

Intensive crop production involves a high consumption of pesticides. This is a cause of major environmental concern because the presence of pesticides in water is becoming increasingly common. Physicochemical methods based on soil modification with organic residues have been developed to enhance the immobilization and/or degradation of pesticides in agricultural soils, which may control both the diffuse and the point pollution of soils and waters. This review summarizes the influence of spent mushroom substrate (SMS) on the environmental fate of pesticides when both are simultaneously applied in agriculture. The processes of adsorption, leaching and dissipation of these compounds in SMS-amended soils were evaluated at laboratory and field scale. Relationships were established between the experimental parameters obtained and the properties of the soils, the SMS, and the pesticides in order to determine the effect that the application of SMS in agricultural soils has on the environmental impact of pesticides. Accordingly, this review highlights the use of SMS as a strategy for the prevention and/or control of soil and water contamination by pesticides to strike a balance between agricultural development and the use of these compounds.

Removal of carbofuran is not affected by co-application of chlorpyrifos in a coconut fiber/compost based biomixture after aging or pre-exposure

Biomixtures constitute the biologically active part of biopurification systems (BPS), which are used to treat pesticide-containing wastewater. The aim of this work was to determine whether co-application of chlorpyrifos (CLP) affects the removal of carbofuran (CFN) (both insecticide/nematicides) in a coconut fiber-compost-soil biomixture (FCS biomixture), after aging or previous exposure to CFN. Removal of CFN and two of its transformation products (3-hydroxycarbofuran and 3-ketocarbofuran) was enhanced in pre-exposed biomixtures in comparison to aged biomixtures. The co-application of CLP did not affect CFN removal, which suggests that CLP does not inhibit microbial populations in charge of CFN transformation. Contrary to the removal behavior, mineralization of radiolabeled (14)C-pesticides showed higher mineralization rates of CFN in aged biomixtures (with respect to freshly prepared or pre-exposed biomixtures). In the case of CLP, mineralization was favored in freshly prepared biomixtures, which could be ascribed to high sorption during aging and microbial inhibition by CFN in pre-exposure. Regardless of removal and mineralization results, toxicological assays revealed a steep decrease in the acute toxicity of the matrix on the microcrustacean Daphnia magna (over 97%) after 8days of treatment of individual pesticides or the mixture CFN/CLP. Results suggest that FCS biomixtures are suitable to be used in BPS for the treatment of wastewater in fields where both pesticides are employed.

Enhancing pesticide degradation using indigenous microorganisms isolated under high pesticide load in bioremediation systems with vermicomposts

In biobed bioremediation systems (BBSs) with vermicomposts exposed to a high load of pesticides, 6 bacteria and 4 fungus strains were isolated, identified, and investigated to enhance the removal of pesticides. Three different mixtures of BBSs composed of vermicomposts made from greenhouse (GM), olive-mill (OM) and winery (WM) wastes were contaminated, inoculated, and incubated for one month (GMI, OMI and WMI). The inoculums maintenance was evaluated by DGGE and Q-PCR. Pesticides were monitored by HPLC-DAD. The highest bacterial and fungal abundance was observed in WMI and OMI respectively. In WMI, the consortia improved the removal of tebuconazole, metalaxyl, and oxyfluorfen by 1.6-, 3.8-, and 7.7-fold, respectively. The dissipation of oxyfluorfen was also accelerated in OMI, with less than 30% remaining after 30d. One metabolite for metalaxyl and 4 for oxyfluorfen were identified by GC-MS. The isolates could be suitable to improve the efficiency of bioremediation systems.

Application of a biosorbent to soil: a potential method for controlling water pollution by pesticides

Different strategies are now being optimized to prevent water from agricultural areas being contaminated by pesticides. The aim of this work was to optimize the adsorption of non-polar (tebuconazole, triadimenol) and polar (cymoxanil, pirimicarb) pesticides by soils after applying the biosorbent spent mushroom substrate (SMS) at different rates. The adsorption isotherms of pesticides by three soils and SMS-amended soils were obtained and the adsorption constants were calculated. The distribution coefficients (K d) increased 1.40-23.1 times (tebuconazole), 1.08-23.7 times (triadimenol), 1.31-42.1 times (cymoxanil), and 0.55-23.8 times (pirimicarb) for soils amended with biosorbent at rates between 2 and 75 %. Increasing the SMS rates led to a constant increase in adsorption efficiency for non-polar pesticides but not for polar pesticides, due to the increase in the organic carbon (OC) content of soils as indicated by K OC values. The OC content of SMS-amended soils accounted for more than 90 % of the adsorption variability of non-polar pesticides, but it accounted for only 56.3 % for polar pesticides. The estimated adsorption of SMS-amended soils determined from the individual adsorption of soils and SMS was more consistent with real experimental values for non-polar pesticides than for polar pesticides. The results revealed the use of SMS as a tool to optimize pesticide adsorption by soils in dealing with specific contamination problems involving these compounds.

Dissipation of bentazone, pyrimethanil and boscalid in biochar and digestate based soil mixtures for biopurification systems

Biopurification systems, such as biofilters, are biotechnological tools to prevent point sources of pesticide pollution stemming from on-farm operations. For the purification processes pesticide sorption and mineralization and/or dissipation are essential and both largely depend on the type of filling materials and the pesticide in use. In this paper the mineralization and dissipation of three contrasting (14)C-labeled pesticides (bentazone, boscalid, and pyrimethanil) were investigated in laboratory incubation experiments using sandy soil, biochar produced from Pine woodchips, and/or digestate obtained from anaerobic digestion process using maize silage, chicken manure, beef and pig urine as feedstock. The results indicate that the addition of digestate increased pesticide mineralization, whereby the mineralization was not proportional to the digestate loads in the mixture, indicating a saturation effect in the turnover rate of pesticides. This effect was in correlation with the amount of water extractable DOC, obtained from the digestate based mixtures. Mixing biochar into the soil generally reduced total mineralization and led to larger sorption/sequestration of the pesticides, resulting in faster decrease of the extractable fraction. Also the addition of biochar to the soil/digestate mixtures reduced mineralization compared to the digestate alone mixture but mineralization rates were still higher as for the biochar/soil alone. In consequence, the addition of biochar to the soil generally decreased pesticide dissipation times and larger amounts of biochar led to high amounts of non-extractable residues of pesticide in the substrates. Among the mixtures tested, a mixture of digestate (5%) and biochar (5%) gave optimal results with respect to mineralization and simultaneous sorption for all three pesticides.

Ecotoxicological analysis during the removal of carbofuran in fungal bioaugmented matrices

Biomixtures are used for the removal of pesticides from agricultural wastewater. As biomixtures employ high content of lignocellulosic substrates, their bioaugmentation with ligninolytic fungi represents a novel approach for their enhancement. Nonetheless, the decrease in the concentration of the pesticide may result in sublethal concentrations that still affect ecosystems. Two matrices, a microcosm of rice husk (lignocellulosic substrate) bioaugmented with the fungus Trametes versicolor and a biomixture that contained fungally colonized rice husk were used in the degradation of the insecticide/nematicide carbofuran (CFN). Elutriates simulating lixiviates from these matrices were used to assay the ecotoxicological effects at sublethal level over Daphnia magna (Straus) and the fish Oreochromis aureus (Steindachner) and Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum). Elutriates obtained after 30 d of treatment in the rice husk microcosms at dilutions over 2.5% increased the offspring of D. magna as a trade-off stress response, and produced mortality of neonates at dilutions over 5%. Elutriates (dilution 1:200) obtained during a 30 d period did not produce alterations on the oxygen consumption and ammonium excretion of O. mykiss, however these physiological parameters were affected in O. aureus at every time point of treatment, irrespective of the decrease in CFN concentration. When the fungally colonized rice husk was used to prepare a biomixture, where more accelerated degradation is expected, similar alterations on the responses by O. aureus were achieved. Results suggest that despite the good removal of the pesticide, it is necessary to optimize biomixtures to minimize their residual toxicity and potential chronic effects on aquatic life.

The potential of organic substrates based on mushroom substrate and straw to dissipate fungicides contained in effluents from the fruit-packaging industry - Is there a role for Pleurotus ostreatus?

Citrus fruit-packaging plants (FPP) produce large wastewater volumes with high loads of fungicides like ortho-phenylphenol (OPP) and imazalil (IMZ). No methods are in place for the treatment of those effluents and biobeds appear as a viable alternative. We employed a column study to investigate the potential of spent mushroom substrate (SMS) of Pleurotus ostreatus, either alone or in mixture with straw and soil plus a mixture of straw /soil to retain and dissipate IMZ and OPP. The role of P. ostreatus on fungicides dissipation was also investigated by studying in parallel the performance of fresh mushroom substrate of P. ostreatus (FMS) and measuring lignolytic enzymatic activity in the leachates. All substrates effectively reduced the leaching of OPP and IMZ which corresponded to 0.014-1.1% and 0.120-0.420% of their initial amounts respectively. Mass balance analysis revealed that FMS and SMS/Straw/Soil (50/25/25 by vol) offered the most efficient removal of OPP and IMZ from wastewaters respectively. Regardless of the substrate, OPP was restricted in the top 0-20cm of the columns and was bioavailable (extractable with water), compared to IMZ which was less bioavailable (extractable with acetonitrile) but diffused at deeper layers (20-50, 50-80cm) in the SMS- and Straw/Soil-columns. PLFAs showed that fungal abundance was significantly lower in the top layer of all substrates from where the highest pesticide amounts were recovered suggesting an inhibitory effect of fungicides on total fungi in the substrates tested. Our data suggest that biobeds packed with SMS-rich substrates could ensure the efficient removal of IMZ and OPP from wastewaters of citrus FPP.

Exploring the potential of novel biomixtures and Lentinula edodes fungus for the degradation of selected pesticides. Evaluation for use in biobed systems

An approach to reduce the contamination of water sources with pesticides is the use of biopurificaction systems. The active core of these systems is the biomixture. The composition of biomixtures depends on the availability of local agro-industrial wastes and design should be adapted to every region. In Portugal, cork processing is generally regarded as environmentally friendly and would be interesting to find applications for its industry residues. In this work the potential use of different substrates in biomixtures, as cork (CBX); cork and straw, coat pine and LECA (Light Expanded Clay Aggregates), was tested on the degradation of terbuthylazine, difenoconazole, diflufenican and pendimethalin pesticides. Bioaugmentation strategies using the white-rot fungus Lentinula edodes inoculated into the CBX, was also assessed. The results obtained from this study clearly demonstrated the relevance of using natural biosorbents as cork residues to increase the capacity of pesticide dissipation in biomixtures for establishing biobeds. Furthermore, higher degradation of all the pesticides was achieved by use of bioaugmented biomixtures. Indeed, the biomixtures inoculated with L. edodes EL1 were able to mineralize the selected xenobiotics, revelling that these white-rot fungi might be a suitable fungus for being used as inoculum sources in on-farm sustainable biopurification system, in order to increase its degradation efficiency. After 120 days, maximum degradation of terbuthylazine, difenoconazole, diflufenican and pendimethalin, of bioaugmented CBX, was 89.9%, 75.0%, 65.0% and 99.4%, respectively.. The dominant metabolic route of terbuthylazine in biomixtures inoculated with L. edodes EL1 proceeded mainly via hydroxylation, towards production of terbuthylazine-hydroxy-2 metabolite. Finally, sorption process to cork by pesticides proved to be a reversible process, working cork as a mitigating factor reducing the toxicity to microorganisms in the biomixture, especially in the early stages.

Isolation and characterisation of a Sphingomonas strain able to degrade the fungicide ortho-phenylphenol

BACKGROUND

Ortho-phenylphenol (OPP) is a fungicide used in fruit packaging plants for the control of fungal infestations during storage. Its application leads to the production of large wastewater volumes which according to the European legislation should be treated on site. In spite of this, no efficient treatment systems are currently available, and the development of biological systems based on tailored-made pesticide-degrading inocula for the treatment of these wastewaters is an appealing solution.

RESULTS

Enrichment cultures from a soil collected from a wastewater disposal site resulted in the isolation of a pure Sphingomonas haloaromaticamans strain P3 able to degrade rapidly OPP and use it as an energy source. Its degrading capacity was dependent on the external supply of amino acids or on the presence of other bacteria that did not contribute to fungicide degradation. The isolated S. haloaromaticamans strain was able to metabolise up to 150 mg L(-1) of OPP within 7 days, in a wide range of pH (4.5-9) and temperatures (4-37 °C), and in the presence of other pesticides (thiabendazole and diphenylamine) co-used in the fruit packaging industry.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the OPP-degrading bacterium isolated showed high potential for use in future biodepuration treatment systems and bioremediation strategies.

Design of an optimized biomixture for the degradation of carbofuran based on pesticide removal and toxicity reduction of the matrix

Pesticide biopurification systems contain a biologically active matrix (biomixture) responsible for the accelerated elimination of pesticides in wastewaters derived from pest control in crop fields. Biomixtures have been typically prepared using the volumetric composition 50:25:25 (lignocellulosic substrate/humic component/soil); nonetheless, formal composition optimization has not been performed so far. Carbofuran is an insecticide/nematicide of high toxicity widely employed in developing countries. Therefore, the composition of a highly efficient biomixture (composed of coconut fiber, compost, and soil, FCS) for the removal of carbofuran was optimized by means of a central composite design and response surface methodology. The volumetric content of soil and the ratio coconut fiber/compost were used as the design variables. The performance of the biomixture was assayed by considering the elimination of carbofuran, the mineralization of (14)C-carbofuran, and the residual toxicity of the matrix, as response variables. Based on the models, the optimal volumetric composition of the FCS biomixture consists of 45:13:42 (coconut fiber/compost/soil), which resulted in minimal residual toxicity and ∼99% carbofuran elimination after 3 days. This optimized biomixture considerably differs from the standard 50:25:25 composition, which remarks the importance of assessing the performance of newly developed biomixtures during the design of biopurification systems.

Isolation of a diphenylamine-degrading bacterium and characterization of its metabolic capacities, bioremediation and bioaugmentation potential

The antioxidant diphenylamine (DPA) is used in fruit-packaging plants for the control of the physiological disorder apple scald. Its use results in the production of DPA-contaminated wastewater which should be treated before finally discharged. Biological treatment systems using tailored-made microbial inocula with specific catabolic activities comprise an appealing and sustainable solution. This study aimed to isolate DPA-degrading bacteria, identify the metabolic pathway of DPA and evaluate their potential for future implementation in bioremediation and biodepuration applications. A Pseudomonas putida strain named DPA1 able to rapidly degrade and utilize DPA as the sole C and N source was enriched from a DPA-contaminated soil. The isolated strain degraded spillage-level concentrations of DPA in liquid culture (2000 mg L(-1)) and in contaminated soil (1000 mg kg(-1)) and metabolized DPA via the transient formation of aniline and catechol. Further evidence for the bioremediation and biodepuration potential of the P. putida strain DPA1 was provided by its capacity to degrade the post-harvest fungicide ortho-phenylphenol (OPP), concurrently used by the fruit-packaging plants, although at slower rates and DPA in a wide range of pH (4.5-9) and temperatures (15-37 °C). These findings revealed the high potential of the P. putida strain DPA1 for use in future soil bioremediation strategies and/or as start-up inocula in wastewater biodepuration systems.

Dissipation, metabolism and sorption of pesticides used in fruit-packaging plants: Towards an optimized depuration of their pesticide-contaminated agro-industrial effluents

Wastewaters from the fruit-packaging industry constitute a serious point source contamination with pesticides. In the absence of effective depuration methods, they are discharged in municipal wastewater treatment plants or spread to land. Modified biobeds could be an applicable solution for their treatment. We studied the dissipation of thiabendazole (TBZ), imazalil (IMZ), ortho-phenylphenol (OPP), diphenylamine (DPA) and ethoxyquin (EQ), used by the fruit-packaging industry, in anaerobically digested sewage sludge, liquid aerobic sewage sludge and in various organic substrates (biobeds packing materials) composed of soil, straw and spend mushroom substrate (SMS) in various volumetric ratios. Pesticide sorption was also determined. TBZ and IMZ showed higher persistence especially in the anaerobically digested sewage sludge (DT50=32.3-257.6d), in contrast to OPP and DPA which were rapidly dissipated especially in liquid aerobic sewage sludge (DT50=1.3-9.3d). EQ was rapidly oxidized mainly to quinone imine (QI) which did not persist and dimethyl ethoxyquinoline (EQNL, minor metabolite) which persisted for longer. Sterilization of liquid aerobic sewage sludge inhibited pesticide decay verifying the microbial nature of pesticide dissipation. Organic substrates rich in SMS showed the highest dissipation capacity with TBZ and IMZ DT50s of ca. 28 d compared to DT50s of >50 d in the other substrates. TBZ and IMZ showed the highest sorption affinity, whereas OPP and DPA were weakly sorbed. Our findings suggest that current disposal practices could not guarantee an efficient depuration of effluents from the fruit-packaging industry, whereas SMS-rich biobed organic substrates show efficient depuration of effluents from the fruit-packaging industry via accelerated dissipation even of recalcitrant fungicides.

Adaptation of biomixtures for carbofuran degradation in on-farm biopurification systems in tropical regions

A biomixture constitutes the active core of the on-farm biopurification systems, employed for the detoxification of pesticide-containing wastewaters. As biomixtures should be prepared considering the available local materials, the present work aimed to evaluate the performance of ten different biomixtures elaborated with by-products from local farming, in the degradation of the insecticide/nematicide carbofuran (CFN), in order to identify suitable autochthonous biomixtures to be used in the tropics. Five different lignocellulosic materials mixed with either compost or peat and soil were employed in the preparation of the biomixtures. The comprehensive evaluation of the biomixtures included removal of the parent compound, formation of transformation products, mineralization of radiolabeled CFN, and determination of the residual toxicity of the process. Detoxification capacity of the matrices was high, and compost-based biomixtures showed better performance than peat-based biomixtures. CFN removal over 98.5% was achieved within 16 days (eight out of ten biomixtures), with half-lives below 5 days in most of the cases. 3-Hydroxycarbofuran and 3-ketocarbofuran were found as transformation products at very low concentrations suggesting their further degradation. Mineralization of CFN was also achieved after 64 days (2.9 to 15.1%); several biomixtures presented higher mineralization than the soil itself. Acute toxicity determinations with Daphnia magna revealed a marked detoxification in the matrices at the end of the process; low residual toxicity was observed only in two of the peat-based biomixtures. Overall best efficiency was achieved with the biomixture composed of coconut fiber-compost-soil; however, results suggest that in the case of unavailability of coconut fiber, other biomixtures may be employed with similar performance.

Spatial heterogeneity in degradation characteristics and microbial community composition of pesticide biopurification systems

AIMS

To investigate spatial and temporal differences in degradation characteristics and microbial community composition of pesticide biopurification systems.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Pilot-scale biofilters were supplemented with the potato-sprouting suppressant chloropropham. Two biofilters were inoculated with a chloropropham-degrading mixed culture, while the other two were not inoculated. Biodegradation rate, size and composition of the microbial community were monitored during 72 days at different biofilter depths. First of all, results showed that inoculation was not necessary to obtain efficient degradation although it shortens the biofilter's start-up period. Secondly, a higher biodegradation rate and chloropropham- and 3-chloroaniline-degrading microbial community size could be seen in the top part of the inoculated as well as the noninoculated biofilters. Finally, analysis of the microbial community composition shows that no clear spatial stratification of the microbial community could be found in any biofilter. However, the microbial diversity increases over time in all biofilters and on all biofilter depths, suggesting that during the time of the experiment, the biofilters develop a broad carrying capacity in which a genetically very diverse range of chloropropham- and 3-chloroaniline-degrading species can thrive.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, a vertical gradient of the chloropropham- and 3-chloroaniline-degrading community composition, in terms of density and temporal and spatial diversity, was clearly established and was directly connected to a vertical gradient of chloropropham biodegradation activity.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The major part of degradation activity takes place in the top part of the biofilter, suggesting that it could be possible to use shorter biofilter reactors or higher loading rates to treat chloropropham waste streams, making this type of bioremediation technique economically more feasible.

Cultivation-independent screening revealed hot spots of IncP-1, IncP-7 and IncP-9 plasmid occurrence in different environmental habitats

IncP-1, IncP-7 and IncP-9 plasmids often carry genes encoding enzymes involved in the degradation of man-made and natural contaminants, thus contributing to bacterial survival in polluted environments. However, the lack of suitable molecular tools often limits the detection of these plasmids in the environment. In this study, PCR followed by Southern blot hybridization detected the presence of plasmid-specific sequences in total community (TC-) DNA or fosmid DNA from samples originating from different environments and geographic regions. A novel primer system targeting IncP-9 plasmids was developed and applied along with established primers for IncP-1 and IncP-7. Screening TC-DNA from biopurification systems (BPS) which are used on farms for the purification of pesticide-contaminated water revealed high abundances of IncP-1 plasmids belonging to different subgroups as well as IncP-7 and IncP-9. The novel IncP-9 primer-system targeting the rep gene of nine IncP-9 subgroups allowed the detection of a high diversity of IncP-9 plasmid specific sequences in environments with different sources of pollution. Thus polluted sites are “hot spots” of plasmids potentially carrying catabolic genes.

Influence of quaternary ammonium compounds on the microbial reductive dechlorination of pentachloroaniline

The inhibitory effect of two widely used quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs)--alkyl benzyl dimethyl (AB) and hexadecyl trimethyl (HD) ammonium chloride--on fermentation, methanogenesis and pentachloroaniline (PCA) dechlorination was assessed using a mixed, methanogenic, PCA-dechlorinating culture amended with AB or HD at a concentration range from 5 to 70 μM. PCA dechlorination was inhibited at 5 μM AB and was completely inhibited at 25 or 5 μM by AB or HD, respectively. However, the PCA dechlorination pathway was the same in both the QACs-free and QACs-amended culture series. Fermentation (acidogenesis) and methanogenesis were inhibited by both AB and HD at and above 25 μM but to a lesser degree than PCA dechlorination. Overall, HD resulted in a more severe inhibition of the mixed culture than AB. Adsorption of both QACs to the mixed culture biomass followed the Freundlich isotherm model. The adsorption affinity of HD for the mixed culture biomass was significantly higher than that of AB, which may be related to the observed higher inhibitory effects of HD compared to AB. Both AB and HD were not degraded in the mixed, dechlorinating culture used in this study.

Carbendazim dissipation in the biomixture of on-farm biopurification systems and its effect on microbial communities

The impact of repeated carbendazim (CARB) applications on the extent of CARB dissipation, the microbial diversity, the community level physiological profile (CLPP), and the enzymatic activity within the biomixture of an on-farm biopurification system was evaluated. After three successive CARB applications, the CARB dissipation efficiency was high; the efficiency of dissipation was 87%, 94% and 96% after each application, respectively. Although microbial enzymatic activity was affected significantly by CARB application, it could recover after each CARB pulse. Likewise, the numbers of cultivable bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes (as measured in CFUs) were slightly affected by the addition of CARB, but the inhibitory effect of the pesticide application was temporary. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and Biolog Ecoplate assays demonstrated that the microbial populations remained relatively stable over time when compared to the control. The results obtained herein therefore demonstrate the high dissipation capacity of this biomixture and highlight the microbiological robustness of this biological system.