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Ali S, Baloch SB, Bernas J, Konvalina P, Onyebuchi EF, Naveed M, Ali H, Jamali ZH, Nezhad MTK, Mustafa A. Phytotoxicity of radionuclides: A review of sources, impacts and remediation strategies. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 240:117479. [PMID: 37884073 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Various anthropogenic activities and natural sources contribute to the presence of radioactive materials in the environment, posing a serious threat to phytotoxicity. Contamination of soil and water by radioactive isotopes degrades the environmental quality and biodiversity. They persist in soils for a considerable amount of time and disturb the fauna and flora of any affected area. Hence, their removal from the contaminated medium is inevitable to prevent their entry into the food chain and the organisms at higher levels of the food chain. Physicochemical methods for radioactive element remediation are effective; however, they are not eco-friendly, can be expensive and impractical for large-scale remediation. Contrastingly, different bioremediation approaches, such as phytoremediation using appropriate plant species for removing the radionuclides from the polluted sites, and microbe-based remediation, represent promising alternatives for cleanup. In this review, sources of radionuclides in soil as well as their hazardous impacts on plants are discussed. Moreover, various conventional physicochemical approaches used for remediation discussed in detail. Similarly, the effectiveness and superiority of various bioremediation approaches, such as phytoremediation and microbe-based remediation, over traditional approaches have been explained in detail. In the end, future perspectives related to enhancing the efficiency of the phytoremediation process have been elaborated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahzaib Ali
- Department of Agroecosystems, Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Branišovská 1645/31A, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Sadia Babar Baloch
- Department of Agroecosystems, Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Branišovská 1645/31A, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Bernas
- Department of Agroecosystems, Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Branišovská 1645/31A, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Petr Konvalina
- Department of Agroecosystems, Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Branišovská 1645/31A, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Eze Festus Onyebuchi
- Department of Agroecosystems, Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Branišovská 1645/31A, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Muhammad Naveed
- Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan
| | - Hassan Ali
- Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan
| | - Zameer Hussain Jamali
- College of Environmental Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, 611130, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Mohammad Tahsin Karimi Nezhad
- Department of Forest Ecology, The Silva Tarouca Research Institute for Landscape and Ornamental 13 Gardening, Lidicka, 25/27, Brno, 60200, Czech Republic
| | - Adnan Mustafa
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou, 510650, China.
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Feng G, Yong J, Liu Q, Chen H, Mao P. Response of soil microbial communities to natural radionuclides along specific-activity gradients. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 246:114156. [PMID: 36209527 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the response of soil microbial community to abnormal natural radionuclides is important to maintain soil ecological function, but the underlying mechanism of tolerance and survival of microbes is poorly studied. The effects of natural radionuclides on the topsoil microbial communities in anomalous natural radiation area were investigated in this work, and it was found that microbial community composition was significantly influenced by the specific-activities of natural radionuclides. The results revealed that relative abundances of 10 major microbial phyla and genera displayed different patterns along specific-activity gradients, including decreasing, increasing, hump-shaped, U-shaped, and similar sinusoidal or cosine wave trends, which indicated that the natural radionuclides were the predominant driver for change of microbial community structure. At the phylum and genus level, microbial communities were divided into two special groups according to the tolerance to natural radionuclides, such as 238U and 232Th, including tolerant and sensitive groups. Taken together, our findings suggest that the high specific-activities of natural radionuclides can obviously drive changes in microbial communities, providing a possibility for future studies on the microbial tolerance genes and bioremediation strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangwen Feng
- Research Center of Radiation Ecology and Ion Beam Biotechnology, College of Physics Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830017, PR China
| | - Jinlong Yong
- Research Center of Radiation Ecology and Ion Beam Biotechnology, College of Physics Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830017, PR China
| | - Qian Liu
- School of Statistics and Data Science, Xinjiang University of Finance & Economics, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830012, PR China.
| | - Henglei Chen
- Research Center of Radiation Ecology and Ion Beam Biotechnology, College of Physics Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830017, PR China
| | - Peihong Mao
- Research Center of Radiation Ecology and Ion Beam Biotechnology, College of Physics Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830017, PR China
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You W, Peng W, Tian Z, Zheng M. Uranium bioremediation with U(VI)-reducing bacteria. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 798:149107. [PMID: 34325147 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Uranium (U) pollution is an environmental hazard caused by the development of the nuclear industry. Microbial reduction of hexavalent uranium (U(VI)) to tetravalent uranium (U(IV)) reduces U solubility and mobility and has been proposed as an effective method to remediate uranium contamination. In this review, U(VI) remediation with respect to U(VI)-reducing bacteria, mechanisms, influencing factors, products, and reoxidation are systematically summarized. Reportedly, some metal- and sulfate-reducing bacteria possess excellent U(VI) reduction capability through mechanisms involving c-type cytochromes, extracellular pili, electron shuttle, or thioredoxin reduction. In situ remediation has been demonstrated as an ideal strategy for large-scale degradation of uranium contaminants than ex situ. However, U(VI) reduction efficiency can be affected by various factors, including pH, temperature, bicarbonate, electron donors, and coexisting metal ions. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that the reduction products could be reoxidized when exposed to oxygen and nitrate, inevitably compromising the remediation effects, especially for non-crystalline U(IV) with weak stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbo You
- Key Laboratory of Regional Energy Systems Optimization, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Wanting Peng
- Key Laboratory of Regional Energy Systems Optimization, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Zhichao Tian
- Key Laboratory of Regional Energy Systems Optimization, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Maosheng Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Regional Energy Systems Optimization, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China.
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Lopez‐Fernandez M, Jroundi F, Ruiz‐Fresneda MA, Merroun ML. Microbial interaction with and tolerance of radionuclides: underlying mechanisms and biotechnological applications. Microb Biotechnol 2021; 14:810-828. [PMID: 33615734 PMCID: PMC8085914 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.13718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Radionuclides (RNs) generated by nuclear and civil industries are released in natural ecosystems and may have a hazardous impact on human health and the environment. RN-polluted environments harbour different microbial species that become highly tolerant of these elements through mechanisms including biosorption, biotransformation, biomineralization and intracellular accumulation. Such microbial-RN interaction processes hold biotechnological potential for the design of bioremediation strategies to deal with several contamination problems. This paper, with its multidisciplinary approach, provides a state-of-the-art review of most research endeavours aimed to elucidate how microbes deal with radionuclides and how they tolerate ionizing radiations. In addition, the most recent findings related to new biotechnological applications of microbes in the bioremediation of radionuclides and in the long-term disposal of nuclear wastes are described and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Lopez‐Fernandez
- Department of MicrobiologyUniversity of GranadaAvenida Fuentenueva s/nGranada18071Spain
- Present address:
Institute of Resource EcologyHelmholtz‐Zentrum Dresden‐RossendorfBautzner Landstraße 400Dresden01328Germany
| | - Fadwa Jroundi
- Department of MicrobiologyUniversity of GranadaAvenida Fuentenueva s/nGranada18071Spain
| | - Miguel A. Ruiz‐Fresneda
- Department of MicrobiologyUniversity of GranadaAvenida Fuentenueva s/nGranada18071Spain
- Present address:
Departamento de Cristalografía y Biología EstructuralCentro Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)Instituto de Química‐Física Rocasolano (IQFR)Calle Serrano 119Madrid28006Spain
| | - Mohamed L. Merroun
- Department of MicrobiologyUniversity of GranadaAvenida Fuentenueva s/nGranada18071Spain
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Burger A, Weidinger M, Baumann N, Vesely A, Lichtscheidl I. The response of the accumulator plants Noccaea caerulescens, Noccaea goesingense and Plantago major towards the uranium. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2021; 229-230:106544. [PMID: 33556790 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Uranium (U) is a naturally occurring metal; its environmental levels can be increased due to processes in the nuclear industry and fertilizer production. The transfer of U in the food chain from plants is associated with deleterious chemical and radiation effects. To date, limited information is available about U toxicity on plant physiology. This study investigates the responses of metal-accumulating plants to different concentrations of U. The plants Noccaea caerulescens and Noccaea goesingense are known as metal hyperaccumulators and therefore could serve as candidates for the phytoremediation of radioactive hotspots; Plantago major is a widely used pharmaceutical plant that pioneers polluted grounds and therefore should not contain high concentrations of toxic elements. The experimental plants were grown hydroponically at U concentrations between 1 μM and 10 mM. The content of U and essential elements was analyzed in roots and leaves by ICP-MS. The amount of accumulated U was influenced by its concentration in the hydroponics. Roots contained most of the metal, whereas less was transported up to the leaves, with the exception of N. goesingense in a medium concentration of U. U also influenced the nutrient profile of the plants. We localized the U in plant tissues using EDX in the SEM. U was evenly distributed in roots and leaves of Noccaea species, with one exception in the roots of N. goesingense, where the central cylinder contained more U than the cortex. The toxicity of U was assessed by measuring growth and photosynthetic parameters. While root biomass of N. caerulescens was not affected by U, root biomass of N. goesingense decreased significantly at high U concentrations of 0.1 and 10 mM and root biomass of P. major decreased at 10 mM U. Dry weight of leaves was decreased at different U concentrations in the three plant species; a promotive effect was observed in N. caerulescens at lowest concentration offered. Chlorophyll a fluorescence was not affected or negatively affected by U in both Noccaea species, whereas in Plantago also positive effects were observed. Our results show that the impact of U on Plantago and Noccaea relates to its external concentration and to the plant species. When growing in contaminated areas, P. major should not be used for medicinal purpose. Noccaea species and P. major could immobilize U in their rhizosphere in hotspots contaminated by U, and they could extract limited amounts of U into their leaves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Burger
- Cell Imaging and Ultrastructure Research, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Marieluise Weidinger
- Cell Imaging and Ultrastructure Research, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nils Baumann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Andreas Vesely
- Nuclear Engineering Seibersdorf GmbH, 2444, Seibersdorf, Austria
| | - Irene Lichtscheidl
- Cell Imaging and Ultrastructure Research, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria
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Gupta DK, Chatterjee S, Mitra A, Voronina A, Walther C. Uranium and Plants: Elemental Translocation and Phytoremediation Approaches. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-14961-1_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
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Davies HS, Rosas-Moreno J, Cox F, Lythgoe P, Bewsher A, Livens FR, Robinson CH, Pittman JK. Multiple environmental factors influence 238U, 232Th and 226Ra bioaccumulation in arbuscular mycorrhizal-associated plants. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 640-641:921-934. [PMID: 30021326 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Revised: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Ecological consequences of low-dose radioactivity from natural sources or radioactive waste are important to understand but knowledge gaps still remain. In particular, the soil transfer and bioaccumulation of radionuclides into plant roots is poorly studied. Furthermore, better knowledge of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi association may help understand the complexities of radionuclide bioaccumulation within the rhizosphere. Plant bioaccumulation of uranium, thorium and radium was demonstrated at two field sites, where plant tissue concentrations reached up to 46.93 μg g-1 238U, 0.67 μg g-1 232Th and 18.27 kBq kg-1 226Ra. High root retention of uranium was consistent in all plant species studied. In contrast, most plants showed greater bioaccumulation of thorium and radium into above-ground tissues. The influence of specific soil parameters on root radionuclide bioaccumulation was examined. Total organic carbon significantly explained the variation in root uranium concentration, while other soil factors including copper concentration, magnesium concentration and pH significantly correlated with root concentrations of uranium, radium and thorium, respectively. All four orders of Glomeromycota were associated with root samples from both sites and all plant species studied showed varying association with AM fungi, ranging from zero to >60% root colonisation by fungal arbuscules. Previous laboratory studies using single plant-fungal species association had found a positive role of AM fungi in root uranium transfer, but no significant correlation between the amount of fungal infection and root uranium content in the field samples was found here. However, there was a significant negative correlation between AM fungal infection and radium accumulation. This study is the first to examine the role of AM fungi in radionuclide soil-plant transfer at a community level within the natural environment. We conclude that biotic factors alongside various abiotic factors influence the soil-plant transfer of radionuclides and future mechanistic studies are needed to explain these interactions in more detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena S Davies
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Jeanette Rosas-Moreno
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Filipa Cox
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Paul Lythgoe
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Alastair Bewsher
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Francis R Livens
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK; Centre for Radiochemistry Research, School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Clare H Robinson
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
| | - Jon K Pittman
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
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Boghi A, Roose T, Kirk GJD. A Model of Uranium Uptake by Plant Roots Allowing for Root-Induced Changes in the soil. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:3536-3545. [PMID: 29466669 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b06136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
We develop a model with which to study the poorly understood mechanisms of uranium (U) uptake by plants. The model is based on equations for transport and reaction of U and acids and bases in the rhizosphere around cylindrical plant roots. It allows for the speciation of U with hydroxyl, carbonate, and organic ligands in the soil solution; the nature and kinetics of sorption reactions with the soil solid; and the effects of root-induced changes in rhizosphere pH. A sensitivity analysis showed the importance of soil sorption and speciation parameters as influenced by pH and CO2 pressure; and of root geometry and root-induced acid-base changes linked to the form of nitrogen taken up by the root. The root absorbing coefficient for U, relating influx to the concentration of U species in solution at the root surface, was also important. Simplified empirical models of U uptake by different plant species and soil types need to account for these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Boghi
- School of Water, Energy & Environment , Cranfield University , Cranfield, Bedford MK43 0AL , U.K
| | - Tiina Roose
- Faculty of Engineering and Environment , University of Southampton , Southampton SO17 1BJ , U.K
| | - Guy J D Kirk
- School of Water, Energy & Environment , Cranfield University , Cranfield, Bedford MK43 0AL , U.K
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