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Underwood JC, Hall NC, Mumford AC, Harvey RW, Bliznik PA, Jeanis KM. Relation between the relative abundance and collapse of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae and microbial antagonism in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2024; 100:fiae043. [PMID: 38533659 PMCID: PMC11022654 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiae043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) is the dominant filamentous cyanobacterium that develops into blooms in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, each year. During AFA bloom and collapse, ecosystem conditions for endangered Lost River and shortnose suckers deteriorate, thus motivating the need to identify processes that limit AFA abundance and decline. Here, we investigate the relations between AFA and other members of the microbial community (photosynthetic and nonphotosynthetic bacteria and archaea), how those relations impact abundance and collapse of AFA, and the types of microbial conditions that suppress AFA. We found significant spatial variation in AFA relative abundance during the 2016 bloom period using 16S rRNA sequencing. The Pelican Marina site had the lowest AFA relative abundance, and this was coincident with increased relative abundance of Candidatus Sericytochromatia, Flavobacterium, and Rheinheimera, some of which are known AFA antagonists. The AFA collapse coincided with phosphorus limitation relative to nitrogen and the increased relative abundance of Cyanobium and Candidatus Sericytochromatia, which outcompete AFA when dissolved inorganic nitrogen is available. The data collected in this study indicate the importance of dissolved inorganic nitrogen combined with microbial community structure in suppressing AFA abundance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer C Underwood
- U.S. Geological Survey, Water Mission Area, 3215 Marine Street, Boulder, CO 80303, United States
| | - Natalie C Hall
- U.S. Geological Survey, Maryland–Delaware–D.C. Water Science Center, 5522 Research Park Dr, Catonsville, MD 21228, United States
| | - Adam C Mumford
- U.S. Geological Survey, Maryland–Delaware–D.C. Water Science Center, 5522 Research Park Dr, Catonsville, MD 21228, United States
| | - Ronald W Harvey
- U.S. Geological Survey, Water Mission Area, 3215 Marine Street, Boulder, CO 80303, United States
| | - Paul A Bliznik
- U.S. Geological Survey, Water Mission Area, 3215 Marine Street, Boulder, CO 80303, United States
| | - Kaitlyn M Jeanis
- U.S. Geological Survey, Water Mission Area, 3215 Marine Street, Boulder, CO 80303, United States
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Kashani M, Engle MA, Kent DB, Gregston T, Cozzarelli IM, Mumford AC, Varonka MS, Harris CR, Akob DM. Illegal dumping of oil and gas wastewater alters arid soil microbial communities. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0149023. [PMID: 38294246 PMCID: PMC10880632 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01490-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The Permian Basin, underlying southeast New Mexico and west Texas, is one of the most productive oil and gas (OG) provinces in the United States. Oil and gas production yields large volumes of wastewater with complex chemistries, and the environmental health risks posed by these OG wastewaters on sensitive desert ecosystems are poorly understood. Starting in November 2017, 39 illegal dumps, as defined by federal and state regulations, of OG wastewater were identified in southeastern New Mexico, releasing ~600,000 L of fluid onto dryland soils. To evaluate the impacts of these releases, we analyzed changes in soil geochemistry and microbial community composition by comparing soils from within OG wastewater dump-affected samples to unaffected zones. We observed significant changes in soil geochemistry for all dump-affected compared with control samples, reflecting the residual salts and hydrocarbons from the OG-wastewater release (e.g., enriched in sodium, chloride, and bromide). Microbial community structure significantly (P < 0.01) differed between dump and control zones, with soils from dump areas having significantly (P < 0.01) lower alpha diversity and differences in phylogenetic composition. Dump-affected soil samples showed an increase in halophilic and halotolerant taxa, including members of the Marinobacteraceae, Halomonadaceae, and Halobacteroidaceae, suggesting that the high salinity of the dumped OG wastewater was exerting a strong selective pressure on microbial community structure. Taxa with high similarity to known hydrocarbon-degrading organisms were also detected in the dump-affected soil samples. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential for OG wastewater exposure to change the geochemistry and microbial community dynamics of arid soils.IMPORTANCEThe long-term environmental health impacts resulting from releases of oil and gas (OG) wastewater, typically brines with varying compositions of ions, hydrocarbons, and other constituents, are understudied. This is especially true for sensitive desert ecosystems, where soil microbes are key primary producers and drivers of nutrient cycling. We found that releases of OG wastewater can lead to shifts in microbial community composition and function toward salt- and hydrocarbon-tolerant taxa that are not typically found in desert soils, thus altering the impacted dryland soil ecosystem. Loss of key microbial taxa, such as those that catalyze organic carbon cycling, increase arid soil fertility, promote plant health, and affect soil moisture retention, could result in cascading effects across the sensitive desert ecosystem. By characterizing environmental changes due to releases of OG wastewater to soils overlying the Permian Basin, we gain further insights into how OG wastewater may alter dryland soil microbial functions and ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitra Kashani
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, Virginia, USA
| | - Mark A Engle
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Resource Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Douglas B Kent
- U.S. Geological Survey, Earth Systems Processes Division, Menlo Park, California, USA
| | | | - Isabelle M Cozzarelli
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, Virginia, USA
| | - Adam C Mumford
- U.S. Geological Survey, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Matthew S Varonka
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, Virginia, USA
| | - Cassandra R Harris
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, Virginia, USA
| | - Denise M Akob
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, Virginia, USA
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Farag AM, Harper DD, Cozzarelli IM, Kent DB, Mumford AC, Akob DM, Schaeffer T, Iwanowicz LR. Using Biological Responses to Monitor Freshwater Post-Spill Conditions over 3 years in Blacktail Creek, North Dakota, USA. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 2022; 83:253-271. [PMID: 36129489 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-022-00943-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
A pipeline carrying unconventional oil and gas (OG) wastewater spilled approximately 11 million liters of wastewater into Blacktail Creek, North Dakota, USA. Flow of the mix of stream water and wastewater down the channel resulted in storage of contaminants in the hyporheic zone and along the banks, providing a long-term source of wastewater constituents to the stream. A multi-level investigation was used to assess the potential effects of oil and brine spills on aquatic life. In this study, we used a combination of experiments using a native fish species, Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas), field sampling of the microbial community structure, and measures of estrogenicity. The fish investigation included in situ experiments and experiments with collected site water. Estrogenicity was measured in collected site water samples, and microbial community analyses were conducted on collected sediments. During the initial post-spill investigation, February 2015, performing in situ fish bioassays was impossible because of ice conditions. However, microbial community (e.g., the presence of members of the Halomonadaceae, a family that is indicative of elevated salinity) and estrogenicity differences were compared to reference sites and point to early biological effects of the spill. We noted water column effects on in situ fish survival 6 months post-spill during June 2015. At that time, total dissolved ammonium (sum of ammonium and ammonia, TAN) was 4.41 mg NH4/L with an associated NH3 of 1.09 mg/L, a concentration greater than the water quality criteria established to protect aquatic life. Biological measurements in the sediment defined early and long-lasting effects of the spill on aquatic resources. The microbial community structure was affected during all sampling events. Therefore, sediment may act as a sink for constituents spilled and as such provide an indication of continued and cumulative effects post-spill. However, lack of later water column effects may reflect pulse hyporheic flow of ammonia from shallow ground water. Combining fish toxicological, microbial community structure and estrogenicity information provides a complete ecological investigation that defines potential influences of contaminants at organismal, population, and community levels. In general, in situ bioassays have implications for the individual survival and changes at the population level, microbial community structure defines potential changes at the community level, and estrogenicity measurements define changes at the individual and molecular level. By understanding effects at these various levels of biological organization, natural resource managers can interpret how a course of action, especially for remediation/restoration, might affect a larger group of organisms in the system. The current work also reviews potential effects of additional constituents defined during chemistry investigations on aquatic resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aїda M Farag
- U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Jackson Field Research Station, Jackson, WY, USA.
| | - David D Harper
- U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Jackson Field Research Station, Jackson, WY, USA
| | | | - Douglas B Kent
- U.S. Geological Survey, Earth Systems Processes Division, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - Adam C Mumford
- U.S. Geological Survey, Laboratory Analytical Services Division, Reston, VA, USA
| | - Denise M Akob
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, VA, USA
| | - Travis Schaeffer
- U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Yankton Field Research Station, Yankton, SD, USA
| | - Luke R Iwanowicz
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, USA
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Akob DM, Mumford AC, Fraser A, Harris CR, Orem WH, Varonka MS, Cozzarelli IM. Oil and Gas Wastewater Components Alter Streambed Microbial Community Structure and Function. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:752947. [PMID: 34938277 PMCID: PMC8686200 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.752947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The widespread application of directional drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies expanded oil and gas (OG) development to previously inaccessible resources. A single OG well can generate millions of liters of wastewater, which is a mixture of brine produced from the fractured formations and injected hydraulic fracturing fluids (HFFs). With thousands of wells completed each year, safe management of OG wastewaters has become a major challenge to the industry and regulators. OG wastewaters are commonly disposed of by underground injection, and previous research showed that surface activities at an Underground Injection Control (UIC) facility in West Virginia affected stream biogeochemistry and sediment microbial communities immediately downstream from the facility. Because microbially driven processes can control the fate and transport of organic and inorganic components of OG wastewater, we designed a series of aerobic microcosm experiments to assess the influence of high total dissolved solids (TDS) and two common HFF additives-the biocide 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide (DBNPA) and ethylene glycol (an anti-scaling additive)-on microbial community structure and function. Microcosms were constructed with sediment collected upstream (background) or downstream (impacted) from the UIC facility in West Virginia. Exposure to elevated TDS resulted in a significant decrease in aerobic respiration, and microbial community analysis following incubation indicated that elevated TDS could be linked to the majority of change in community structure. Over the course of the incubation, the sediment layer in the microcosms became anoxic, and addition of DBNPA was observed to inhibit iron reduction. In general, disruptions to microbial community structure and function were more pronounced in upstream and background sediment microcosms than in impacted sediment microcosms. These results suggest that the microbial community in impacted sediments had adapted following exposure to OG wastewater releases from the site. Our findings demonstrate the potential for releases from an OG wastewater disposal facility to alter microbial communities and biogeochemical processes. We anticipate that these studies will aid in the development of useful models for the potential impact of UIC disposal facilities on adjoining surface water and shallow groundwater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise M. Akob
- United States Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, VA, United States
| | - Adam C. Mumford
- United States Geological Survey, Water Mission Area, Reston, VA, United States
| | - Andrea Fraser
- United States Geological Survey, Water Mission Area, Reston, VA, United States
| | - Cassandra R. Harris
- United States Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, VA, United States
| | - William H. Orem
- United States Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, VA, United States
| | - Matthew S. Varonka
- United States Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, VA, United States
| | - Isabelle M. Cozzarelli
- United States Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, VA, United States
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Cozzarelli IM, Kent DB, Briggs M, Engle MA, Benthem A, Skalak KJ, Mumford AC, Jaeschke J, Farag A, Lane JW, Akob DM. Geochemical and geophysical indicators of oil and gas wastewater can trace potential exposure pathways following releases to surface waters. Sci Total Environ 2021; 755:142909. [PMID: 33131866 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Releases of oil and gas (OG) wastewaters can have complex effects on stream-water quality and downstream organisms, due to sediment-water interactions and groundwater/surface water exchange. Previously, elevated concentrations of sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), barium (Ba), strontium (Sr), and lithium (Li), and trace hydrocarbons were determined to be key markers of OG wastewater releases when combined with Sr and radium (Ra) isotopic compositions. Here, we assessed the persistence of an OG wastewater spill in a creek in North Dakota using a combination of geochemical measurements and modeling, hydrologic analysis, and geophysical investigations. OG wastewater comprised 0.1 to 0.3% of the stream-water compositions at downstream sites in February and June 2015 but could not be quantified in 2016 and 2017. However, OG-wastewater markers persisted in sediments and pore water for 2.5 years after the spill and up to 7.2-km downstream from the spill site. Concentrations of OG wastewater constituents were highly variable depending on the hydrologic conditions. Electromagnetic measurements indicated substantially higher electrical conductivity under the bank adjacent to a seep 7.2 km downstream from the spill site. Geomorphic investigations revealed mobilization of sediment is an important contaminant transport process. Labile Ba, Ra, Sr, and ammonium (NH4) concentrations extracted from sediments indicated sediments are a long-term reservoir of these constituents, both in the creek and on the floodplain. Using the drivers of ecological effects identified at this intensively studied site we identified 41 watersheds across the North Dakota landscape that may be subject to similar episodic inputs from OG wastewater spills. Effects of contaminants released to the environment during OG waste management activities remain poorly understood; however, analyses of Ra and Sr isotopic compositions, as well as trace inorganic and organic compound concentrations at these sites in pore-water provide insights into potentials for animal and human exposures well outside source-remediation zones.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Douglas B Kent
- U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - Martin Briggs
- U.S. Geological Survey, 11 Sherman Place, Unit 5015, Storrs Mansfield, CT 06269, USA
| | - Mark A Engle
- Dept. of Geological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Adam Benthem
- U.S. Geological Survey, New England Water Science Center, 331 Commerce Way, Suite 2, Pembroke, NH 03275, USA
| | | | - Adam C Mumford
- U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., Reston, VA 20192, USA
| | - Jeanne Jaeschke
- U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., Reston, VA 20192, USA
| | - Aïda Farag
- U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Jackson Field Research Station, 1475 Fish Hatchery Rd, Jackson, WY 83001 USA
| | - John W Lane
- U.S. Geological Survey, 11 Sherman Place, Unit 5015, Storrs Mansfield, CT 06269, USA
| | - Denise M Akob
- U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., Reston, VA 20192, USA
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Cozzarelli IM, Akob DM, Baedecker MJ, Spencer T, Jaeschke J, Dunlap DS, Mumford AC, Poret-Peterson AT, Chambers DB. Degradation of Crude 4-MCHM (4-Methylcyclohexanemethanol) in Sediments from Elk River, West Virginia. Environ Sci Technol 2017; 51:12139-12145. [PMID: 28942635 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b03142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In January 2014, approximately 37 800 L of crude 4-methylcyclohexanemethanol (crude MCHM) spilled into the Elk River, West Virginia. To understand the long-term fate of 4-MCHM, we conducted experiments under environmentally relevant conditions to assess the potential for the 2 primary compounds in crude MCHM (1) to undergo biodegradation and (2) for sediments to serve as a long-term source of 4-MCHM. We developed a solid phase microextraction (SPME) method to quantify the cis- and trans-isomers of 4-MCHM. Autoclaved Elk River sediment slurries sorbed 17.5% of cis-4-MCHM and 31% of trans-4-MCHM from water during the 2-week experiment. Sterilized, impacted, spill-site sediment released minor amounts of cis- and up to 35 μg/L of trans-4-MCHM into water, indicating 4-MCHM was present in sediment collected 10 months post spill. In anoxic microcosms, 300 μg/L cis- and 150 μg/L trans-4-MCHM degraded to nondetectable levels in 8-13 days in both impacted and background sediments. Under aerobic conditions, 4-MCHM isomers degraded to nondetectable levels within 4 days. Microbial communities at impacted sites differed in composition compared to background samples, but communities from both sites shifted in response to crude MCHM amendments. Our results indicate that 4-MCHM is readily biodegradable under environmentally relevant conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle M Cozzarelli
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, Reston, Virginia 20192 United States
| | - Denise M Akob
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, Reston, Virginia 20192 United States
| | - Mary Jo Baedecker
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, Reston, Virginia 20192 United States
| | - Tracey Spencer
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, Reston, Virginia 20192 United States
| | - Jeanne Jaeschke
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, Reston, Virginia 20192 United States
| | - Darren S Dunlap
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, Reston, Virginia 20192 United States
| | - Adam C Mumford
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, Reston, Virginia 20192 United States
| | | | - Douglas B Chambers
- U.S. Geological Survey, Virginia-West Virginia Water Science Center, Charleston, West Virginia 25301 United States
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Fahrenfeld NL, Delos Reyes H, Eramo A, Akob DM, Mumford AC, Cozzarelli IM. Shifts in microbial community structure and function in surface waters impacted by unconventional oil and gas wastewater revealed by metagenomics. Sci Total Environ 2017; 580:1205-1213. [PMID: 28034542 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.12.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2016] [Revised: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Unconventional oil and gas (UOG) production produces large quantities of wastewater with complex geochemistry and largely uncharacterized impacts on surface waters. In this study, we assessed shifts in microbial community structure and function in sediments and waters upstream and downstream from a UOG wastewater disposal facility. To do this, quantitative PCR for 16S rRNA and antibiotic resistance genes along with metagenomic sequencing were performed. Elevated conductivity and markers of UOG wastewater characterized sites sampled downstream from the disposal facility compared to background sites. Shifts in overall high level functions and microbial community structure were observed between background sites and downstream sediments. Increases in Deltaproteobacteria and Methanomicrobia and decreases in Thaumarchaeota were observed at downstream sites. Genes related to dormancy and sporulation and methanogenic respiration were 18-86 times higher at downstream, impacted sites. The potential for these sediments to serve as reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance was investigated given frequent reports of the use of biocides to control the growth of nuisance bacteria in UOG operations. A shift in resistance profiles downstream of the UOG facility was observed including increases in acrB and mexB genes encoding for multidrug efflux pumps, but not overall abundance of resistance genes. The observed shifts in microbial community structure and potential function indicate changes in respiration, nutrient cycling, and markers of stress in a stream impacted by UOG waste disposal operations.
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Affiliation(s)
- N L Fahrenfeld
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Civil and Environmental Engineering, 96 Frelinghuysen Rd, Piscataway, NJ 08504, United States.
| | - Hannah Delos Reyes
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Civil and Environmental Engineering, 96 Frelinghuysen Rd, Piscataway, NJ 08504, United States
| | - Alessia Eramo
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Civil and Environmental Engineering, 96 Frelinghuysen Rd, Piscataway, NJ 08504, United States
| | - Denise M Akob
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., Reston, VA 20192, United States
| | - Adam C Mumford
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., Reston, VA 20192, United States
| | - Isabelle M Cozzarelli
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., Reston, VA 20192, United States
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Cozzarelli IM, Skalak KJ, Kent DB, Engle MA, Benthem A, Mumford AC, Haase K, Farag A, Harper D, Nagel SC, Iwanowicz LR, Orem WH, Akob DM, Jaeschke JB, Galloway J, Kohler M, Stoliker DL, Jolly GD. Environmental signatures and effects of an oil and gas wastewater spill in the Williston Basin, North Dakota. Sci Total Environ 2017; 579:1781-1793. [PMID: 27939081 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.11.157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Revised: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Wastewaters from oil and gas development pose largely unknown risks to environmental resources. In January 2015, 11.4ML (million liters) of wastewater (300g/L TDS) from oil production in the Williston Basin was reported to have leaked from a pipeline, spilling into Blacktail Creek, North Dakota. Geochemical and biological samples were collected in February and June 2015 to identify geochemical signatures of spilled wastewaters as well as biological responses along a 44-km river reach. February water samples had elevated chloride (1030mg/L) and bromide (7.8mg/L) downstream from the spill, compared to upstream levels (11mg/L and <0.4mg/L, respectively). Lithium (0.25mg/L), boron (1.75mg/L) and strontium (7.1mg/L) were present downstream at 5-10 times upstream concentrations. Light hydrocarbon measurements indicated a persistent thermogenic source of methane in the stream. Semi-volatile hydrocarbons indicative of oil were not detected in filtered samples but low levels, including tetramethylbenzenes and di-methylnaphthalenes, were detected in unfiltered water samples downstream from the spill. Labile sediment-bound barium and strontium concentrations (June 2015) were higher downstream from the Spill Site. Radium activities in sediment downstream from the Spill Site were up to 15 times the upstream activities and, combined with Sr isotope ratios, suggest contributions from the pipeline fluid and support the conclusion that elevated concentrations in Blacktail Creek water are from the leaking pipeline. Results from June 2015 demonstrate the persistence of wastewater effects in Blacktail Creek several months after remediation efforts started. Aquatic health effects were observed in June 2015; fish bioassays showed only 2.5% survival at 7.1km downstream from the spill compared to 89% at the upstream reference site. Additional potential biological impacts were indicated by estrogenic inhibition in downstream waters. Our findings demonstrate that environmental signatures from wastewater spills are persistent and create the potential for long-term environmental health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- I M Cozzarelli
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, Reston, VA 20192, USA.
| | - K J Skalak
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, Reston, VA 20192, USA
| | - D B Kent
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - M A Engle
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Energy Resources Science Center, Reston, VA 20192, USA
| | - A Benthem
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, Reston, VA 20192, USA
| | - A C Mumford
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, Reston, VA 20192, USA
| | - K Haase
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, Reston, VA 20192, USA
| | - A Farag
- U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Jackson Field Research Station, Jackson, WY 83001, USA
| | - D Harper
- U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Jackson Field Research Station, Jackson, WY 83001, USA
| | - S C Nagel
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - L R Iwanowicz
- U.S. Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA
| | - W H Orem
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Energy Resources Science Center, Reston, VA 20192, USA
| | - D M Akob
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, Reston, VA 20192, USA
| | - J B Jaeschke
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, Reston, VA 20192, USA
| | - J Galloway
- U.S. Geological Survey, North Dakota Water Science Center, Bismarck, ND 58503, USA
| | - M Kohler
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - D L Stoliker
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
| | - G D Jolly
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, Reston, VA 20192, USA
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Kassotis CD, Iwanowicz LR, Akob DM, Cozzarelli IM, Mumford AC, Orem WH, Nagel SC. Endocrine disrupting activities of surface water associated with a West Virginia oil and gas industry wastewater disposal site. Sci Total Environ 2016; 557-558:901-10. [PMID: 27073166 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.03.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2016] [Revised: 03/15/2016] [Accepted: 03/16/2016] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Currently, >95% of end disposal of hydraulic fracturing wastewater from unconventional oil and gas operations in the US occurs via injection wells. Key data gaps exist in understanding the potential impact of underground injection on surface water quality and environmental health. The goal of this study was to assess endocrine disrupting activity in surface water at a West Virginia injection well disposal site. Water samples were collected from a background site in the area and upstream, on, and downstream of the disposal facility. Samples were solid-phase extracted, and extracts assessed for agonist and antagonist hormonal activities for five hormone receptors in mammalian and yeast reporter gene assays. Compared to reference water extracts upstream and distal to the disposal well, samples collected adjacent and downstream exhibited considerably higher antagonist activity for the estrogen, androgen, progesterone, glucocorticoid and thyroid hormone receptors. In contrast, low levels of agonist activity were measured in upstream/distal sites, and were inhibited or absent at downstream sites with significant antagonism. Concurrent analyses by partner laboratories (published separately) describe the analytical and geochemical profiling of the water; elevated conductivity as well as high sodium, chloride, strontium, and barium concentrations indicate impacts due to handling of unconventional oil and gas wastewater. Notably, antagonist activities in downstream samples were at equivalent authentic standard concentrations known to disrupt reproduction and/or development in aquatic animals. Given the widespread use of injection wells for end-disposal of hydraulic fracturing wastewater, these data raise concerns for human and animal health nearby.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luke R Iwanowicz
- U.S. Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, Fish Health Branch, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA
| | - Denise M Akob
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 430, Reston, VA 20192, USA
| | - Isabelle M Cozzarelli
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 430, Reston, VA 20192, USA
| | - Adam C Mumford
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 430, Reston, VA 20192, USA
| | - William H Orem
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Energy Resources Science Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 956, Reston, VA 20192, USA
| | - Susan C Nagel
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
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Akob DM, Mumford AC, Orem W, Engle MA, Klinges JG, Kent DB, Cozzarelli IM. Wastewater Disposal from Unconventional Oil and Gas Development Degrades Stream Quality at a West Virginia Injection Facility. Environ Sci Technol 2016; 50:5517-25. [PMID: 27158829 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b00428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The development of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) resources has rapidly increased in recent years; however, the environmental impacts and risks are poorly understood. A single well can generate millions of liters of wastewater, representing a mixture of formation brine and injected hydraulic fracturing fluids. One of the most common methods for wastewater disposal is underground injection; we are assessing potential risks of this method through an intensive, interdisciplinary study at an injection disposal facility in West Virginia. In June 2014, waters collected downstream from the site had elevated specific conductance (416 μS/cm) and Na, Cl, Ba, Br, Sr, and Li concentrations, compared to upstream, background waters (conductivity, 74 μS/cm). Elevated TDS, a marker of UOG wastewater, provided an early indication of impacts in the stream. Wastewater inputs are also evident by changes in (87)Sr/(86)Sr in streamwater adjacent to the disposal facility. Sediments downstream from the facility were enriched in Ra and had high bioavailable Fe(III) concentrations relative to upstream sediments. Microbial communities in downstream sediments had lower diversity and shifts in composition. Although the hydrologic pathways were not able to be assessed, these data provide evidence demonstrating that activities at the disposal facility are impacting a nearby stream and altering the biogeochemistry of nearby ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise M Akob
- U.S. Geological Survey , National Research Program, Reston, Virginia 20192, United States
| | - Adam C Mumford
- U.S. Geological Survey , National Research Program, Reston, Virginia 20192, United States
| | - William Orem
- U.S. Geological Survey , Eastern Energy Resources Science Center, Reston, Virginia 20192, United States
| | - Mark A Engle
- U.S. Geological Survey , Eastern Energy Resources Science Center, Reston, Virginia 20192, United States
| | - J Grace Klinges
- U.S. Geological Survey , National Research Program, Reston, Virginia 20192, United States
| | - Douglas B Kent
- U.S. Geological Survey , National Research Program, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
| | - Isabelle M Cozzarelli
- U.S. Geological Survey , National Research Program, Reston, Virginia 20192, United States
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Mumford AC, Barringer JL, Reilly PA, Eberl DD, Blum AE, Young LY. Biogeochemical environments of streambed-sediment pore waters with and without arsenic enrichment in a sedimentary rock terrain, New Jersey Piedmont, USA. Sci Total Environ 2015; 505:1350-1360. [PMID: 25130624 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.07.104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2013] [Revised: 07/02/2014] [Accepted: 07/25/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Release of arsenic (As) from sedimentary rocks has resulted in contamination of groundwater in aquifers of the New Jersey Piedmont Physiographic Province, USA; the contamination also may affect the quality of the region's streamwater to which groundwater discharges. Biogeochemical mechanisms involved in the release process were investigated in the streambeds of Six Mile Run and Pike Run, tributaries to the Millstone River in the Piedmont. At Six Mile Run, streambed pore water and shallow groundwater were low or depleted in oxygen, and contained As at concentrations greater than 20 μg/L. At Pike Run, oxidizing conditions were present in the streambed, and the As concentration in pore water was 2.1 μg/L. The 16S rRNA gene and the As(V) respiratory reductase gene, arrA, were amplified from DNA extracted from streambed pore water at both sites and analyzed, revealing that distinct bacterial communities that corresponded to the redox conditions were present at each site. Anaerobic enrichment cultures were inoculated with pore water from gaining reaches of the streams with acetate and As(V). As(V) was reduced by microbes to As(III) in enrichments with Six Mile Run pore water and groundwater, whereas no reduction occurred in enrichments with Pike Run pore water. Cloning and sequencing of the arrA gene indicated 8 unique operational taxonomic units (OTUs) at Six Mile Run and 11 unique OTUs at Pike Run, which may be representative of the arsenite oxidase gene arxA. Low-oxygen conditions at Six Mile Run have favored microbial As reduction and release, whereas release was inhibited by oxidizing conditions at Pike Run.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - P A Reilly
- U.S. Geological Survey, Lawrenceville, NJ, USA
| | - D D Eberl
- U.S. Geological Survey, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - A E Blum
- U.S. Geological Survey, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - L Y Young
- Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
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Mumford AC, Yee N, Young LY. Precipitation of alacranite (As8S9) by a novel As(V)-respiring anaerobe strain MPA-C3. Environ Microbiol 2013; 15:2748-60. [PMID: 23735175 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2012] [Accepted: 03/20/2013] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Strain MPA-C3 was isolated by incubating arsenic-bearing sediments under anaerobic, mesophilic conditions in minimal media with acetate as the sole source of energy and carbon, and As(V) as the sole electron acceptor. Following growth and the respiratory reduction of As(V) to As(III), a yellow precipitate formed in active cultures, while no precipitate was observed in autoclaved controls, or in uninoculated media supplemented with As(III). The precipitate was identified by X-ray diffraction as alacranite, As8 S9 , a mineral previously only identified in hydrothermal environments. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene indicated that strain MPA-C3 is a member of the Deferribacteres family, with relatively low (90%) identity to Denitrovibrio acetiphilus DSM 12809. The arsenate respiratory reductase gene, arrA, was sequenced, showing high homology to the arrA gene of Desulfitobacterium halfniense. In addition to As(V), strain MPA-C3 utilizes NO3(-), Se(VI), Se(IV), fumarate and Fe(III) as electron acceptors, and acetate, pyruvate, fructose and benzoate as sources of carbon and energy. Analysis of a draft genome sequence revealed multiple pathways for respiration and carbon utilization. The results of this work demonstrate that alacranite, a mineral previously thought to be formed only chemically under hydrothermal conditions, is precipitated under mesophilic conditions by the metabolically versatile strain MPA-C3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam C Mumford
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
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Mumford AC, Barringer JL, Benzel WM, Reilly PA, Young LY. Microbial transformations of arsenic: mobilization from glauconitic sediments to water. Water Res 2012; 46:2859-2868. [PMID: 22494492 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2012.02.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2011] [Revised: 02/24/2012] [Accepted: 02/26/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
In the Inner Coastal Plain of New Jersey, arsenic (As) is released from glauconitic sediment to carbon- and nutrient-rich shallow groundwater. This As-rich groundwater discharges to a major area stream. We hypothesize that microbes play an active role in the mobilization of As from glauconitic subsurface sediments into groundwater in the Inner Coastal Plain of New Jersey. We have examined the potential impact of microbial activity on the mobilization of arsenic from subsurface sediments into the groundwater at a site on Crosswicks Creek in southern New Jersey. The As contents of sediments 33-90 cm below the streambed were found to range from 15 to 26.4 mg/kg, with siderite forming at depth. Groundwater beneath the streambed contains As at concentrations up to 89 μg/L. Microcosms developed from site sediments released 23 μg/L of As, and active microbial reduction of As(V) was observed in microcosms developed from site groundwater. DNA extracted from site sediments was amplified with primers for the 16S rRNA gene and the arsenate respiratory reductase gene, arrA, and indicated the presence of a diverse anaerobic microbial community, as well as the presence of potential arsenic-reducing bacteria. In addition, high iron (Fe) concentrations in groundwater and the presence of iron-reducing microbial genera suggests that Fe reduction in minerals may provide an additional mechanism for release of associated As, while arsenic-reducing microorganisms may serve to enhance the mobility of As in groundwater at this site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam C Mumford
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
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Mumford AC. Antibody for Chlamydia psittaci in ascitic fluids of immunized mice implanted with sarcoma 180. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1970; 134:37-9. [PMID: 5423527 DOI: 10.3181/00379727-134-34722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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