102676
Poster Number 349-112
See more from this Division: SSSA Division: Soils and Environmental Quality
See more from this Session: Impacts of Soil and Water Pollution on Food Safety Poster (includes student competition)
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Phoenix Convention Center North, Exhibit Hall CDE
Abstract:
Municipal biosolids are often applied to agricultural land because of their high nutrient value and beneficial impact on soil quality. More recently, commercially available biosolids-based fertilizers have gained popularity for personal use in urban and suburban gardens and green spaces. Recent studies, however, have shown that trace organic contaminants such as pharmaceutical and personal care products are frequently found in biosolids. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the application of these commercial biosolids-based fertilizers in urban and suburban gardens could lead to the accumulation of emerging contaminants in food crops. Of particular interest in this study were the biosolid-borne contaminants triclosan, triclocarban, nonylphenol, and methyl paraben. The model plants used in this study included basil, ryegrass, bell pepper, and radish. A commercial potting mix (i.e., Miracle-Grow) and topsoil were selected and characterized for this study. A heat-treated commercial biosolids-based fertilizer (i.e., Milorganite) was applied at three different rates: no biosolids, the recommended application rate, and four times the recommended application rate. Each species was seeded into a container and grown in a greenhouse at optimal conditions until maturity. Plants were destructively harvested, separated by plant parts (roots, stems, leaves and fruit), extracted and analyzed for target compounds using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The biosolids-amended soil was also extracted and analyzed. This study should allow us to assess the potential for bioavailability, plant uptake and translocation of contaminants to edible and non-edible plant parts. This is particularly useful when assessing ecological and human health risk assessment.
See more from this Division: SSSA Division: Soils and Environmental Quality
See more from this Session: Impacts of Soil and Water Pollution on Food Safety Poster (includes student competition)