Effects of Pb Smelting on the Soil Bacterial Community near a Secondary Lead Plant

Abstract

Secondary lead smelting is a widespread industrial activity which has exacerbated Pb or Cd contamination of soil and water across the world. Soil physicochemical properties, soil enzyme activities, heavy metal concentrations, and bacterial diversity near a secondary lead plant in Xuzhou, China were examined in this study. The results showed that secondary lead smelting activities influenced nearby soils. Soil acidification decreased one order of magnitude, with a mean value of 7.3. Soil organic matter also showed a downward trend, while potassium and nitrogen appeared to accumulate. Soil urease and protease activity increased in samples with greater heavy metal pollution, but overall the soil microbial biodiversity decreased. Soil heavy metal concentration—especially Pb and Cd—greatly exceeded the concentrations of Chinese Environmental Quality Standard for Soils (GB 15618-1995). Some environmental factors—such as pH, organic matter, enzyme activity, and the concentration of heavy metals—significantly affected bacterial diversity: compared with the control site, the Chao1 estimator decreased about 50%, while the Shannon diversity index dropped approximately 20%. Moreover, some genera have significant relationships with heavy metal concentration—such as Ramlibacter with Zn and Steroidobacter with Cd—which might act as bio-indicators for soil remediation. These results will provide a new insight in the future for reclaiming soil contaminants caused by secondary lead smelting.

Cracks Reinforce the Interactions among Soil Bacterial Communities in the Coal Mining Area of Loess Plateau, China

“…Soil water (W) and soil temperature (T) were determined using a soil temperature and humidity meter (TR-6, Guandong Shunkeda, Guangzhou, China) when collecting soil samples by the Mining Area Ecological Survey Group [56]. Soil pH values were measured using the pH meter (PHC-3C, Shanghai Leici, Shanghai, China) with a ratio of soil and water of 1:5 [57]. Soil electrical conductivity (EC) values were determined using the laboratory conductivity meter (DDS-307A, Leici, Shanghai, China) [57].…”

“…Soil pH values were measured using the pH meter (PHC-3C, Shanghai Leici, Shanghai, China) with a ratio of soil and water of 1:5 [57]. Soil electrical conductivity (EC) values were determined using the laboratory conductivity meter (DDS-307A, Leici, Shanghai, China) [57]. Soil organic matter (OM) content was measured using the potassium chromate oxidation colorimetric method [57].…”

“…Soil electrical conductivity (EC) values were determined using the laboratory conductivity meter (DDS-307A, Leici, Shanghai, China) [57]. Soil organic matter (OM) content was measured using the potassium chromate oxidation colorimetric method [57]. The available phosphorus (AP) content was determined by the hydrochloric acid ammonium chloride method [57].…”

“…Soil organic matter (OM) content was measured using the potassium chromate oxidation colorimetric method [57]. The available phosphorus (AP) content was determined by the hydrochloric acid ammonium chloride method [57]. The soil nitrate nitrogen (NN) content was determined by the calcium chloride colorimetry method [51].…”

Identifying the Relationship between Soil Properties and Rice Growth for Improving Consolidated Land in the Yangtze River Delta, China

“…Soil AK was determined by caries by ammonium acetate extraction-flame photometry [46] (FP640, Jingke, Shanghai, China). Soil AZn was determined using diethylene triamine pentacetate acid (DTPA) extraction atomic absorption spectrophotometry [48] (TAS-990, PGENERAL, Beijing, China). Soil ASi was determined using the citric acid buffered leaching silicon molybdenum blue colorimetric method [46].…”