Evaluation of the Biological Activity of Soil in a Gradient Concentration of Arsenic and Lead in Villa de la Paz, San Luis Potosi, Mexico

Abstract

The mining industry has generated different sources of pollution and effects in human and ecosystem health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect in gradient of the biological activity of the soil derived from the contamination by lead and arsenic. A linear transect was conducted from the tailings in Villa de la Paz to a reference site 10 km away against wind direction and runoff. The parameters that were analyzed in the soil samples included As, Pb, pH, organic matter, electrical conductivity, soil respiration, and soil enzymes. As concentrations ranged from 4.7 to 463.2 mg/kg, while those of lead ranged from 171.7 to 2319.0 mg/kg. The changes in the physicochemical parameters and in the biological activity of the soil were stronger within the first 100 m of distance from the tailings. The pattern of inhibition of biological activity was: urease>β-glucosidase>arylsulfatase> dehydrogenase>phosphatase>respiration. Strong negative relationships were observed among biological activities and arsenic (from 86.5 to 96%). Metals and covariables jointly explain the 89.2% of variability of the effect in the biological activities. This study provides a field baseline that could be part of a long-term monitoring and remediation program.

Cadmium Immobilization in the Rhizosphere and Plant Cellular Detoxification: Role of Plant-Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria as a Sustainable Solution

“…Numerous postulates could be anticipated for phosphate-induced Cd 2+ adsorption, including (i) increase in pH values, (ii) co-adsorption of phosphate and Cd as an ion pair, and (iii) surface complex formation of Cd on the phosphate compounds. Moreover, phosphate acts as “bridge” between soil and absorbed heavy metals, which can initiate a shift in the mobile forms of heavy metals toward more stable forms. , Phosphatase (monoester phosphatases) hydrolyzed up to 60% total organic P from phytate . The bacteria Citrobacter and Klebsiella aerogenes were able to fix Cd by the solubilizations of phosphate and sulfur .…”

Bringing Life Back into Former Mining Sites: A Mini-Review on Soil Remediation Using Organic Amendments

“…However, one or more of the mined products were detected in higher concentrations [58]. In areas of arsenic and lead mining operations, a strong negative relationship was observed among the biological activity of different soil enzymes and arsenic contamination [59]. 1 TOC: total organic carbon; 2 DOC: dissolved organic carbon.…”

Do blood parasites increase immature erythrocytes and mitosis in amphibians?

“…This could be accompanied by mitosis of immature RBCs (Dawson, 1930), but it is an unusual phenomenon that has been barely reported in some amphibians, reptiles, and occasionally in birds. Seasonal changes and heavy metal contamination can induce RBC maturation in peripheral blood and immature RBCs' mitosis (Bouhafs et al, 2009;Akulenko, 2012;González-Mille et al, 2019). Other factors that may be related to the increase of immature RBCs in peripheral blood are the reduction of oxygen levels due to anemia, hemolysis, or hypoxia; these conditions promote a regenerative physiological response that increases the RBCs count (Martinho, 2012;Maceda-Veiga et al, 2015;Dissanayake et al, 2017).…”