An Escherichia coli cadAp::luc-based whole-cell sensor was constructed to measure cadmium (Cd) bioavailability and assess the immobilizing efficiency of phosphate and silicate on Cd. In previous induction experiments, a linear response (R 2 ¼ 0.97, P < 0.01) from 0.1 to 5 mmol L À1 of Cd was detected by this sensor after a 2 h incubation. , respectively. In other words, SS had 25.68%, 19.5%, and 9.54% better immobilizing efficiency, respectively, compared with DKP. All the results supported SS was more efficient than DKP at immobilizing Cd in soil, and higher soil pH and higher solubility of the immobilizing agents may have been the major factor affecting immobilizing efficiency. In addition, the total and bioavailable Cd in soilwater extracts was only 16.13-35.41% of the sensor contact assay-determined Cd (BSWS), which indicated that the whole-cell sensor-based contact assay was more practical in assessing the risk of Cd in soil after immobilization since it would not overrate the immobilizing capacity of the agents.
Environmental impactEnvironmental contamination by cadmium (Cd) is a world-wide problem. Dipotassium phosphate (DKP, K 2 HPO 4 ) and sodium silicate (SS, Na 2 SiO 3 $9H 2 O) are effective and traditional immobilizing agents for metals in soil due to their effectiveness to reduce the mobility of metals. However, a direct comparison of their immobilizing efficiencies for Cd in soil has not been carried out before, more importantly, the mobility of metals did not represent their actual bioavailability and toxicity. Therefore an Escherichia coli-based whole cell sensor for detecting the bioavailability of Cd was constructed, and the immobilizing efficiency of DKP and SS for Cd in soil was then compared with this whole-cell sensor.