Environmental health impact assessment in soil samples ... · Batistini (2011). The S. capricornutum, AICB 77 strain, was obtained from algae culture collection of Biology Faculty,

ECOTERRA - Journal of Environmental Research and Protection

www.ecoterra-online.ro 2015, Volume 12, Issue 4

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Environmental health impact assessment in soil samples from Copsa Mica area Daniela Ciorba, Emese Szakacs

Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babeş-Bolyai University from Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Corresponding author: D. Ciorba,

[email protected]

Abstract. Historical pollution with carbon black, heavy metals and especially with lead of Copşa Mică are very well known. The effect of extractable toxic contaminants on Selenastrum capricornutum has been assessed for soil samples taken from different urban area. At the same time, the toxicity has been observed after UV irradiation of soil elutriate. All samples was analyzed for two different time period: November 2014 and March 2015. The paper shows the advantage of irradiation method in impact assessment, when are used complementary with the growth inhibition test of green algae, OECD recommendation. Key Words: soil toxicity, heavy metal, growth inhibition test, UV irradiation.

Introduction. Historical pollution in Copsa Mica area with black carbon, heavy metals and lead especially, represent our motivation of choosing the location for the study of algal growth inhibition - following toxicity through their accumulation into the cells. The species Selenastrum capricornutum has been used. Even though the activity of the main pollutants - Sometra SA and Carbosin SA was halted in 2009, the environmental pollution is today evident. Suspended particles with diameter less than 20 µm have been transported long distances through the atmosphere, and those with the larger diameter of 20 μm have settled on soil, vegetation, construction, etc. Around 3400 ha of agricultural land has been high degraded. The contamination of food, like potato and beet, was reported (Goji et al in 2011). Human health was impaired by the presence of these heavy metals in concentrations greater than the maximum permitted levels in environmental samples (Lupu et al 2011). According to current evidence the anthropogenic lead remained fixed in the surface layer, because this metal mobility in soil is limited (Finžgar et al 2007). Boca et al (2010) noticed also the possibility of permanent contamination with zinc and lead, in the event of flooding in Copsa Mica, because the industrial landfills are located in a sensitive area. According to Reti & Munteanu (2011), in Copsa Mica the concentration of particulate matter, in 2011, was 75 µg/m3, the grade of evaluation 5 gives, was equivalent to air pollution of level I, reported to CMA 75 µg/m3. The concentration of lead, reported by the same authors was 139.6 mg kg-1. Reported to CMAPb = 20 ppm (Order 756/97), the grade of evaluation 6 was with a polluted soil. Numerous studies from specific database shown that in certain doses, the heavy metals have an influence on physiological and biochemical processes in microalgae. The influence should be also observed in the processes of division, growth, photosynthesis, respiration, assimilation and nitrate loading. At the same time lipid peroxidation was observed at membrane's level with consequent at organelles' cell degeneration (El-Naggar & Sheikh 2014). Considering that heavy metals persist in elevated concentrations in soil surface, by the impossibility of removing them completely in a relatively short period of only six years, this work has as main objective to analyze the rate of algal growth inhibition in Copsa Mica, in various locations of this area. Also, an additional inhibition was followed due to irradiation of soil elutriate, in order to improve prediction of observed toxicity. The seasonality variation of toxicity in contaminated soils with heavy metals was observed by taken the soil from the same locations at different times.



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Material and Method. Generally speaking, the algal growth inhibition test OECD 201; ISO 8692:2011 is applied to estimate hazard in contaminated waters and wastewaters. We applied this test in soil elutriated, according to the technique described by Sbrilli & Batistini (2011). The S. capricornutum, AICB 77 strain, was obtained from algae culture collection of Biology Faculty, Babes-Bolyai University. Algal growth was measured using UV-VIS spectrophotometer CE 1021, at 640 nm in 1 cm cuvette, OD640 nm being converted into numbers of cells based on a calibration curve when R2 = 0.789/day. The conductivity and pH were measured using WTW Conductivity InoLabCond 720, respecting STAS 7722/84 and ISO 7888/1983, respectively STAS 6325/75 and SR ISO 10523/97. UVB irradiation of soil elutriate was performed for 10 minutes using Hanovia lamp, LTD, cf. BS 3456. Soil samples were taken from the surface layer of soil, and have labeled as follows: 1 - Copsa Mica village; 2 - Copsa Mica near the train station; 3 - Copsa Mica near the school; 4 - Copsa Mica near Sometra SA, and 5 - Copsa Mica near Carbosin SA. The locations are represented on the geographically maps and on the impact map of pollution - according to Munteanu in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 1. The locations on the geographic map using Google map software.

Figure 2. The locations on the impact map, after Munteanu (2005)

(with the consent of the author).



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Results. Figure 3 presents comparative the pH variation, in November 2014 and March 2015, for the chosen locations.

1 2 3 4 5

6

8

10

12

pH analysis in different locations from Copsa Mica area

near

Carbos

in

near

Sometr

a

Copsa

Mica

- trai

n stat

ionCop

sa M

ica -n

ear th

e sch

ool

Copsa

Mica

villa

ge

pH

Locations

November March

Figure 3. Analysis pH season elutriation soil in various locations in Copsa Mica.

Soils with alkaline character are presented in all locations. A significant increasing soil pH of 1-2 units was observed for locations 1-3 and of 4 pH units for location 4: soil-near the Sometra, in March compared with November. In Figure 4 the variation in conductivity in soil elutriate, during the 3 days of algal growth analysis can be observed.

1 2 3 4 5

1 0 0

1 5 0

2 0 0

2 5 0

3 0 0

Con

duct

ivity

, mic

roS

iem

ens/

cm

L o c a t i o n s : 1 - C o p s a M i c a v i l l a g e ; 2 - C o p s a M i c a , n e a r t h e t r a i n s t a t i o n ; 3 - C o p s a M i c a n e a r t h e s c h o o l ; 4 - n e a r S o m e t r a ; 5 - n e a r C a r b o s i n

z 1 , X I z 2 , X I z 3 , X I

1 2 3 4 5

1 0 0

1 5 0

2 0 0

2 5 0

3 0 0

z 1 M a r c h z 2 M a r c h z 3 M a r c h

Figure 4. Analysis of conductivity in soil elutriate, during the 3 days, and seasonally, November-left compared with March-right. Notations: Z1, Z2, Z3, means day 1, day 2 and day 3.

The conductivity is lower in March compared to November for all locations. The growth of conductivity with each day has been observed in November, for all locations. The explanation for this positive variation should be the existence of some compounds with different solubility rates who release the positive ions, concomitant with the water evaporation. An inverse variation of conductivity was observed in March, near Sometra



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and Carbosin. Instead, in March pH values exceeded 8.5 units in all locations, is 12 units near Sometra. In Figure 5, are presented the inhibition of growth rate in November compared with March and versus that resulted after the samples irradiation.

1 2 3 4 50

-50

-100

-150

-200

-250

the

grow

th ra

te o

f gre

en a

lgae

, %

(" -

" mea

ns in

hibi

tion)

neiradiated XI iradiated, XI

1 2 3 4 50

-50

-100

-150

-200

Locations:1- Copsa Mica village; 2 - Copsa Mica, near the train station; 3 -Copsa Mica near the school; 4-near Sometra; 5-near Carbosin

neiradiated, III irradiated, III

Figure 5. The decreasing of algae growth, in percent, for unirradiated and UVB irradiated

elutriates are represented (November - left, March - right).

The inhibition of algae growth rate has been observed in all samples, with a magnitude more than 100%. All these percents have been reported to the witness, of which exponential growth was R2 = 0.789/day. The highest inhibition has been observed near the Carbosin - location 5, in November 2014 and near the Sometra - location 4, in March 2015. After the irradiation the additional inhibition induced was of 50% in November, near the Carbosin, and respectively, of 124% near the train station - location 3, in March 2015. In March compared with November, near the Sometra and Carbosin, after the irradiation, we observed the decreasing of inhibition rates, even the inhibition remain increased.

Discussion. Environmental contamination with heavy metals is considered to be a health hazard for all the living organisms from water and soil, for the vegetables, animals or human (Ivanova & Groudeva 2006). The metal toxicity in sediments depends on their chemical state, on their water or sediment biodisponibility and on the living organisms’ sensitivity. Analysis of metal mobility in soil is the solution for all estimates risk associated with anthropogenic contaminated soils. The adsorption or complexation of particles with organic dissolved substances may reduce toxicity. As more as the pH is alkaline so it decreases the solubility of metals in general, due to the formation of insoluble precipitates of hydroxides, carbonates, oxides or phosphates. By default it reduces their toxicity. This could be the explanation for reduced inhibition in March compared with November, in locations 2, 3, and 6, in accordance with decreasing of elutriates conductivity (WHO 2007; ATSDR 2007). In agreement with Finžgar et al (2007), soil pH is the most important parameter for partition processes of lead, zinc and other metals in soil solution and solid phases solid. When the amount of carbonates in the soil is higher, the lead binding to the



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organic matter is lower. According to the same authors, lead - unlike other heavy metals, makes heavier the organic or inorganic complexes compounds, tending to remain attached to the surface particle. The carboxyl groups of humic substances also, have the opportunity to retain the metals through the complexation processes, adsorption and ion exchange. The more alkaline is the pH, the more increase the carboxyl groups ionization and more stable metal-complex compounds of humic acid are formed. Lower bioavailability of heavy metals in an anthropic polluted soils has been observed by Kandziora-Ciupa et al (2013), respecting the following order Mn > Zn > Cd > Pb > Fe. At the same time, the bioaccumulation of metals in leaves of Vaccinium myrtillus was different, being: Mn > Fe > Zn > Pb > Cd, even the concentrations were significantly increased compared to the witness. In this regard the prediction of bioavailability of metals is crucial in predicting the environmental quality of soils contaminated (Kandziora-Ciupa et al 2013). The mechanism for lowering the extractive heavy metals in soil over time is unclear although it has particular importance in assessing toxicity in soils and their remediation (Ma & Uren 1998). The variation of toxicity by UV irradiation can be explained by the effect of free radicals, on the redox potential of the metals, and depends on the aqueous pH solutions. UV transformation of organic matter content, like humic acids, PAH compounds, heavy metal according to their oxidative status and water solubility or other unknown substances from soil should be much more toxicants for exposed alga's. Beside heavy metals, the identification of soil compounds with highest susceptibility to be transformed in UV radiation must be very important (Ciorba & Cioica 2014). In soil elutriate, the algae are exposed to a mixture of substances. In study of toxicity analysis must be considered all solubilized substances, but a generalization of the toxicity related to the mixture components is practically impossible (Nica et al 2015). The soil compounds with increased susceptibility to be transformed in UV radiation must be also, very important. In location 3, nearly to the railway, a contamination with PAHs componds is to be questioned. Identifying the presence of such substances in the natural environment, it is also important due to their mutagenicity, teratogenicity and carcinogenicity in small doses. Conclusions. Changes in environmental conditions may result in changes of metal speciation and host phases in soils. Better understanding of interactions between heavy metal and soil characteristics could improve the risk assessment methods of human health and environmental. The toxicity of present substances can be directly influenced through irradiation. The application of UV irradiation in conjunction with the algal growth inhibition test enables us get some effects, with different magnitude. Health impact assesment means health impact assesment on biologic system used S. capricornutum culture. The increase of inhibition of algae growth test in soil elutriation is equivalent to an increase of soil toxicity. A more pronounced inhibition after the irradiation means an increased risk of exposure by the appearance of highly reactive species. All patterns of risk estimate could be amended accordingly. Dose-response relationship is not simple but in this situation, when are estimated the toxicity of a mixture compounds, whom fate in the environment is different. Acknowledgements. The authors would like to thanks to Professor Dr. Nicolae Dragos for providing the Selenastrum capricornutum AICB 77 culture. References ATSDR, 2007 Toxicological profile for lead. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease

Registry. Division of toxicology and environmental medicine/applied toxicology branch, Atlanta, Georgia. Available at: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp13.pdf. Accessed: December, 2015.



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Boca G., Ozunu A., Vlad S. N., 2010 Natech risk and management: an assesment of the Tarnavelor Plateau's specific hazard. Present Environment and Sustainable Development 4:269-276.

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Received: 03 August 2015. Accepted: 20 December 2015. Published online: 30 December 2015. Authors: Daniela Ciorba, Babes-Bolyai University, Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fântânele str., no. 30, 400327 Cluj-Napoca, Romania, e-mail: [email protected] Emese Szakacs, Babes-Bolyai University, Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fântânele str., no. 30, 400327 Cluj-Napoca, Romania, e-mail: [email protected] This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. How to cite this article: Ciorba D., Szacacs E., 2015 Environmental health impact assessment in soil samples from Copsa Mica area. Ecoterra 12(4):32-37.

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Environmental health impact assessment in soil samples ... · Batistini (2011). The S. capricornutum, AICB 77 strain, was obtained from algae culture collection of Biology Faculty,