SAES-422 Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report
Sections
Status: Approved
Basic Information
- Project No. and Title: W3170 : Beneficial Reuse of Residuals and Reclaimed Water: Impact on Soil Ecosystem and Human Health (formerly W2170)
- Period Covered: 01/01/2018 to 05/31/2019
- Date of Report: 08/23/2019
- Annual Meeting Dates: 06/23/2019 to 06/25/2019
Participants
Participants List- Annual Meeting 2019: Acheson, Carolyn, acheson.carolyn@epa.gov, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Badgley, Brian, badgley@vt.edu, Virginia Tech; Badzmierowski, Mike, mikejb7@vt.edu, Virginia Tech; Basta, Nick, basta.4@osu.edu, Ohio State University; Bastian, Bob, bastian.robert@epa.gov, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Batjiaka, Ryan, rbatjiaka@sfwater.org, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission; Beecher, Ned, ned.beecher@nebiosolids.org, North East Biosolids & Residuals Association; Berger, Karl, kberger@mwcog.org, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments; Brown, Sally, slb@uw.edu, University of Washington; D’Angelo, Elisa, edangelo@uky.edu, University of Kentucky; Daniels, W. Lee, wdaniels@vt.edu, Virginia Tech; Dube, Patrick, pdube@wef.org, Water Environment Federation; Dunbar, Jim, jdunbar@lystek.com, Lystek; Elliott, Chip, hae1@psu.edu, Pennsylvania State University; Evanylo, Greg, gevanylo@vt.edu, Virginia Tech; Fatouhi, James, james.fatouhi@dcwater.com, DC Water; Guo, Mingxin, mguo@desu.edu, Delaware State University; Hettiarachchi, Ganga (Chair), ganga@ksu.edu, Kansas State University; Kester, Greg, gkester@casaweb.org, California Association of Sanitation Agencies; Kostyanovsky, Kirill, kkostya@vt.edu, New Agronomics; Kuo-Dahab, Camilla, ckuodahab@brwncald.com, Brown and Caldwell/University of Massachusetts; Lee, Linda, lslee@purdue.edu, Purdue University; Li, Hui, lihui@msu.edu, Michigan State University; Ma, Persephone, phma@umn.edu, University of Minnesota; Moss, Lynne, mosslh@bv.com, Black & Veatch; Pepper, Ian, ipepper@ag.arizona.edu, University of Arizona; Resek, Liz, resek.elizabeth@epa.gov, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Rosen, Carl, crosen@umn.edu, University of Minnesota; Silveira, Maria, mlas@ufl.edu, University of Florida; Tian, Guanglong, tiang@mwrd.org, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District-Greater Chicago; Toffey, William, wetoffey@gmail.com, Mid-Atlantic Biosolids Association; Toor, Gurpal, gstoor@umd.edu, University of Maryland
Accomplishments
Accomplishments:
Objective 1. Evaluate the short- and long-term chemistry and bioavailability of nutrients, potentially toxic inorganic trace elements, and pharmaceuticals and personal care products (TOrCs) in residuals, reclaimed water, and amended soils in order to assess the environmental and health risk-based effects of their application at a watershed scale. Specific tasks: (i) To develop and evaluate in vitro (including chemical speciation) and novel in vivo methods to correlate human and ecological health responses with risk-based bioavailability of trace elements and TOrCs in residuals and residual-treated soils. (ii) Predict the long-term bioavailability and toxicity of trace elements and TOrCs in residual-amended urban, agricultural and contaminated soils. (iii) Evaluate long-term effects of residuals application and reclaimed wastewater irrigation on fate and transport of nutrients, trace elements, TOrCs, and emergence/spread of antibiotic resistance in high application rate systems. (iv) Evaluate plant uptake and ecological effects of potentially toxic trace elements and TOrCs from soils amended with residuals and reclaimed wastewater. (FL, IN, MA, MN, OH, VA)
Accomplishments: Best residual management practices were proposed to manage and reduce the environmental input of antibiotics, antibiotic resistant microorganisms, resistant genes, and potentially toxic inorganic contaminants.
Objective 2. Evaluate the uses and associated agronomic and environmental benefits for residuals in agricultural and urban systems. Specific tasks: (i) Evaluate the ability of in situ treatment of contaminated soil with residuals to reduce chemical contaminant bioavailability and toxicity. (ii) Determine the climate change impacts of organic residuals end use options (i.e., C sequestration, N2O emissions). (iii) Quantify sustainability impacts such as water quality (reduced N impairment) and quantity benefits (increased plant available water, increased drought tolerance) and soil quality improvements associated with a range of organic residuals end uses. (iv) Explore the potential for waste by-products to be used in urban areas including urban agriculture, stormwater infrastructure, green roofs, and in urban green space. (v)Evaluate ecosystem services of degraded urban soils amended with residuals. (vi) Use tools such as life cycle assessment to understand and compare the impacts of a range of residuals end use/disposal options. (CO, FL, KS, NM, VA, WA)
Accomplishments: Residual byproducts from agricultural, municipal, and industrial activities provide a variety of potential soil and water quality-improving, vegetative growth-enhancing, and air quality benefits. The W3170 multistate group is assessing various uses of such residuals for improving agricultural and anthropogenic soils and soil-like materials.
Short-term Outcomes:
Results from a scientifically sound integrated risk assessment (IRA) estimated negligible risks from biosolids-borne Ciprofloxacin (CIP) and azithromycin (AZ) (commonly prescribed antibiotics for various infections in humans) under real-world based biosolids management practices. Even unrealistically high exposures from land application of biosolids pose minimal human and ecological health risks. Focus will be on publishing the risk assessment work in a series of articles in national or international, peer-reviewed journals.
Outputs:
Agronomic biosolids land application rates have an equal effect on dryland winter wheat and corn growth and plant metal concentrations as compared to an agronomic rate of inorganic N fertilizer. (CO)
Agronomic biosolids land application rates improve plant-available soil Zn which may be beneficial to crops grown on Colorado’s borderline Zn deficient soils, and be beneficial from a human health perspective.
Biosolids land application at agronomic rates, improve overall soil quality as compared to inorganic fertilizers. (CO)
Biochars can sequester and reduce bioavailable heavy metal concentrations in soils. Biochars also appear to have a positive effect on sorbing and accelerating the degradation or organic soil contaminants. (CO)
Al-based WTRs have the ability to sorb organic forms of P, and appear to readily release P over time. This may lead to this product substituting as a P fertilizer in the future. (CO)
A project jointly funded by Water Environment & Reuse Foundation (WE&RF) and Multi-State funds was designed to identify and fill various data gaps in the fate of biosolids borne CIP and AZ and to facilitate a scientifically sound ecological and human health risk assessment. Data from a batch equilibration retention/release study formulated our central hypothesis that the limited bioaccessibility of strongly sorbed biosolids-borne CIP and AZ minimizes human and environmental health risks. Bioavailabilities of biosolids- borne CIP and AZ were assessed in subsequent organism response (plant, earthworm, and microbial systems) studies and (where applicable) correlated with chemical bioaccessibilities. The organism response data revealed limited bioavailability (plant BAF values 0.01 (CIP) and 0.1 (AZ), depurated earthworm BAF values ~4 (CIP) and ~ 7 (AZ), minimal impacts on overall microbiota) of the biosolids-borne antibiotics under environmentally relevant scenarios. (FL)
Of the four compounds targeted (carbamazepine, miconazole, triclocarban and triclosan (carbamazepine, miconazole, triclocarban and triclosan), only triclosan degraded substantially with a half-life of approximately 115 days. The other compounds showed little or essentially no degradation within the 180-d period. Preliminary comparisons with previous literature suggest that the biosolids matrix limits the bioavailability, thus microbial degradation, of these compounds relative to systems where the compounds of interest is added artificially. (IN)
Low rate of anaerobically digested class B biosolids application (45 Mg/ha) continued to show lower bioaccessible lead in soils as well as lower lead concentration in miscanthus gown in soil compared to the miscanthus grown in plots with no added P for 3 consecutive years. (KS)
Tailored and high efficiency of nutrient sequestration from treated AnMBR wastewaters may be achieved through optimization of the coagulation-sedimentation process and effective wastewater treatment upstream of the nutrient capture (KS)
Beneficial use of engineered nanoparticles needs to be promoted for sustainable agricultural production. (MA)
Exposure to lead when contaminated soil is incidentally ingested with food poses a risk to wildlife. When conducting risk assessments, site-specific bioavailability data can reduce exposure estimates and therefore cleanup costs. Basta et al. developed a lab method, the avian OSU method, that simulates the avian gastrointestinal tract to predict relative soil Pb bioavailability. The lab method was able to predict blood Pb in in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) fed diet and contaminated soil. (OH)
FDA-recommended animal manure composting methods are effective in significantly degrading antibiotics, however, their effectiveness in reduction of population of antibiotic resistant microorganisms and levels of resistant genes is still inclusive. Compared to amendment of raw animal manure, amending soil with composted manure results in less initial input of antibiotics to the environment. The USDA Organic Farming Program-recommended 120-day waiting period between manure application and vegetable harvest is effective in returning population of antibiotic resistant microorganisms and levels of resistant genes in manure-applied soils to their background levels. Animal manure-subsurface injection compared to surface application is effective in reducing the output of antibiotics, antibiotic resistant microorganisms, and resistant genes to the aquatic environment affected by the manure-applied fields. (VA)
Results from field and laboratory trials and a rainfall simulation study suggested significant lower risk of nitrogen and phosphorus losses via runoff and leaching than commercial inorganic fertilizer. Similarly, greater nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions were generally associated with commercial fertilizer vs. biosolids. Data also demonstrated significant agronomic benefits associated with biosolids application to pastures.
A new rapid test (based on hardness/consistence, color, and reactivity with H2O2 for sulfides and HCl for carbonates) was developed and assessed for the determination of acid-forming materials in the field. (VA)
Regional workshop presentations, training course, and national and international scientific presentations were conducted to share the research results and provide recommendations for best residual management strategies for minimizing environmental input of antibiotics, antibiotic resistant microorganisms, resistant genes; PFAS and potentially toxic inorganic contaminants. (All)
Extension workshops, field days, and webinars were conducted to share the research results and provide recommendations for use of the exceptional quality Biosolids for restoration of urban and anthropogenic soils. (All)
Number of PhD and MS students were trained on the W3170 multi-state project, some of them continued for a few months on a post-doctoral appointment to complete a series of journal articles based on their dissertation. Each of these individual were trained or coached in one or more of the following: solids extraction protocols for different organic compound classes or various procedures involving extraction of trace inorganic contaminants, advanced chemical analysis including liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry and various other spectroscopic techniques, excel calculations, data management, good laboratory practices, preparing powerpoint presentations, and literature searching. (All)
Activities:
Objective 1(FL, MA, MN, OH, PA, VA)
The research assessments performed include the following studies.
Florida researchers have a long history of conducting the real-world experiments needed to validate models of bioavailability and of accurately assessing human and environmental health of residuals-borne contaminants and nutrients. Our continued efforts in this area using standards methods prescribed by regulatory agencies (specifically, USEPA 1998; USEPA 2008 a,b) and promising new extractants and techniques for various chemical contaminants addresses important issues related to antibiotic resistance development in soils amended with various manures, focusing on how soil retention impacts antibiotic bioavailability to microbes.
Lee et al. in IN, continued their evaluation on the fate of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in waste-based fertilizers including biosolid-based materials and composted city wastes (yard trimmings, food wastes, food packaging, etc.). Last year they quantified PFAA occurrence in numerous waste-based fertilizers. This past year they quantified the concentration of PFAAs present in the pore-water that can be transported or taken up by plants. On average about 50% or more of the PFAA present in the fertilizers was found in the pore-water. PFAA pore-water concentrations were generally proportional to the initial concentration in the fertilizer. They also attempted to identify other perfluoroalkyl substances in these fertilizers. Some were identified in a subset of materials and these compounds are known to be associated with coatings on food packaging.
An analysis of more recent biosolid-based fertilizers reflected a substantial decrease in total PFAAs as well as additional decreases in the longer chain compounds (> C6) that have been phased out in most applications. They also began an investigation of how PFAA levels change with different post treatment processes. Post-treatment processes target reduction in levels of pathogens, water content and bad odors towards ensuring safe, high-quality and marketable fertilizers. The most common types of fertilizers are co-composted biosolids with woody materials and heat-treated biosolids in a pelletized form. Other types may include a blended biosolid product with woody materials and a liquid fertilizer. PFAA concentration tended to be decrease in fertilizers where biosolids were blended with other materials, most likely due to a dilution effect. Fertilizer exposed to either composting or heat-treatment appeared to have increased PFAA concentrations after the treatment process. The increased level of PFAAs in the heat-treated post sample may be due to conversion of PFAA precursors during the heat treatment process.
In a preliminary greenhouse study, Lee et al. had showed that for the five trace organics they targeted, which are all classified as personal care products and pharmaceuticals, all were taken up into all of the edible parts of plants to some extent at a high application rate (8X recommended rate). Additional pot studies were initiated this past year with basil, green bean, kale, Swiss chard and turnip grown in soils mixed with a subset of composted materials. Plants are being harvested and leaf, stem, root and fruit portions extracted for analysis of azithromycin (antibiotic), carbamazepine (anticonvulsant), miconazole (antifungal), triclocarban and triclosan (antimicrobials) and some selected PFAAs. Degradation in biosolid-soil mixes for four model biosolids-borne contaminants (carbamazepine, miconazole, triclocarban and triclosan in temperature and moisture-controlled aerobic microcosms was evaluated over a period of 180-day period.
The Metropolitan Council in the Twin Cities have funded an incubation and three year field study of sewage sludge incinerator ash as a phosphorus fertilizer. Researchers in Minnesota, are conducting a research study to assess the viability and safety of sewage sludge incinerator ash (SSA) as a phosphorus (P) source in terms of its impacts on plant growth, soil characterization, and soil microbial populations. The study will compare this ash to conventional P fertilizer, biosolids, and struvite. The second year of the field study was completed in 2018 and the third and final season is underway in Rosemount, MN where 160 plots of corn are set up with the 4 fertilizers at 5 rates (0, 45, 90, 135, 180 kg P2O5/ha).
Xia et al. at Virginia Tech evaluated the effectiveness of FDA-recommended animal manure composting methods for reducing antibiotics, antibiotic resistant microorganisms, and resistant genes; assessed the effectiveness of the USDA Organic Farming recommendation of 120-day waiting period between manure application and vegetable harvest in reducing the antibiotic uptake and food contamination of antibiotic resistant microorganisms; investigated the fate and transport of antibiotics, antibiotic resistant microorganisms, and resistant genes in soil amended with animal manure using two different manure application technologies.
Xing et al. at University of Massachusetts group published one review paper on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) techniques to detect and analyze Ag nanoparticles, a review article on uptake of engineered nanoparticles by food crops, and another review on nano-enabled fertilizers to control the release and use efficiency of nutrients. Our research results show that engineered nanoparticles can be taken up by plants and potentially used in agricultural nanotechnology for promoting crop health. The some of the obtained results have been incorporated into the teaching courses.
Exposure to lead when contaminated soil is incidentally ingested with food poses a risk to wildlife. When conducting risk assessments, site-specific bioavailability data can reduce exposure estimates and therefore cleanup costs. Basta et al. developed a lab method, the avian OSU method, that simulates the avian gastrointestinal tract to predict relative soil Pb bioavailability. The lab method was able to predict blood Pb in in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) fed diet and contaminated soil.
Exposure risk from contaminated soil to wildlife is accomplished by an ecological risk assessment (ERA). Because of the difficulty evaluating soil ingestion by birds (e.g. avian receptors) is very difficult, risk assessors often cannot perform a true ERA of contaminated soil The often results in very costly precautionary excavation and replacement of suspect soil. Accurate assessment of risk using the newly developed Avian method will allow government (federal, state), industry, and university risk assessors to perform accurate ERA which will prevent unnecessary excavation and replacement of soil that poses minimal risk. This results in reduction in cleanup costs and protect our soil natural resource from unnecessary destruction.
Reuse of residuals is often prevented by odor complaints. In Pennsylvania, odor detection threshold (DT) was used to investigate relationships between odor and biosolids properties/treatment technologies. The mean log-DT for 16 biosolids was 2.81 and ranged from 2.1 to 3.51. Low odor was associated with high Fe content, thermal hydrolysis of solids, belt-press dewatering, and blending with wood products. A regression model was used to examine the relationship between biosolids parameters and log-DT. Parameters with the most influence on log-DT were methionine level, respiratory activity, total solids, total volatile solids, and total S and Al contents. A plot of measured versus predicted log-DT had an R-squared of 0.66 with all data falling within the 95% prediction interval. Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), such as carbamazepine, estrogens, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, ofloxacin) were quantified in soil. Some have also been quantified in wastewater, monitoring wells, and plants. Initial evidence indicates an increase in antibiotic resistance in soil microorganisms exposed long-term to wastewater antibiotics. Penn State has spray-irrigated all wastewater effluent at a site called the “Living Filter” (∼245 ha) since 1983. However, vernal pools at the site directly receive effluent which contains CECs. Investigation revealed persistence of estrogens above levels known to impact sensitive aquatic organisms (> 1 ng/L), and a range of prescription and over-the-counter medications, including antibiotics, caffeine, and painkillers. Pharmaceuticals (7) were identified in site groundwater monitoring wells; however, concentrations were typically 100x lower than in the effluent, suggesting that the Living Filter acts as an effective biogeochemical filter. Risk calculations suggest effluent CEC levels pose moderate to high risk to aquatic organisms but minimal risk for humans drinking groundwater. To meet EPA-mandated Chesapeake Bay goals, Pennsylvania is currently promoting riparian buffers, such as vegetated filter strips (VFSs), to reduce nutrient/sediment loads from ag runoff. Current knowledge is insufficient to understand short and long-term VFS performance, and current models do not account for the temporal inequality of loads, and thus VFS removal efficiency at an annual time scale may differ from per-event averages reported in literature. The PA group developed a model coupling field-scale water balance and process-based VFS sediment-trapping models to test whether the simple average of event-specific removal efficiencies differs from a load-weighted average evaluated at an annual scale. Using a stochastic approach, we studied the extent of disparity between average efficiencies from each runoff event over 1 yr versus the total annual load reduction. They also examined the effects of soil texture, concentration-discharge relationship, and VFS slope on the disparity, with the goal of revealing potential errors in quantifying VFS performance. Simulation results suggest ignoring temporal inequality can lead to overestimation of annual performance by < 2% and to as much as > 20%, with greatest disparities observed for high clay soils.
Objective 2 (FL, HI, KS, MN, NM, VA, WA)
The research assessments performed include the following studies.
Researchonnutrientandcontaminantbioavailabilityinresiduals(biosolids,animalmanures,reclaimedwater)-amendedsoils, while extensive, remains incomplete. New ecological endpoints must be investigated to improve risk assessment to ensure environmental and human health. Research is also necessary to maximize the agronomic benefits (maximizing bioavailability)ofreusingresidualswhileminimizingenvironmentalimpacts.
In Florida, an intended, long-term, well-instrumented field study was established to evaluate various agronomic and environmental impacts of biosolids applied to pastures in south Florida. Land application of Class B biosolids to pastureland is common in Florida and well received by ranchers, but remains a practice that concerns some. Environmental concerns and the need for (or lack thereof) legislation to protect against possible environmental impacts with respect to water quality are one of the focus of the project.
In Hawaii, Hue et al. conducted a field trial in Hawaii on an infertile Oxisols with low pH and potential Mn toxicity. The biochar was applied one time at the beginning of the trial in 2018, N fertilizers, both organic and urea, were applied once for each growing season (total 3 seasons). The study had a split plot design with 3 replicates. Biochar application rates were randomly distributed in the main plots (31.8 x 4.5 m each), and combinations of fertilizer type and N rate were randomly distributed in the sub-plots (4.5 x 4.5 m each). The biochar was obtained from Pacific Biochar Co. and made of macadamia nutshell at 500OC. At each growing season, 3 crops growth and yield (leaf chlorophyll content, total biomass, and yield) and soil health parameters (root-knot nematode population, rhizobium nodule development, and CO2 level) were collected using the Solvita kit. The results showed a significant increase in the legume growth and yield by 20% under biochar application, compared to the control treatment (no biochar application). Rhizobium nodules significantly increased by 50% under biochar application compared to the control. Root-knot nematode’s root-galling index declined significantly with biochar application. The results showed a steady and significant improvement in soil health and legume crops growth and yield in the third growing season compared to the f growing season.
In Kansas, Hettiarachchi and her collaborators are developing novel nutrient sequestration approaches from nutrient rich treated wastewater from an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) tailored to soil type, chemistry and crop type. Current research has been focusing on whether the recovered nutrient products (RNPs) recovered from synthetic swine wastewater are less, equally or more soluble than manufactured fertilizers utilizing laboratory-based soil incubation studies in carefully selected calcareous, near neutral and acid soils.
Extensive areas of productive land can be contaminated by potentially toxic substances due to military activities. The most common and widespread metal contaminant in military lands is lead. Field experiments were begun at Fort Riley, Kansas U.S.A. in 2016, to evaluate soil amendments and planting procedures. The main objectives of these studies were to determine feasibility of using miscanthus (a second generation biofuel crop) for phytostabilization of this contaminated military site and to evaluate the effect of soil amendments on miscanthus growth, soil-plant Pb transfer, bioaccessibility of soil Pb, and soil health. Based on soil characteristics, five treatments were selected: (i) control plots without tillage and left with natural vegetation, (ii) no tillage, no additional amendments and planted with miscanthus, (iii) tilled soil, no additional amendments and planted with miscanthus, (iv) tilled soil amended with inorganic P (triple superphosphate applied at 5:3 Pb:P molar ratio) and planted with miscanthus, and (v) tilled soil amended with organic P source (class B biosolids applied at 45 Mg/ha, the organic amendment rate used by Kansas Department of Health and Environment for other remediation plots in Kansas) and planted with miscanthus. Soil samples were collected before planting and after each harvest. The above-ground biomass was harvested in early December each year, and dry matter yield was determined. Soil samples were collected for analysis before planting and after each harvest. The above-ground biomass was harvested in early December each year for analysis.
In Minnesota, Jelinski et al. are working on a research study to enhance decision-making for urban community food production and public health by building predictive models of property-scale soil lead distributions in the twin cities. This work focuses on evaluating effects of compost, TSP, and lime additions on lead bioaccessibility in residential soils in the Twin Cities. Currently, there is baseline data and one year of treatment. Treatments will continue into 2019; partnering with the City of Minneapolis to monitor lead and lead bioaccessibility on vacant lots; and collaborating with Dr. An-Min Wu (USC Geospatial Sciences) to build geospatial models to predict soil lead distribution.
Lauriault et al. in NM, planted Alfalfa variety, 6829R, under the West Pivot irrigation system on August 18, 2017, and another test was planted in the same field on September 14, 2018, using SW8421S alfalfa. Both varieties were selected based on performance in New Mexico Alfalfa Variety Tests. Both test areas (Redona fine sandy loam) were conventionally tilled and formed into a flat seedbed for sprinkler irrigation. Each water source area had been designated for irrigation by that source for the previous 30 or 18 months with canal water on the southeast side and treated municipal wastewater on the southwest side. Plots (5 ft x 20 ft) were sown using a disk drill fitted with a seed-metering cone at 20 lb inoculated alfalfa seed/acre in a randomized complete block design with 4 replications. The effective planting width was 4 ft (8, 6-inch rows). Pre-plant soil samples had been collected from each test area for fertility and soil microbial community by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analyses. Seeding year results for the 2017 planting are reported in The 2017 Annual Progress Report of the Agricultural Science Center at Tucumcari (https://tucumcarisc.nmsu.edu/documents/annual-report-2017.pdf). Forage dry matter yield, nutritive value, soil fertility, and PLFA data from the 2017 test along with plant count, plant dry wt., nutritive value, soil fertility, and PLFA data from the 2018 test were measured and subjected to SAS MIXED procedures for tests of significance to compare water source treatments (canal water or treated wastewater).
Land managers are seeking salt-tolerant plant species for cultivation on land application sites affected by high salinity. Picchioni et al. in NM conducted a 90-d greenhouse study to determine the combined leaf Na and Cl concentrations of salt-treated mesa pepperwort (Lepidium alyssoides), a southwestern U.S. indigenous plant species. Leaf Na plus Cl reached 9% to 10% of dry weight in NaCl irrigation treatments at -0.1 to -0.2 mPa, and with no visible signs of leaf injury (Hooks et al., 2018a). In a second study under similar experimental conditions (Hooks et al., 2018b), the saline resistance of mesa pepperwort and two invasive relatives, perennial pepperweed and whitetop (L. latifolium and L draba, respectively), equaled or exceed that of salt-tolerant cotton (Gossypium hirsutum).
Inland desalination of brackish groundwater is limited due to potential deleterious effects of disposing reverse osmosis (RO) brine concentrate. In collaboration with two W3170 members, a non-member, Shukla et al. in NM, conducted two 90-d greenhouse experiments to assess the potential for barley (Hordeum vulgare) and triticale (XTriticosacale) to serve as animal fodder crops if irrigated with brackish groundwater RO concentrate.
In Virginia, studies were conducted that compared the effects of biosolids byproducts and synthetic fertilizer on the restoration of urban soil for turfgrass and vegetable garden production. The studies compared the beneficial effects of exceptional quality biosolids products and inorganic fertilizer on soil chemical and physical properties, carbon sequestration, and turfgrass and vegetable crop establishment and growth.
A study was conducted that measured the effects of iron treatment of biosolids on greenhouse gas emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Identification and enumeration of microbial communities that contributed to the biological processes was also performed as part of this study.
A study was conducted that evaluated the ability of raw and fermented kenaf crop residual byproducts to enhance soil microbial abundance, activity, and alter the soil microbial community.
Using the work on P availability in soils systems and the role of WTRs in limiting P mobility done by members of the group, Brown et al. have expanded the work to test its applicability to green urban stormwater (Jay et al., 2019). A range of composts and biosolids and an Fe based WTR were used to filter stormwater. The Phosphorus Saturation Ratio (PSR) was an effective tool to predict P movement in these systems
The effects of lime stabilized biosolids applied at heavy rates (> 35 Mg/ha) during the early 2000s and two subsequent lower application rates on the remediation and revegetation of acid sulfate soils at Stafford County Airport (VA) have been studied for 19 years.
The long-term (>35 years) effects of application of biosolids to Appalachian mine soils at rates of 22 to 224 Mg/ha are being studied in Wise County (VA).
Students involved in the project provided seminars on their work to departmental, and other interested, faculty. The PIs presented results of the work at Multi-State annual meetings, at professional meetings, and to various regulatory agencies in their states and nationally.
A significant number of outreach educational materials (including extension documents and producer magazine articles) and presentations at extension and national and international scientific meetings were produced to disseminate our results to the scientific community and the general public.
Research work on PFAS have been presented in webinars hosted by biosolid-based organizations such as NEBRA, privately to nonprofit organizations involved in protecting communities, Zero-Waste Washington, scientific conferences including the Soil Health-Human Health Conference, and to the waste reclamation organizations involved in the production of the waste-based fertilizers. In addition, results on composted municipal wastes were presented to the congressional committee for the State of Washington, which led them to pose and pass 2 bills requiring the phase out of PFASs in food packaging used in their state as well as limiting the use of PFAS-containing foams in fire-fighting activities.
Milestones:
During the final year of this 5-year project, multiple research projects (laboratory and field-scales) were completed and recommendations for best animal manure management practices were developed.
The AOSU lab method is the first reported to predict bioavailable Pb in soil
The CSU facility is the first to report positive soil health changes associated with biosolids land application at agronomic rates to agroecosystems. The CSU facility is one of the first to report the ability of drinking water residuals’ ability to sorb organic P from waste streams, and utilize the end product as a P fertilizer source instead of landfilling or disposing of both waste streams.
At University of MA, multiple method analysis of TiO2 nanoparticle uptake in rice plants was developed; Engineered nanoparticles can be used to increase plant growth; and heteroaggregation with Al2O3 mineral particles reduced the toxicity of graphene oxide to algae.
During the final year of this 5-year project, multiple research projects (turfgrass-urban soils, urban soil-agriculture, military land) were completed and recommendations for efficient residuals use were developed.
Impacts
- We are utilizing the Soil Management Assessment Framework to quantify soil physical, chemical, biological, and nutrient changes in long-term agroecosystems amended with agronomic biosolids rates as compared to agronomic inorganic fertilizer rates. Current results suggest that biochar improves overall soil quality by positively impacting all four soil factors listed above. (CO)
- Preliminary pollutant limits, calculated based on the most sensitive organisms, suggest that long term real-world based land application of biosolids is without appreciable human and ecological health risks. Chemical load tracking is not needed for the majority of USA biosolids, but may be necessary for some biosolids that contain greater than 12 mg CIP/kg and 2.2 mg AZ/kg. The IRA needs refining by including more data, especially on biosolids-borne antibiotic resistance, before suggesting modifications to current land-application regulations. (FL)
- Selected biochars could be applied in combination of chemical or organic fertilizers to improve soil health and crop yield. (HI)
- Engineered nanoparticles can be bioavailable and toxic to bacteria, algae and plants, but heteroaggregation with natural mineral particles can reduce the bioavailability and toxicity of these particles. Also, nanoparticles can be used in nano-enabled technology for increasing plant growth and health, which is useful for sustainable agricultural production. (MA)
- No significant reductions in total dried and fresh biomass of barley and triticale were observed with salinity of reverse osmosis (RO) concentrate reaching 8 to 10 dS/m. (NM)
- Identification of barley and triticale as suitable animal fodder for irrigation with RO concentrate adds to a list of candidate forage crop species to change the perception of RO brine from a “waste” product of groundwater desalination to a valued irrigation water source in drought affected regions. (NM)
- Preliminary results of ongoing research at New Mexico State University’s Agricultural Science Center at Tucumcari has discovered a potential effect of wastewater on established alfalfa nutritive value and soil fertility characteristics. (NM)
- Based on its halophytic traits and indigenous status, mesa pepperwort may provide ecosystem services to salt-affected land application sites in the semiarid southwestern U.S. However, high saline resistance of the exotic, invasive perennial pepperwort and whitetop may contribute to their reported invasiveness under saline conditions. A broader impact of the latter finding is the application to a larger diversity of invasive plants with demonstrable salt tolerance, to aid in the understanding of how soil salinity may govern plant invasions and, thus, to aid in the prediction and prevention of plant invasions. (NM)
- Hazards of soil Pb to wild birds may be more accurately quantified if the bioavailability of that Pb is known. We developed a new method to accurately predict Avian bioavailable Pb (AOSU) associated with ingestion of contaminated soil and diet. (OH)
- Anthropogenic, urban soils can be greatly improved to support vegetative, high quality growth with insignificant environmental impairment when exceptional quality biosolids are applied at rates designed to rehabilitate mined soils. Such soils, especially when amended with high Fe-containing biosolids, can be greatly increased in the concentration of carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (VA)
- Lime stabilized biosolids applied at mine land reclamation rates to construction site-generated acid sulfate soils result in complete revegetation success and significant decreases in off-site water quality effects. However, acid-forming materials remain below the treated surface and local acid seeps and “hot spots” of <5% area are common. (VA)
- At mine land sites reclaimed with biosolids >35 years ago, biosolids applications have resulted in thicker A horizons, thicker and better structured subsoil (Bw) horizons, and in higher levels of total C and N and extractable P, Z and Cu. Native vegetation has invaded onto biosolids treated plots to a greater extent than onto non-treated plots. (VA)
- The acid soil-forming rapid field test takes < 15 minutes per sample and is up to 90% reliable in placing a given soil, sediment or hard rock material into one of the following categories: non-acid forming; acidic – no lime needed; moderately acidic – lime application needed; and strongly acid forming – must be isolated away from site and local drainage. (VA)
- There has been significant public and regulatory concern on the presence of personal care products and pharmaceuticals as well as fluorinated organics in municipal biosolids. A significant portion of the research on the behavior of these compounds in biosolids amended soils has been conducted by members of this group. Working with members of the group, we developed three publications in an industry trade journal to express these findings in lay terms for use by wastewater treatment program managers (Brown, 2019, Beecher and Brown, 2018ab). We also conducted an exposure assessment to express exposure to these compounds (PCPPs) from biosolids to an equivalent home exposure (Brown et al., 2019). (WA)
Publications
Journal:
Alvarez-Campos, O., M. Badzmierowski, G.K. Evanylo, K. Bamber, and H-C Yu. 2018. Development and testing of exceptional quality biosolids-based by-products for urban landscapes. Compost Science & Utilization 26(4): 234-245.
Alvarez-Campos, O., and G.K. Evanylo. 2019. Plant available nitrogen estimation tools for a biosolids-amended, clayey urban soil. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. (Accepted Feb 22, 2019)
Alvarez-Campos, O., and G.K. Evanylo. 2019. Exceptional quality biosolids amendments for vegetable production in urban agriculture. Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems. (Accepted, May 17, 2019)
Badzmierowski, M., G.K. Evanylo, E.H. Ervin, A. Boyd, and C. Brewster. 2019. Biosolids-based amendments improve tall fescue establishment and urban soils. Crop Science 59:1273-1284.
Bamber, K.W., G.K. Evanylo, and W.E. Thomason. 2018. Rapid estimation of potentially mineralizable N in early spring following fall biosolids applications to winter wheat. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 49: 567-575.
Berek A, Hue N, Radovich T, Ahmad A. 2018. Biochars improve nutrient phyto-availability of Hawaii’s highly weathered soils. Agronomy 8, 203. Doi: 10.3390/agronomy 8199293.
Borchard, N., M. Schirrmann, M. Cayuela, C. Kammann, N. Wrage-Mönnig, J.M. Estavillo, T. Fuertes-Mendizabal, G. Sigua, K. Spokas, J.A. Ippolito, and J. Novak. 2018. Biochar, soil and land use interactions that reduce nitrate leaching and N2O emissions: A meta-analysis. Sci. Tot. Environ. 651:2354-2364.
Bouma, J., L. Montanarella, and G.K. Evanylo. 2019. The challenge for the soil science community to contribute to the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Soil Use and Management. (Accepted May 3, 2019)
Brooke N. Stevens, Aaron R. Betts, Bradley W. Miller, Kirk G. Scheckel, Richard H. Anderson, Karen D. Bradham, Stan W. Casteel, David J. Thomas, and Nicholas T. Basta. 2018. Arsenic Speciation of Contaminated Soils/Solid Wastes and Relative Oral Bioavailability in Swine and Mice. Soil Syst. 2:1-13.
Brown, S., L. Kennedy, M. Cullington, A. Mihle, and M. Lono-Batura. Relating pharmaceuticals and personal-care products in biosolids to home exposure. Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems. In press.
Chen, C. Q., G. K. Guron, A. Pruden, M. Ponder, Pang. Du, and K. Xia. 2018. Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in bulk and rhizosphere soils subject to manure amendment and vegetable cultivation. J. Environ. Qual. 47:1318-1326.
Chen, C. Q., C. A. Pankow, M. Oh, L. S. Heathc, L.Q. Zhang, P. Du, K. Xia, and A. Pruden. 2019. Effect of antibiotic use and composting on antibiotic resistance gene abundance and resistome risks of soils receiving manure-derived amendments. Environmental International. 128:233-243.
Chen, C. Q., P. Ray, K. F. Knowlton, A. Pruden, and K. Xia. 2018. Effect of composting and soil type on dissipation of veterinary antibiotics in land-applied manures. Chemosphere. 196:270-279.
Clark, E., Daniels, W. L., Zipper, C. E., & Eriksson, K. (2018). Mineralogical influences on water quality from weathering of surface coal mine spoils. APPLIED GEOCHEMISTRY, 91, 97-107. doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2018.02.001
Clark, E., Zipper, C. E., Daniels, W. L., & Keefe, M. J. (2018). Appalachian coal mine spoil elemental release patterns and depletion. APPLIED GEOCHEMISTRY, 98, 109-120. doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2018.09.016
Cui, L., L. T. Chen, C. Yin, J. Yan, J.A. Ippolito, and Q. Hussain. 2018. Mechanism of adsorption of cadmium and lead ions by iron-activated biochar. Bioresour. 14:842-857.
Deng, Y.Q., E.J. Petersen, K. Challis, S.A. Rabb, R.D. Holbrook, J.F. Ranville, B.C. Nelson and B.S. Xing. 2017. Multiple method analysis of TiO2 nanoparticle uptake in rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants. Environ. Sci. Technol. 51: 10615-10623.
Galkaduwa, M.B., G.M. Hettiarachchi, G.J. Kluitenberg, and S.L. Hutchinson. 2018. Iron oxides minimize arsenic mobility in soil material saturated with saline wastewater. J. Environ. Qual. 47(4):873-883.
Gall, H.E., D. Schultz, T.L. Veith, S.C. Goslee, A. Mejía, C.J. Harman, R. Cibin, and P.H. Patterson. 2018. The effects of disproportional load contributions on quantifying vegetated filter strip trapping efficiencies. Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment. 32:2369-2380. DOI: 10.1007/s00477-017-1505-x
Gandarillas, M., H. España, R. Gardeweg, F. Bas, E.C. Arellano, S. Brown and R. Ginocchio. 2019. Integrated management of pig residues and copper mine tailings for aided phytostabilization. J. Environ. Qual. 48:430-438.
Garner, E., C. Q. Chen, K. Xia, J. Bowers, D. M. Engalthaler, J. McLain, M. A. Edwards, and A. Pruden. 2018. Metagenomic characterization of antibiotic resistance genes in four full-scale reclaimed water distribution systems and corresponding potable systems. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2018, 52, 6113−6125.
Guo, H.Y., L.L. He and B.S. Xing. 2017. Applications of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy in the analysis of nanoparticles in the environment. Environmental Science: Nano. 4: 2093-2107.
Guo, H.Y., J.C. White, Z.Y. Wang and B.S. Xing. 2018. Nano-enabled fertilizers to control the release and use efficiency of nutrients. Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health. 6:77-83.
Hooks, T.N., G.A. Picchioni, B.J. Schutte, M.K. Shukla, D.L. Daniel, and J. Ashigh. 2018a. Salinity an environmental “filter” selecting for plant invasiveness? Evidence from the indigenous Lepidium alyssoides on Chihuahuan Desert shrublands. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 71:106-114.
Hooks, T.N., G. A. Picchioni, B.J Schutte, M.K. Shukla, and D.L. Daniel. 2018b. Sodium chloride effects on seed germination, growth, and water use of Lepidium alyssoides, L. draba, and L. latifolium: Traits of resistance and implications for invasiveness on saline soils. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 71:433-442.
Jay, J.G., M. Tyler-Plog, S.L. Brown and F. Grothkopp. 2019. Nutrient, metal and organics removal from stormwater using a range of bioretention soil mixtures. J. Environ. Qual. doi:10.2134/jeq2018.07.0283.
Karna, R.R., G.M. Hettiarachchi, J. Van Nostrand, T. Yuan, C.W. Rice, Y. Assefa, and J. Zhou. 2018. Microbial Population Dynamics and the Role of Sulfate Reducing Bacteria Genes in Stabilizing Pb, Zn, and Cd in the Terrestrial Subsurface. Soil Syst. 2: 60.
Le, H. T. V., R. O. Maguire, and K. Xia. 2018. Method of dairy manure application and time before rainfall affects antibiotics in surface runoff. J. Environ. Qual. 47:1310-1317.
Ma, C.X., J.C. White, J. Zhao, Q. Zhao and B.S. Xing. 2018. Uptake of engineered nanoparticles by food crops: Characterization, mechanisms, and implications. Annu. Rev. Food Sci. Technol. 9:129–53.
Ma, P., and C. Rosen. 2019. Phosphorus Release from Sewage Sludge Incinerator Ash in Corn/Soybean Field Study, Soil Science Society of America, San Diego, CA. (Abstract). https://scisoc.confex.com/scisoc/2019sssa/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/115898
Ma, P. and C. Rosen. 2019. Phosphorus Release from Sewage Sludge Incinerator Ash in a Corn and Soybean Field Study, Waste to Worth conference, Minneapolis, MN. https://lpelc.org/phosphorus-release-from-sewage-sludge-incinerator-ash-in-a-corn-and-soybean-field-study/ Minneapolis, MN.
Ma, P. and C. Rosen. 2019. Phosphorus Release from Sewage Sludge Incinerator Ash in a Corn and Soybean Field Study, University of Minnesota Production Agriculture Symposium, St. Paul, MN.
Massey, M.S., I. Zohar, J.A. Ippolito, and I.M. Litaor. 2018. Phosphorus sorption to aluminum-based water treatment residuals reacted with dairy wastewater: 2. X-ray absorption spectroscopy. J. Environ. Qual. 47:546-553.
Mina, O., H.E. Gall, J.W. Chandler, J. Harper, M. Taylor. 2017. Continuous hydrologic and water quality monitoring of vernal ponds. Journal of Visualized Experiments. 129:e56466. DOI: 10.3791/56466.
Mina, O., H.E. Gall, H.A. Elliott, J.E. Watson, M.L. Mashtare, T. Langkilde, J.P. Harper, and E.W. Boyer. 2018. Estrogen occurrence and persistence in vernal pools impacted by wastewater irrigation practices. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 257:103-112. DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2018.01.022.
Miner, G.L., J.A. Delgado, J.A. Ippolito, K.A. Barbarick, C.E. Stewart, D.K. Manter, S.J. Del Grosso, A.D. Halvorson, B. Floyd, and R. D’Adamo. 2018. Influence of long-term nitrogen fertilization on crop and soil micronutrients in a no-till maize cropping system. Field Crops Res. 228:170-182.
Moon, J, L. Ma, K. Xia, and M.A. Williams. 2019. Consistent proteinaceous organic matter partitioning into mineral and organic soil fractions during pedogenesis in diverse ecosystems. Biogeochemistry. 142:117–135.
Novak, J.M., J.A. Ippolito, T.F. Ducey, M.G. Johnson, D.W. Watts, K.M. Trippe, K.A. Spokas, and G.C. Sigua. 2018. Remediation of an acidic mine spoil: Miscanthus biochar and lime amendment affects metal availability, plant growth, and soil enzyme activity. Chemosphere. 205:709-718.
Oh, M.; A. Pruden, C. Q. Chen, L. Heath, K. Xia, and L. Q. Zhang. 2018. MetaCompare: A computational pipeline for prioritizing environmental resistome risk. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 94, 2018, fiy079. doi: 10.1093/femsec/fiy079.
Ohno, T. and G.M. Hettiarachchi. 2018. Soil chemistry and the one health initiative: introduction to the special section. J. Environ. Qual. 47(6):1305-1309.
Ozturk, O.F., M.K. Shukla, B. Stringam, G.A. Picchioni, and C. Gard. 2018. Irrigation with brackish water changes evapotranspiration, growth and ion uptake of halophytes. Agricultural Water Management 195:142-153.
Qin, C. L. Li, K. Kikkeri, M. Agah, and K. Xia. 2019. Deactivation of E. coli in water using Fe3+-saturated montmorillonite impregnated filter paper. Sci. Total Environ. 652:643–650.
Qin, C., C. Shang, and K. Xia. 2019. Removal of 17β-estradiol from secondary wastewater treatment plant effluent using Fe3+-saturated montmorillonite. Chemosphere. 224:480-486.
Qin, C. W. Zhang, B. Yang, X.W. Chen, K. Xia, Y. Z. Gao. 2018. DNA facilitates sorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on montmorillonites. Environ. Sci. Technol. 52:2694-2703.
Radolinski, J., J.X. Wu, K. Xia, W. C. Hession, and R. D. Stewarta. 2019. Plants mediate precipitation-driven transport of a neonicotinoid pesticide. Chemosphere. 222:445-452.
Saha, D., A.R. Kemanian, F. Montes, H.E. Gall, P.R. Adler, B.M. Rau. 2018. Lorenz curve and Gini coefficient reveal hot spots and hot moments for nitrous oxide emissions. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences. 123:1-14. DOI: 10.1002/2017JG004041
Sidhu, H.S., D’Angelo, E., O’Connor, G.A., 2019. Retention-release of ciprofloxacin and azithromycin in biosolids and biosolids-amended soils. Sci. Tot. Environ. 650: 173- 183.
Sidhu, H.S., O’Connor, G.A., Kruse, J., 2019. Plant toxicity and accumulation of biosolids-borne ciprofloxacin and azithromycin. Sci. Tot. Environ. 648: 1219-1226.
Sidhu, H.S., O’Connor, G.A., McAvoy, D. 2019. Risk assessment of biosolids-borne ciprofloxacin and azithromycin. Sc. Tot. Environ. 651: 3151-3160.
Sidhu, H.S., O’Connor, G.A., Ogram, A., Kumar, K., 2019. Bioavailability of biosolids-borne ciprofloxacin and azithromycin to terrestrial organisms: microbial toxicity and earthworm responses. Sci. Tot. Environ. 650: 18-26.
Silveira, M.L., O’Connor, G.A., Lu, Y., Erickson, J.E., Brandani, C., Kohmann, M.M. 2019. Runoff and leachate P and N losses from grass-vegetated soil boxes amended with biosolids- and fertilizer. Journal of Environmental Quality (In Press).
Singer, R. and S. Brown. 2018. Impact of soil filtration on metals, nutrients, and estrogenic activity of reclaimed water. J. Environ. Qual. 47:1504-1512.
Taylor, M., H.A. Elliott, and L.O. Navitsky. 2018. Relationship between total dissolved solids and electrical conductivity in Marcellus hydraulic fracturing fluids. Water Science & Tech. 77(8):1998-2004.
Wang, J. K. Xia, M. G. Waigi, Y. Gao, E. S. Odinga, W. Ling, J. Liu. 2018. Application of biochar to soils may result in plant contamination and human cancer risk due to exposure of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons Environmental International. 121:169–177.
Wind, L., L. H. Krometis, W. C. Hession, C. Q. Chen, P. Du, K. Jacobs, K. Xia, and Amy Pruden. 2018. Fate of Pirlimycin and Antibiotic-Resistant Fecal Coliforms in Field Plots Amended with Dairy Manure or Compost during Vegetable Cultivation. J. Environ. Qual. 47:436-444.
Watson, J.E., Robb, T., Andrews-Brown, D., Miller, M. 2018. Wastewater irrigation impacts on soil hydraulic conductivity: Coupled field sampling and laboratory determination of saturated hydraulic conductivity. J. Vis. Exp. (138), e57181, doi:10.3791/57181.
Yue, L., J. Zhao, X.Y. Yu, K.M. Lv, Z.Y. Wang and B.S. Xing. 2018. Interaction of CuO nanoparticles with duckweed (Lemna minor. L): Uptake, distribution and ROS production sites. Environ. Pollut. 243: 543-552.
Zhao, J., Y.H. Dai, Z.Y. Wang, W.T. Ren, Y.P. Wei, X.S. Cao and B.S. Xing. 2018. Toxicity of GO to freshwater algae in the presence of Al2O3 particles with different morphologies: Importance of heteroaggregation. Environ. Sci. Technol. 52: 13448–13456.
Zohar, I., Litaor, M.I., J.A. Ippolito, and M. Massey. 2018. Phosphorus sorption characteristics in aluminum-based water treatment residuals reacted with dairy wastewater, 1: Isotherms, XRD and SEM-EDS analysis. J. Environ. Qual. 47:538- 545.
Book Chapters
Chen, C.Q., S. Hilaire, and K. Xia. Veterinary pharmaceuticals, pathogens and antibiotic resistance. 2019. In Animal Manure. ASA, CSSA, SSSA Book. (in press).
Daniels, W., Orndorff, Z., Stilson, C., Zimmerman, C., & Haywood, A. (2018). Development of effective rehabilitation protocols for mineral sands mining in Virginia, USA. In From start to finish: A life-of-mine perspective. Spectrum Series 24 (pp. 12 pages). Carlton, Victoria, Australia: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Retrieved from https://ausimm.com/library/
Theses and Dissertations
Alyssa, M. Zearley. 2018. Incorporating Diet into In Vitro Bioaccessibility Assays to Improve Prediction of Bioavailability of Soil Pb in Birds and Humans. The Ohio State University, Columbus. OH.
Alvarez-Campos, Odiney. 2019. Exceptional quality biosolids for urban soil health and vegetable crop production. Ph.D. Dissertation. Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA. February.
Sneesby, Ethan P. 2019. Evaluation of a Water Budget Model for Created Wetland Design and Comparative Natural Wetland Hydroperiods. M.S. Thesis, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Feb. 21, 2019. 203 p.
Sidhu, H.S. 2018. Fate and risk assessment of biosolids-borne ciprofloxacin (CIP) and azithromycin (AZ). PhD Dissertation, University of Florida.
Trade Journals
Brown, S. 2019. Revisiting and reframing risk. Biocycle 60:4:27
Beecher, N and S. Brown. 2018. PFAS and organic residuals management. Biocycle 59:6:20
Beecher, N. and S. Brown. 2018. PFAS and organic residuals management. Biocycle 59:7:31
Technical Reports
Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC). 2017. Bioavailability of in contaminants in soil: Considerations for Human Health Risk Assessment. BCS-1. Washington, D.C. Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council, Bioavailability in Contaminated Soil Team. http://bcs-1.itrcweb.org
Scientific and Outreach Oral Presentations
Ahmad A, Berek A, Radovich T, Hue N. 2018. Biochar as a soil amendment and nutrient regulator. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci. Abstr. P. 227.
Alasmary, Z., G.M. Hettiarachchi, K. L. Roozeboom, L.C. Davis, L.E. Erickson, V. Pidlisnyuk, T. Stefanovska, A. Nurzanova, and J. Trogl. 2019. Field-based investigations on phytostabilization of a contaminated military site using biofuel crop and soil amendments. The 15th International Conference on Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements. May 5-9, 2019, Nanjing, China.
Alasmary, Z., G.M. Hettiarachchi, K. L. Roozeboom, L.C. Davis, L.E. Erickson, V. Pidlisnyuk, T. Stefanovska, and J. Trogl. 2019. Field-based investigations on phytostabilization of a contaminated military site using biofuel crop and soil amendments. The MISCOMAR Project International Scientific Conference, Multiple benefits of biomass crops on marginal land, March 20-21, 2019, Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas, Katowice, Poland.
Alasmary, Z., G.M. Hettiarachchi, K. L. Roozeboom, L.C. Davis, L.E. Erickson. 2018. Stabilization of lead in a contaminated military site using a second‐generation biofuel crop and phosphate‐based soil amendments. The 15th International Phytotechnology Conference, Oct 1-5, 2018, Novi Sad, Serbia.
Banet, T., J. Ippolito, M. Massey, I. Zohar, and I Litaor. 2018. Aluminum water treatment residuals can capture organic phosphorus to be used as a potential plant-available source. Great Plains Soil Fertility Conference. Denver, CO. March 6-7.
Banet, T., J. Ippolito, M. Massey, I. Zohar, and I. Litaor. 2018. Aluminum water treatment residuals retain organic phosphorus that may be used as a potential plant-available source. American Society of Agronomy Meetings. November 4-7. Baltimore, MD.
Basta, N.T. 2018. Bioavailability: Advances in Science and Implementation for Adjusting Human and Ecological Exposure. 19th International Conference on Heavy Metals in the Environment, Athens, Georgia July 21-25, 2018.
Basta, N.T., S. Whitacre, J.M. Barthel, T. Schwab. 2018. Boaccessibility and Extractability of Ecobond® LBP Lead Defender® Treated Lead Based Paint 19th International Conference on Heavy Metals in the Environment, Athens, Georgia July 21-25, 2018.
Basta, N.T. 2018. Urban Soils and Metal Contaminants: Assessment and Solutions. In Building Sustainable Urban Communities from the Ground Up. Pennsylvania State University College of Agricultural Sciences. June 7, 2018.
Hettiarachchi, G.M. et al. 2018. Minimizing Human Exposure to Contaminants in Urban Soils. Oct. 4-5. Three Rivers Urban Soil Symposium, Pittsburg, Philadelphia.
Hilaire, S.S., T. Leventhal, C.Q. Chen, H. Gall, P.J.A. Kleinman, R.O. Maguire, L.S. Saporito, and K. Xia. Occurrence and Fate of Culturable Antimicrobial Resistant Fecal Coliforms in Manure-Surface Applied and Subsurface Injected Fields in Virginia and Pennsylvania. SSSA International Annual Meetings, San Diego, CA, January 6-9, 2019.
Ippolito, J.A. 2018. Soil quality/soil health: Irrigation and organic amendment perspectives. Eastern Colorado Crop Production Conference. Fort Morgan, CO. Dec. 5-6.
Ippolito, J.A., and J-C Liu. 2018. Biochars abiotically alter iron redox chemistry. American Society of Agronomy Meetings. November 4-7. Baltimore, MD.
Ippolito, J.A., K. Barbarick, and T. Ducey. 2018. Can long-term biosolids land application positively alter soil quality? 31st Annual BioFest – Biosolids Conference. Lake Chelan, WA. September 9-11.
Ippolito, J.A. 2018. The importance of properly soil sampling. 31st Annual BioFest –Biosolids Conference. Lake Chelan, WA. September 9-11.
Ippolito, J.A., and K.A. Barbarick. 2018. Can long-term biosolids land application positively alter soil quality? W3170 Beneficial Reuse of Residuals and Reclaimed Water: Impact on Soil Ecosystem and Human Health Annual Conference. Chicago,June 24-26.
Ippolito, J.A. 2018. Evaluation of time-bomb effect: metals availability after the cessation of long-term biosolids land application in Colorado. W3170 Beneficial Reuse of Residuals and Reclaimed Water: Impact on Soil Ecosystem and Human Health Annual Conference. Chicago, IL. June 24-26.
Ippolito, J.A. 2018. Short- and long-term composted biosolids land applications affect grassland soils and plants. 2nd International Conference on Bioresources, Energy, Environment, and Materials Technology. Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, South Korea. June 10-13.
Ippolito, J.A., L. Cui, J. Novak, and M. Johnson. 2018. Biochar-heavy metal sorption mechanisms in contaminated soils. 2nd International Conference on Bioresources, Energy, Environment, and Materials Technology. Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, South Korea. June 10-13.
Ippolito, J.A., and K.A. Barbarick. 2018. Meta-analysis of biosolids effect in dryland wheat agroecosystems. 2nd International Conference on Bioresources, Energy, Environment, and Materials Technology. Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, South Korea. June 10-13.
Ippolito, J.A. 2018. Mining, Reclamation, Plant Productivity, and Livestock Production Implications. 255th American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition. New Orleans, LA. March 18-22.
Ippolito, J.A. 2018. Biochar’s benefits for western US soils. March 9. University of Wyoming, Department of Plant Sciences seminar series.
Ippolito, J.A. 2018. Science of biosolids land application. West Adams County Conservation District Biosolids Workshop. Brighton, CO. February 28.
Ippolito, J.A. 2018. Biochar magic?: How can biochar improve soil processes? American Society of Agronomy/Soil Science Society of America Webinar. Madison, WI. February 27.
Ippolito, J.A. 2018. Biochar: A local product for solving local problems. TriBeta Biology Honor Society Lectureship, Colorado State University Chapter. February 12.
Ippolito, J.A. 2018. Soil health/soil quality. Morgan Conservation District’s 63 Annual Meeting. Fort Morgan, CO. February 8.
Jalali, S., N. Roman-Muniz, S. Archibeque, T. Holt, J. Ippolito, and T.E. Engle. 2018. Extracting copper from dairy footbaths to prevent heavy metal bioaccumulation in agricultural land – A proof of concept study. JBS Corp. Greeley, CO. May 14.
Jalali, S., N. Roman-Muniz, S. Archibeque, T. Holt, J. Ippolito, and T.E. Engle. 2018. Used footbath copper extraction, and CuSO4 recycling apparatus design and feasibility study. CSU Demo Day, CSUVentures. Fort Collins, Colorado April 10.
Kyle N. McLaughlin and Michael L. Mashtare. 2018. Persistence of Biosolids-Borne Contaminants within Soil Microcosms. AEESP Distinguished Lecturer Conference – February 2, 2018.
Kyle N. McLaughlin and Michael L. Mashtare. 2018. Aerobic Degradation of Biosolids-Borne Contaminants. OIGP Spring Reception – May 2, 2018.
Kyle N. McLaughlin and Michael L. Mashtare. 2018. The Degradation of Biosolids-Borne Contaminants within Aerobic Microcosms. Dawn or Doom and Purdue Graduate Student Government Research Symposium - November 5, 2018.
Lazcano, Rooney Kim, Youn Jeong Choi, Michael L. Mashtare and Linda S. Lee (2018). Comparing Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Acids Concentrations and Leachability Between Commercial Biosolids-based and Non-biosolids Waste-derived Fertilizers. Podium and Poster Presentation at the 9th Canadian Biosolids and Residuals Conference, Halifax, NS. September 9-12.
Lazcano, Rooney Kim, Youn Jeong Choi, Michael L. Mashtare and Linda S. Lee (2018). Per- and Polyfluorinated Acids in Waste-derived Fertilizers. Podium Presentation at the W3170 Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL. June 24-26.
Lazcano, Rooney Kim, Linda S. Lee and Michael L. Mashtare (2018). Plant Uptake of Trace Organic Contaminants from Commercially Available Biosolids-based Fertilizer Amended Soil. Poster Presentation at the Office of Interdisciplinary Graduate Program’s Spring Reception.Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. May 2.
Lazcano, Rooney Kim, Peyman Yousefi, Youn Jeong Choi, Linda S. Lee and Michael L. Mashtare (2018). Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Acids in Composted Wastes: Commercial Biosolids-based and Nonbiosolids-based Fertilizers. Poster Presentation at Emerging Contaminant Summit, Westminster, CO. March 6-7.
Le, H.T.V, C.Q. Chen, R.O. Maguire, and K. Xia. Spatial distribution and temporal change of a ruminant-specific microbial marker and antibiotics in manure-amended soils via surface application and subsurface injection. SSSA International Annual Meetings, San Diego, CA, January 6-9, 2019.
Le, H.T.V., P. Ray, K. Knowlton, R. O. Maguire, and K. Xia. Environmental fate of antibiotics – impact of manure land application methods. 255th American Chemical Society National Meeting. New Orleans, LA, March 18-22, 2018.
Lee, L.S. 2018. Trace Organics in Biosolids (& Composts): Trends, Myths & Challenges. Emerging Contaminant Summit, Westminster, CO., March 6-7.
Lee, L.S. 2018. Fate & Transport of Trace Organics. Soil Health and Human Health Conference, Silver Springs, MD. Oct. 16-17.
Leventhal, T., S. Hilaire, L. Saporito, H.E. Gall, P.J.A. Kleinman, and K. Xia. Comparing the presence of antimicrobial resistant genes and bacteria in soil and runoff following different dairy manure application methods. 2018 Annual International Meeting, Detroit, Michigan, July 29 - August 1, 2018.
Novak, J.M. D.W. Watts, G.C. Sigua, T.F. Ducey, H. Rushmiller, J.A. Ippolito, M.G. Johnson, and K.A. Spokas. 2018. Maize productivity, heavy metal uptake, and health responses in a contaminated mine spoil as affected by different biochar types. American Society of Agronomy Meetings. November 4-7. Baltimore, MD.
Miner, G.L., J.A. Delgado, J.A. Ippolito, K.A. Barbarick, C.E. Stewart, D.K. Manter, S.J. Del Grosso, A.D. Halvorson, B.A. Floyd, and R.E. D’Amado. 2018. Long-term nitrogen fertilization rates affect crop micronutrient concentrations but not soil micronutrient availability. American Society of Agronomy Meetings. November 4-7, Baltimore, MD.
Novak, J.M., G.C. Sigua, J.A. Ippolito, R.D. Lentz, R.S. VanPelt, K.A. Spokas, K. Sistani, H.P. Collins, M.G. Johnson, and K. Pantuck. 2018. Biochar utilization for soil quality improvement, greenhouse gas reduction, metal and nutrient sequestration. USBI Biochar 2018. Wilmington, Delaware. August 20-23.
Novak, J.M., J.A. Ippolito, and M.G. Johnson. 2018. Coordinating engineered biochar production for soil quality improvement, mine spoil reclamation, and nutrient removal in waste streams. 4th International Conference on Contaminated Land, Ecological Assessment and Remediation. Hong Kong, China. August 16-18.
Novak, J.M., J.A. Ippolito, and M.G. Johnson. 2018. Coordinating engineered biochar production for soil quality improvement, mine spoil reclamation, and nutrient removal in waste streams. 2018 International Conference on Heavy Metals in the Environment. University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia. July 21-25.
Pidlisnyuk, V., L. Erickson, J. Trögl, P. Shapoval, J. Popelka, L. Davis, T. Stefanovska, and G. Hettiarachchi. 2018. Metals uptake behaviour in Miscanthus x giganteus plant during growth at the contaminated soil from the military site in Sliač, Slovakia. Polish Journal of Chemical Technology. 20. 1-7. 10.2478/pjct-2018-0016.
Radolinski, J., H.T.V. Le, S. Hilaire, K. Xia, and R.D. Stewart. Preferential Flow in the Vadose Zone: Identifying Solute vs Media Controls on Contaminant Transport. 2018 American Geological Union Fall Meeting, Washington D. C. December 10-14, 2018.
Xia, K. Storm Water Runoff-A Source of Emerging Contaminants In Urban Streams. Third International Workshop On Urbanization in Watersheds. Xiamen, China. October 30-November 2, 2018.
Zearley, Alyssa M., Nicholas T. Basta, G. Matthew Davies, Milton S. González-Serrano, Rufus L. Chaney, and W. Nelson Beyer. 2018. Incorporating Diet into In Vitro Methods to Improve Prediction of Lead Bioaccessibility in Wildlife Impacts. 19th International Conference on Heavy Metals in the Environment, Athens, Georgia July 21-25, 2018.
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Results on composted municipal wastes were presented to the congressional committee for the State of Washington, which contributed to the proposition of 2 bills requiring the phase out of PFASs in food packaging used in their state (Bill HB 2658 - 2017-18) as well as limiting the use of PFAS-containing foams in fire-fighting activities (Bill SB 6413 - 2017-18).