Source: OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to
LINKING BIOGEOCHEMICAL SPECIATION AND BIOAVAILABILITY OF TRACE ELEMENT CONTAMINANTS FOR SOIL RISK ASSESSMENT AND REMEDIATION
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0198678
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Oct 1, 2009
Project End Date
Sep 30, 2014
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Project Director
Basta, NI.
Recipient Organization
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
1680 MADISON AVENUE
WOOSTER,OH 44691
Performing Department
School of Natural Resources
Non Technical Summary
Elements present in natural materials at concentrations < 1000 mg/kg have been defined as trace elements. Most elements of the periodic table are trace elements. Although some trace elements are essential to life, many are toxic in high concentrations. Further, awareness is growing of the extent and severity of trace element contamination of soils and water resulting from the industrial and commercial use of trace elements including metals. Contamination occurs from metal mine tailings, disposal of high metal wastes in improperly protected landfills, leaded gasoline and lead-based paints, land application of fertilizer, animal manures, biosolids, composts, pesticides, coal combustion residues, and atmospheric deposition. These anthropogenic additions of trace element to the soil environment can adversely affect human, crop, and wildlife health. Trace elements that occur in some residuals of environmental concern include As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Hg, Ni, Se, Mo, Zn, Tl, Sb, and others. Contamination of soil with trace elements is a serious and common problem, both in Ohio and worldwide. Excess amounts of trace elements in soil pose threats to human health directly via inhalation or ingestion of soil, contamination of groundwater, and indirectly through the consumption of plants grown on contaminated soil. Also, excessive trace elements in soil are of great concern in soil ecosystems where organisms are in direct contact with the soil. To adequately protect or restore soil ecosystems, it is necessary to accurately characterize soils suspected or presumed to be contaminated with trace elements and define what levels of metals in these soils constitute a hazard to soil organisms. Conceptually, trace elements in soil are divided into chemical pools based on solid phase association, solubility and strength of bonding to soil surfaces. These chemical pools range from water soluble to residual forms trapped in mineral lattices. In general, trace elements in soluble or weakly adsorbed "pools" are more bioavailable than those in strongly adsorbed and sequestered forms. Most human and ecological risk associated with exposure to trace element contamination is from the biogeochemical forms of trace element that is biologically available for absorption or "bioavailable" to the humans or ecological receptors. Bioavailability is the portion of a chemical dose that enters the systemic circulation of the receptors. Therefore, risk-based soil levels should be based on trace element contaminant bioavailability not total content in soil. In this proposed project, we will develop and/or evaluate the ability of trace element speciation methods to measure and/or predict bioavailability to human and/or ecological receptors.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1010110100010%
1010110115020%
1010110200050%
1040110200010%
7230110115010%
Knowledge Area
104 - Protect Soil from Harmful Effects of Natural Elements; 101 - Appraisal of Soil Resources; 723 - Hazards to Human Health and Safety;

Subject Of Investigation
0110 - Soil;

Field Of Science
1000 - Biochemistry and biophysics; 2000 - Chemistry; 1150 - Toxicology;
Goals / Objectives
Contamination of soil with trace elements is a serious and common problem, both in Ohio and worldwide. Excess amounts of trace elements in soil pose threats to human health directly via inhalation or ingestion of soil, contamination of groundwater, and indirectly through the consumption of plants grown on contaminated soil. Also, excessive trace elements in soil are of great concern in soil ecosystems where organisms are in direct contact with the soil. To adequately protect or restore soil ecosystems, it is necessary to accurately characterize soils suspected or presumed to be contaminated with trace elements and define what levels of metals in these soils constitute a hazard to soil organisms. In this proposed project, we will develop and/or evaluate the ability of trace element speciation methods to measure and/or predict bioavailability to human and/or ecological receptors. The project objectives are (1)to determine the ability of biogeochemical trace element speciation methods to measure and/or predict bioavailability to human and ecological receptors in untreated contaminated soils, (2)to determine the ability of soil remediation treatments to decrease trace element bioavailability to human and/or ecological receptors, (3) to evaluate the ability of trace element speciation methods to determine reduction of bioavailability in remediated soils, (4)to understand how the metabolic activities of microorganisms inhabiting the contaminated sites may interact with iron and sulfide minerals and redox-sensitive contaminants to affect the mobility of contaminants under different conditions.
Project Methods
Objectives 1-3. A wide range of trace element contaminated soils with known sequestration properties for trace element contaminants (i.e., Pb, As, Cd, etc) will be studied. The soils will include urban contaminated soils (i.e., brownfields, residential properties) and industrial sites (metal mining, milling and production). Untreated contaminated soil will be used for project Objective 1. Soils treated with amendments to reduce bioavailability or bioremediation will be used to evaluate project objectives 2 and 3. We will utilize combined advanced spectroscopic techniques (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Mass Spectrometry, and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy) to obtain structural information and speciation of trace elements within a given sample. The adult female mouse model will be used to estimate human bioavailability. The fraction of trace element, which solubilizes in an in vitro system is referred to as in vitro bioaccessibility (IVBA), which may then be used as an estimate of in vivo relative bioavailability (RBA). Several methods, including the Relative Bioaccessibility Leaching Procedure of Drexler and Brattin for Pb and the OSU IVG for As will be used to determine contaminant IVBA in soils. Relevant ecological receptor plants will be grown in 15-cm pots containing 1-kg samples of soil over a 3-cm layer of vermiculite in a completely randomized design with replicates. Metal content in plant tissue will be determined. Earthworm bioassays will be conducted using mature manure worms (E. fetida). Earthworms will be analyzed for metals. The project investigators will cross-correlate information between results from soil-metal soil speciation studies and those from bioavailability studies. A variety of statistical approaches will be used to clearly link the binding mechanism of trace elements in soil with human and/or ecological bioavailability endpoints. Objective 4. Three types of batch experiments will be conducted, (i) experiments to determine the shape of U(VI) adsorption isotherm (ii) adsorption edge experiments will be conducted at different pH and ionic strengths of the contacting solution, and (iii) kinetic experiments will be conducted to measure sorption as a function of time, and to gain insights on the time required for the system to reach equilibrium. We will investigate and develop individual and coupled rate expressions that describe pore scale geochemical processes responsible for the transformation and fate of redox sensitive contaminants in simple systems composed of Fe sulfide, microorganisms and U, Tc, and Cr.

Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: Scientific community focused on soil-based beneficial use of agricultural, municipal, and industrial waste / byproducts.Federal agencies (NIEHS, USEPA, USDA), State of Ohio Agencies (OEPA, ODNR), National, Regional, and Local Professional Water and Wastewater Organizations (i.e., Ohio Water Environment Federation), Municipal agencies (Metropolitan Water Reclamation of Greater Chicago, City of Columbus, City of Cleveland) Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Two Ph.D. graduate students and three undergraduate students were trained during the reporting period How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Presentations at high impact meetings: Soil in the City Conference, Chicago, IL., June 30-July 2, 2014. Goldschmidt 2014 Conference, Geochemical Society and European Assoc. of Geochemistry, Sacramento, CA, June 8-13, 2014. Triservices Environmental Risk Assessment Working Group Winter Meeting. Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX. Feb. 25, 2014. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Many developments on risk based soil chemical assessment of arsenic (#1 ASTDR contaminant of concern in US). Ohio has the highest arsenic soil content of all 50 states and territories of the US. We published the first comprehensive survey documenting soil arsenic in Ohio. We determined that the arsenic in Ohio soils was natural not from introduced contaminants. We had a news release from PNNL lab (E. Venteris --first author). PNNL tried to get a joint news release with OSU but failed --someone dropped the ball on our end. It is a shame because this was a significant accomplishment for our CRIS project --it was speadheaded by me. A new in vitro method, the Modified Ohio State University In Vitro Gastrointestinal Method, was developed to evaluate bioavailability and risk from arsenic in soil. The State of California will issue guidance for its exclusuve use for soil assessment for development of land. This will be the first soil assessement method to be granted use (ie guidance) by any state in the US

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Basta, N.T. 2014. Restoring Ecosystem Services in Degraded Urban Soils Using Biosolids and Soil Amendment Blends. Soil in the City Conference, Chicago, IL., June 30-July 2, 2014.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Kuhuk, Sharma, Nicholas T. Basta, and Parwinder S. Grewal. 2014. Soil heavy metal contamination in residential neighborhoods in post-industrial cities and its potential human exposure risk. Urban Ecosystems. DOI 10.1007/s11252-014-0395-7
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Venteris, E.R., N.T. Basta, J.M. Bigham, and R. Rea, 2014. Modeling spatial patterns in soil As to estimate natural baseline concentration. J. Environ. Qual. 43:936-946.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Jardine,P.M., M.A. Stewart, M.O. Barnett, N.T. Basta, S.C. Brooks, S. Fendorf, T.L. Mehlhorn. 2013. Influence of Soil Geochemical and Physical Properties on Chromium (VI): Sequestration and Bioaccessibility. Environ. Sci. Technol. 47:11241-11248.
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Basta, N.T. and A. Juhasz. 2014. Chapter 9: Using In Vivo Bioavailability and/or In Vitro Gastrointestinal Bioaccessibility Testing to Adjust Human Exposure from Soil Ingestion. In : R.J.Bowell, J. Majzlan and C.Alpers (eds.) Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Microbiology of Arsenic in Environment, Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, Mineralogical Society of America.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Basta N, Whitacre S, Myers P, Mitchell V, Alpers C, Foster A, Casteel S & Kim C. 2014. Using in Vitro Gastrointestinal and Sequential Extraction Methods To Characterize Site-Specific Arsenic Bioavailability. Goldschmidt 2014 Conference, Geochemical Society and European Assoc. of Geochemistry, Sacramento, CA, June 8-13, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Whitacre S, Basta N, Casteel S, Foster A, Myers P & Mitchell V. 2014. Bioavailability Measures for Arsenic in California Gold Mine Tailings. Goldschmidt 2014 Conference, Geochemical Society and European Assoc. of Geochemistry, Sacramento, CA, June 8-13, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Stevens B, Basta N, Whitacre S, Naber S, Scheckel K, Casteel S, Bradham K & Thomas D. 2014. Evaluation of Bioaccessibility Methods to Predict Relative Bioavailability of Arsenic in Contaminated Soils. Goldschmidt 2014 Conference, Geochemical Society and European Assoc. of Geochemistry, Sacramento, CA, June 8-13, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Basta, N.T., S.D. Whitacre, and N.E. Johnson. 2014. Evaluation of Soil and Dust as a Potential Exposure Medium for Arsenic and Other Contaminants in Appalachian Coal Mining Communities. The Geological Society of America Southeastern Section, 63rd Annual Meeting, Blacksburg, Virginia, April 10-11, 2014.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Basta, N.T. State-of-the-Science for In Vitro Metal Bioavailability Studies. 2014. Triservices Environmental Risk Assessment Working Group Winter Meeting. Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX. Feb. 25, 2014.


Progress 01/01/13 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Stakeholders involved in reuse or redevelopment of urban land and agricultural communities concerned about historical arsenical pesticide use on orchards / other crops.Scientific community, government (municipal, federal and state agencies). Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Training and development of graduate students How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Yes. We have published in refereed journals and plan to publish our findings in other journals with more lay person reach. We also plan to share our results with state (ODNR, OEPA) and federal (USEPA) regulators What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Complete ongoing research and prepare the final report

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease lists environmental arsenic as the #1 contaminant of public health concern in the United States (http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/spl/). Arsenic has natural occurrence in soil but contamination from historical agricultural arsenic pesticides, used to kill weeks and insects, may have elevated fruit orchards and other agricultural land. Contaminated land often requires expensive remediation and cannot be used for food production. Previous studies by USGS that Ohio soil has the highest natural background arsenic in the US. Thus, elevated As may be natural in Ohio and not a result of agriculture or industrial sources. Natural arsenic levels do not constitute threat to human health and do not require remediation. We report the first comprehensive study to explain the soil arsenic levels in Ohio (Venteris, E.R., N.T. Basta, J.M. Bigham, and R. Rea, Modeling spatial patterns in soil As to estimate natural baseline concentration. J. Environ. Qual. In Press.). We found arsenic ranged widely across the state. Soils can be grouped into 5 geographic regions based on arsenic levels: lowest in northern Ohio but highest levels in central Ohio soils. Thus, high levels of soil As in central Ohio are very often natural levels and not due to pesticide or industrial contamination. This information is needed by state agencies (ODNR, OEPA) and federal agencies (USEPA) to determine whether or not there is arsenic contamination that might require remediation, on agricultural and urban lands in Ohio.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Brian H. Lower and Dennis A. Bazylinski, "The Bacterial Magnetosome, a Unique Prokaryotic Organelle". Biomineralization in magnetotactic bacteria, Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology. Vol. 23, 63-80.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2013 Citation: Zachery Oestreicher, Steven K. Lower, Dennis A. Bazylinski and Brian H. Lower. "Magnetotactic bacteria from Pavilion Lake, British Columbia." Frontiers in Microbiology. 2014. (In-press)
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2013 Citation: Carmen Valverde-Tercedor, Lijun Chen, Zachery Oestreicher, F. Abad�a-Molina, M. Martinez-Bueno, Steven K. Lower, Brian H. Lower, Dennis A. Bazylinski, Concepcion Jimenez-Lopez. "Subcellular localization of the magnetosome protein MamC in the marine magnetotactic bacterium Magnetococcus marinus strain MC-1 using immunoelectron microscopy," submitted to Archives of Microbiology. 2013. (In-review).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Minca, K.K., N.T. Basta, and K.G. Scheckel. 2013. Using the Mehlich-3 soil test as an inexpensive screening tool to estimate total and bioaccessible Pb in urban soils. J. Environ. Qual. 42(5):1518-1526.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Minca, K.K., and N.T. Basta. 2013. Comparison of Plant Nutrient and Environmental Soil Tests to Predict Pb in Urban Soils. Sci. Total Environ. 445-446:57-63.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Juhasz,A.L., N.T. Basta, and E. Smith. 2013. What is required for the validation of in vitro assays for predicting contaminant relative bioavailability? Considerations and criteria. Environmental Pollution 180:372-375.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Whitacre, S.D., N.T. Basta, and E.A. Dayton. 2013. Soil Controls on Bioaccessible Arsenic Fractions. J. Environ. Health Sci. Part A. 48(6): 620-628.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2013 Citation: Venteris, E.R., N.T. Basta, J.M. Bigham, and R. Rea, Modeling spatial patterns in soil As to estimate natural baseline concentration. J. Environ. Qual.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2013 Citation: Kuhuk Sharma, Nicholas T. Basta, and Parwinder S. Grewal. Heavy metal contamination in soil in vacant lots slated for urban agriculture in two post-industrial cities and its potential human risk. Sci. Total Environ.
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Whitacre, S.D., N.T. Basta, C.J. Everett, K. Minca, and W.L. Daniels. 2013. Identification of toxic agents and potential exposure routes to Appalachian coal mining communities. In: J.R. Craynon (ed.) Environmental considerations in energy production. Soc. Mining Met. & Explor., Englewood, CO.


Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Six presentations to international and national scientific audiences and 2 presentations to other audiences. Assessing Oral Human Bioavailability of Arsenic in Soil with In vitro Gastrointestinal Methods. 2012. This invited presentation was delivered to 3 science venues in Nanjing, China. School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Xianlin Campus, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing. Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China. Assessing Oral Human Bioavailability of Arsenic in Soil with in Vitro Gastrointestinal Methods. Presentation 409-8, ASA, CSSA, and Soil Science Society International Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, OH. Oct. 21 to 24, 2012. Assessing Oral Human Bioavailability of Arsenic in Soil with in Vitro Gastrointestinal Methods. Presentation 409-8, ASA, CSSA, and Soil Science Society International Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, OH. Oct. 21 to 24, 2012. Bioavailability Measures for Arsenic in Gold Mine Tailings. Presentation 412-1, ASA, CSSA, and Soil Science Society International Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, OH. Oct. 21 to 24, 2012. Assessment, Remediation, and Revitalization of Upland / Urban Soils and Contaminant Bioavailability. Dept. of Plant and Soil Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK. March 12, 2012. Assessing and reducing risk from exposure to soil arsenic. 2012. Micobiology 3300, Biology of Pollution, Ohio State University. Nov. 28, 2012. The following international conference symposium was organized. "Studies On Bioaccessibility and Bioavailability of Soil Metals Impacting Human Health" ASA, CSSA, and Soil Science Society International Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, OH. Oct. 21 to 24, 2012. Organizers: N.T. Basta and K.Scheckel (USEPA, NRMRL, Cincinnati, OH). Two significant new collaborations with internationally recognized researches in China were established in 2012. Dr. Lena Ma, Nanjing University and Professor Mengfang Chen, Director, Centre for Sustainable Site Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences PARTICIPANTS: U.S.Environmental Protection Agency National Office of Research and Development, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH U.S.Environmental Protection Agency National Exposure Research Laboratory, Research Triangle Park, Raleigh, NC U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, Sacramento, CA U.S.Geological Survey, WMESC, Menlo Park, CA California Department of Toxic Substances Control Oak Ridge National Laboratory USDA Agricultural Research Service, Environmental Management & ByProduct Utilization Lab, Beltsville, MD TARGET AUDIENCES: Symposium organized, presentations delivered and research published to research several target audiences including the following. Federal and State Regulatory Agencies, Academia and private environmental consulting firms. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Accurate assessement of the human and ecological health risks from soils contaminated with heavy metals from pesticides, industrial waste is essential to avoid cost prohibitive solutions. Remediation costs associated with excavation and replacement of contaminated soil exceeding $15M per site are not uncommon. Accurate assessment requires meaurement of the form of contaminant (i.e. speciation) that causes harm to human health (i.e. bioavailability). This is the focus on OHO01068. We (N. Basta) are internationally recognized in development and implementation of bioavailability methods to assessment human health risk from contaminated soil. In 2012, we extended the results of our research to scientists, regulators, risk assessors, environmental professionals, and policy makers at national and international meetings and by publication of results in peer reviewed scientific journals. An international symposium with leading scientists from the USA (us, USEPA)EU, Australia, and Canada was organized. I also delivered three invited presentations in Nanjing, China to extend our research methods (described above). These presentations were delivered to the Nanjing University and the Chinese Academy of Science Institute of Soil Science.

Publications

  • Richards, J.R., J.L. Schroder, H. Zhang, N.T. Basta, Y. Wang, and M.E. Payton (2012). Trace elements in benchmark soils of Oklahoma. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. in press. doi: 10.2136/sssaj2012.0100.
  • Sullivan, T.S., Gottel, N.T., Basta, N., Jardine, P.J3, and C.W. Schadt (2012). Firing range soils yield a diverse array of fungal isolates capable of Pb-mineral solubilization. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 78(17): 6078-6086.
  • Sloan, J.J., P.A.Y. Ampim, N.T. Basta, and R. Scott (2012). Addressing the need for soil blends and amendments for the highly modified urban landscape. SSSAJ. 76:1133-1141.
  • Richard P. Dick, Qin Wu, Nicholas T. Basta. 2012. Biomethylation of Arsenic in Contaminated Soils. In M.H. Wong (ed.) Environmental Contamination,Health Risks and Ecological Restoration. CRC Press. Taylor & Francis Group, Oxon UK.
  • Dawn Busalacchi, Nicholas Basta, Lakhwinder Hundal, Jennifer Tvergyak, Roman Lanno and Richard P. Dick. 2012. Evaluation of Biosolids for Ecological Restoration of Degraded Soil: A Field Study. Presentation 318-2, ASA, CSSA, and Soil Science Society International Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, OH. Oct. 21 to 24, 2012.
  • Nicholas Basta, Shane D. Whitacre, Kirk Scheckel, Bradley Miller and Stan Casteel. 2012. Assessing Oral Human Bioavailability of Arsenic in Soil with in Vitro Gastrointestinal Methods. Presentation 409-8, ASA, CSSA, and Soil Science Society International Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, OH. Oct. 21 to 24, 2012.
  • Alpers,C.N., V.L. Mitchell, N.T. Basta, S.W. Casteel, A.L. Foster, A.E. Blum, C.S. Kim, P. Myers, T.L. Burlak, and L. Hammersley. 2012. Evaluating the Bioavailability, Bioaccessibility, Mineralogy, and Speciation of Arsenic in Mine Waste and Soils, Empire Mine Low-sulfide Gold-quartz Vein Deposit, Nevada County, California. U.S. EPA Hardrock Mining Conference 2012: Advancing Solutions for a New Legacy. Denver, CO. Apr 3-5, 2012.
  • Mitchell, Alpers, Basta, Casteel, Foster, Kim, Naught, Myers. 2012. Alternative Methods for the Prediction of Relative Bioavailability of Arsenic in Mining Soils. Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA. March 11-15, 2012.
  • Shane D. Whitacre, Nicholas Basta, Valerie Mitchell and Perry Myers, 2012. Bioavailability Measures for Arsenic in Gold Mine Tailings. Presentation 412-1, ASA, CSSA, and Soil Science Society International Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, OH. Oct. 21 to 24, 2012.
  • Jamie Richey, Nicholas Basta and Shane D. Whitacre. 2012. The Influence of the Physicochemical Parameters of An in Vitro Gastrointestinal Method On the Bioaccessibility of Arsenic and Other Trace Elements in Contaminated Soils. Presentation 412-2, ASA, CSSA, and Soil Science Society International Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, OH. Oct. 21 to 24, 2012.
  • Bartens, Julia, Nick Basta, Sally Brown, Craig Cogger, Bruce Dvorak, Britt Faucette, Peter Groffman, Ganga Hettairachchi, Kristen McIvor, Richard Pouyat, Gurpal Toor, and James Urban. 2012. Soils in the Cities: A look at Urban Soils. CSA News Magazine August Cover Story Publication (official magazine for members of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America), SSSA, Madison, WI. https://www.soils.org/files/publications/csa-news/soils-in-the-city.p df
  • Kuhuk Sharma, Priyanka Yadav, Zhiqiang Cheng, Nicholas Basta and Parwinder S. Grewal. 2012. Heavy metal contamination in two post-industrial cities. OARDC Annual Research Forum, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. April, 2012.
  • Basta, N.T. and E.A. Dayton. 2012. Chemical controls of P in the soil. Soil and Water Conservation Society Ohio Chapter Winter Meeting. Reynoldsburg, OH. Jan. 17, 2012.


Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The following 16 events: Alternative Methods for the Prediction of Relative Bioavailability of Arsenic in Mining Soils. Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA. March 11-15, 2011. Mechanisms and Permance of Sequestered Pb and As in Soils: Impact on Human Bioavailability. Partners in Environmental Technology Technical Symposium & Workshop, Washington, DC. Nov. 29 to Dec 1, 2011. Firing Range Soils Yield a Diverse Fungal Community Capable of Pb-Mineral Solubilization and Organic Acid Secretion. Partners in Environmental Technology Technical Symposium & Workshop, Washington, DC. Nov. 29 to Dec 1, 2011. Assessing Arsenic Exposure in Soil and Mining Waste Rock by In Vitro Gastrointestinal and Soil Chemical Methods. National Association of Abandoned Mine Land Programs Annual Meeting, Squaw Creek, CA October 11-13, 2011. Use of in Vitro or Soil Property Models to Assess Toxic Metal Bioavailability in Soil: Validation to Support Regulatory Acceptance. 2011. The 4th International Contaminated Site Remediation Conference, Adelaide, Australia, September 11-15, 2011. In Vitro Gastrointestinal Bioaccessibility Methods to Assess Metal(Loid) Bioavailability and Risk from Soil Ingestion . 6th International Workshop on Chemical Bioavailability in the Terrestrial Environment , Adelaide, Australia. September 7-9, 2011. Pedicting Arsenic Bioavailability in Contaminated Soils Using Bioaccessibility or Soil Properties. 11th International Conference for Trace Element Biogeochemistry (ICOBTE), Florence, Italy. July 3-7, 2011. Using Agricultural Soil Tests to Estimate Total and Bioaccessible Pb in Urban Soils. 11th International Conference for Trace Element Biogeochemistry (ICOBTE), Florence, Italy. July 3-7, 2011. Soil Controls on Arsenic Bioaccessibility: Arsenic Fractions and Soil Properties. 1th International Conference for Trace Element Biogeochemistry (ICOBTE), Florence, Italy. July 3-7, 2011. Asessment, Remediation and Revitalization (R&R) of Urban Soils. Rediscovering the Rhizosphere Workshop. Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District, Independence, OH. May 24, 2011. The Role of Iron in the Reduced Bioavailability of Arsenic in Soil. Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting, Washington, DC. March 6-10, 2011. Requisites of Soil Contaminant Bioaccessibility Methods. Bioavailability Research Group of Canada Workshop, Toronto, Canada. February 23-24, 2011. agnetotactic Bacteria Containing Phosphorus-Rich Inclusion Bodies. Presented at Microscopy Society of America Microscopy and Microanalysis 2011 Annual Meeting. Nashville, Tennessee. Using Atomic Force Microscopy to Study Mineral-Microbe Interactions. Presented at 2011 Materials Research Society Spring Meting, to Materials Research Society. San Francisco, California. The Ohio State University. Columbus, Ohio. PARTICIPANTS: Partners: Dr. Kirk Scheckel (USEPA NRMRL); Dr. Karen Bradham (USEPA NERL); Dr. David Thomas (USEPA NHREEL); Dr. Mark Failla (The Ohio State University); Dr. Rufus Chaney (USDA ARS); Dr. Chris Schadt (Oak Ridge National Laboratory); Dr. Philip Jardine (University of Tennessee). Training: Kristin Minca, Environment and Natural Science M.S. degree granted TARGET AUDIENCES: County Extension agents focused on urban soil and urban agriculture PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Change in knowledge in two areas of the project. 1. Urban redevelopment has created vacant land in many old industrial cities including Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and other smaller cities in Ohio . Use of urban land for agricultural use (i.e., gardening) involves high amounts of exposure to the soil. Vacant land reuse opportunities include (1) urban agriculture/gardening, that improves the availability of healthy, fresh foods, will improve nutrition and health of residents and (2) creation of parks, playgrounds and other commons. Soil contamination with lead presents the greatest challenge to vacant land reuse. However, most urban soils are not tested for Pb because of the high costs (>$150/soil) associated with sampling and analysis. One urban site could easily cost $10,000 for only Pb testing. We report a very inexpensive widely available soil test ($<10/soil) can be used to cost effective methods are needed to determine risk from legacy soil contaminant and to allow decision makers to determine suitability of vacant land for urban agriculture. This agricultural soil test is routinely used to determine fertilizer needs. Our research shows it can be extended to assessment of lead in urban soils. Inexpensive soil testing for Pb will remove a barrier to reuse of vacant urban land and food production from urban agriculture. We expect our findings will lead to widespread adoption of this soil test for lead assessment throughout North America and elsewhere. 2. We successfully purified three novel proteins from a magnetotactic bacteria. This will enable other scientists who are studying mineral biomineralization to use this technique to clone genes and purify proteins for their research. We also successfully isolated a magnetotactic bacteria from a geothermal spring in Oregon. This is the first time that such an organism was isolated from a geothermal spring. This discovery demonstrates that these microbes inhabit hyperthermic aquatic ecosystems and encourages the exploration for other species of magnetotactic bacteria in other "extreme" environments.

Publications

  • Steven K. Lower, Nadia Casillas-Ituarte, Supaporn Lamlertthon, Roberto Lins, Ruchirej Yongsunthon, Eric Taylor, Alex DiBartola, Catherine Edmonson, Lauren McIntyre, Brian H. Lower, and Vance Fowler. 2011. Polymorphisms in fibronectin binding protein A of Staphylococcus aureus are associated with infection of cardiovascular devices, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 108:18372-18377.
  • Schadt, Chris, Tarah Sullivan-Guest, Nicholas Basta, Phillip Jardine. 2011. Firing Range Soils Yield a Diverse Fungal Community Capable of Pb-Mineral Solubilization and Organic Acid Secretion. Partners in Environmental Technology Technical Symposium & Workshop Washington, DC. Nov. 29 to Dec 1, 2011.
  • Basta, N.T., S.D. Whitacre, Valerie Mitchell, and Perry Myers. 2011. Assessing Arsenic Exposure in Soil and Mining Waste Rock by In Vitro Gastrointestinal and Soil Chemical Methods. National Association of Abandoned Mine Land Programs Annual Meeting, Squaw Creek, CA October 11-13, 2011.
  • Basta, Nicholas, Elizabeth Dayton, Shane Whitacre, Philip Jardine, Stan Casteel, and Amy Hawkins. Use of in Vitro or Soil Property Models to Assess Toxic Metal Bioavailability in Soil: Validation to Support Regulatory Acceptance. 2011. The 4th International Contaminated Site Remediation Conference, Adelaide, Australia, September 11 to 15, 2011.
  • Basta, N.T. 2011. In Vitro Gastrointestinal Bioaccessibility Methods to Assess Metal(Loid) Bioavailability and Risk from Soil Ingestion . 6th International Workshop on Chemical Bioavailability in the Terrestrial Environment , Adelaide, Australia. September 7-9, 2011
  • Basta, N.T., S. D. Whitacre, E. A. Dayton, P. M. Jardine, J. S. Richey, S.W. Casteel, and A.L. Hawkins. 2011. Predicting Arsenic Bioavailability in Contaminated Soils Using Bioaccessibility or Soil Properties. 11th International Conference for Trace Element Biogeochemistry (ICOBTE), Florence, Italy. July 3-7, 2011.
  • Minca, K.K., N.T. Basta, M. Taggart, and M. Barni. 2011. Using Agricultural Soil Tests to Estimate Total and Bioaccessible Pb in Urban Soils. 11th International Conference for Trace Element Biogeochemistry (ICOBTE), Florence, Italy. July 3-7, 2011.
  • Whitacre, S.D., N.T. Basta, and E.A. Dayton. 2011. Soil Controls on Arsenic Bioaccessibility. Arsenic Fractions and Soil Properties. . 11th International Conference for Trace Element Biogeochemistry (ICOBTE), Florence, Italy. July 3-7, 2011.
  • Basta, N.T. 2011. Assessment, Remediation and Revitalization (R&R) of Urban Soils. Rediscovering the Rhizosphere Workshop. Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District, Independence, OH. May 24, 2011.
  • Mitchell, Alpers, Basta, Burlak, Casteel, Fears, Foster, Kim, Myers, Petersen. 2011. The Role of Iron in the Reduced Bioavailability of Arsenic in Soil. 2011. Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting, Washington, DC. March 6-10, 2011.
  • Basta, N.T. 2011. Requisites of Soil Contaminant Bioaccessibility Methods. Bioavailability Research Group of Canada Workshop, Toronto, Canada. February 23-24, 2011.
  • Brian H. Lower and Steven K. Lower. 2011. Force Spectroscopy of Mineral-Microbe Bonds. In Life at the Nanoscale: Atomic Force Microscopy of Live Cells, p. 301-316. Edited by Yves F. Dufrene. Singapore: Pan Stanford Publishing Pte Ltd.
  • Wragg, J., Mark Cave, Helen Taylor, Nick Basta, Esther Brandon, Stan Casteel, Sebastien Denys, Christian Gron, Agnes Oomen, Kenneth Reimer, Karine Tack and Tom Van de Wiele. 2011. An Inter-laboratory Trial of the Unified BARGE Bioaccessibility Method for Arsenic, Cadmium and Lead in Soil. Sci. Total Environ. 409:4016-4030.
  • Richard P. Dick, Qin Wu, Nicholas T. Basta. 2012. Biomethylation of Arsenic in Contaminated Soils. In M.H. Wong (ed.) Environmental Contamination Health Risks and Ecological Restoration. Taylor & Francis Group, Oxon UK. (in press).
  • Mitchell, Alpers, Basta, Casteel, Foster, Kim, Naught, Myers. 2012. Alternative Methods for the Prediction of Relative Bioavailability of Arsenic in Mining Soils. Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA. March11-15, 2011.
  • Basta, N., K. Scheckel, K. Bradham, D. Thomas, M. Failla, R. Chaney, C. Schadt, and P. Jardine. 2011. Mechanisms and Permance of Sequestered Pb and As in Soils: Impact on Human Bioavailability. Partners in Environmental Technology Technical Symposium & Workshop, Washington, DC. Nov. 29 to Dec 1, 2011.
  • Nadia N. Casillas-Ituarte, Brian H. Lower, Supaporn Lamlertthon, Vance G. Fowler and Steven K. Lower. 2011. Dissociation rate constants of human fibronectin binding to fibronectin-binding proteins on living Staphylococcus aureus isolated from clinical patients, Journal of Biological Chemistry.


Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The following 10 events: Brian H. Lower (December 3, 2010 - Invited Presentation). "Biogeochemistry on a Molecular Scale." School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada. Lijun Chen and Brian H. Lower (September 1-4, 2010). "Using Single- Molecule Atomic Force Microscopy to Study Magnetite Biomineralization in Magnetotactic Bacteria. "The Second International Symposium on Magnetotactic Bacteria and Biomineralization, Beijing, China. N. T. Basta. 2010. Mechanisms and Permanence of Sequestered Pb and As in Soils: Impact on Human Bioavailability. Partners in Environmental Technology Technical Symposium & Workshop sponsored by Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) and Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), Washington, DC. Nov. 30 to Dec 2, 2010. N. T. Basta. 2010. Predicting Trace Element Bioavailability in Contaminated Soils. . Presentation 304-5, ASA, CSSA, and Soil Science Society International Annual Meeting, Long Beach, CA. Oct. 31 to Nov. 4, 2010. N. T. Basta. 2010. Urban Soil Contaminant Assessment: Important Human Exposure Pathways. Brownfields & Urban Agricultural Reuse Midwest Summit. Chicago, IL, October 21- 22, 2010. N. T. Basta. 2010. Urban Soil Contaminant Assessment: Important Human Exposure Pathways. Brownfields & Urban Agriculture Webinar. October 7, 2010. N. T. Basta. 2010. Assessing Soil's Ability to Reduce Human Exposure to Urban Contaminants: Lead and Arsenic. 2010 North Central Regional Soil Survey Conference, Columbus, OH., June 14-17, 2010. N. T. Basta. 2010. Lead in Urban Soil - Remediation Potential of Phosphorus Sources by Chemical Immobilization. Water Management Association of Ohio (WMAO) 2010 Fall Conference, Columbus, OH Nov. 17-18, 2010. N. T. Basta. 2010. Urban Gardening and Soil Lead: Assessment and Solutions. Horticulture and Crop Sciences Seminar. The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. May 28, 2010 N. T. Basta. 2010. Assessing Risks from Exposure to Soil Arsenic. College of Veterinary Medicine. The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. May 12, 2010. The following two services: EMSL User Advisory Committee. Government. U.S. Department of Energy, Environmental Molecular Science Laboratory. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Richland, Washington, USA. EMSL Geochemistry, Biogeochemistry & Subsurface Science Review Panel. Government. U.S. Department of Energy, Environmental Molecular Science Laboratory. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Richland, Washington, USA. August 12-14, 2009. The following new collaborations: Dr. Dennis Bazylinski from UNLV to study biomineralization. Dr. Brian Lower was awarded a three-year, $404,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to study the molecular mechanism of nanomagnetite synthesis in bacteria. Dr. Chris W. Schadt, Oak Ridge National Laborator, Dr. David J. Thomas, USEPA NHREEL and Dr. Mark L. Failla, The Ohio State University. There are co-PI with me on a new $1.6 M 3-yr grant from the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) entitled "Mechanisms and Permanence of Sequestered Pb and As in Soils: Impact on Human Bioavailability." PARTICIPANTS: Brian H. Lower, Assistant Professor, The Ohio State University; Steven K. Lower, Associate Professor, The Ohio State University, PI; N.T. Basta, Professor, The Ohio State University; Lijun Chen, PhD student, The Ohio State University, student researcher; Lumarie Perez-Guzman, MS student, The Ohio State University, student researcher; Zachery Oestreicher, PhD student, The Ohio State University, student researcher. Dennis Bazylinski, Professor/Director, UNLV, Co-PI; Shane Whitacre, Research Associate II, The Ohio State University; Dr. Kirk G. Scheckel, USEPA NRMRL; Dr. Philip M. Jardine, Dr. Chris W. Schadt, Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Dr. Karen Bradham, USEPA NERL; Dr. David J. Thomas, USEPA NHREEL; Dr. Mark L. Failla, OSU; Dr. Rufus L. Chaney, USDA ARS; Dr. T. Van deWiele, University of Ghent, Belgium. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include, (1) scientific community, (2)federal,state, and municipal government agencies, (3) community groups and organizations. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
Change in knowledge in two areas of the project. A new novel method was developed for cloning genes from magnetotactic bacteria. We successfully cloned three genes (mms5, mms7, and mms13) from a magnetotactic bacteria. This will enable other scientists who are studying mineral biomineralization to use this technique to clone genes for their research. We also successfully isolated a magnetotactic bacteria from the Olentangy River in Columbus, Ohio. To my knowledge, this is the first time that such an organism was isolated from this river. This discovery demonstrates that these microbes inhabit freshwater ecosystems in Ohio and encourages the exploration for other species of magnetotactic bacteria in other Ohio watersheds. Deindustrialization of urban areas in the past two decades has resulted in a large amount of vacant land. Several cities in Ohio and elsewhere have established stabilization projects to facilitate the redevelopment of vacant urban land. Vacant land reuse opportunities include (1) urban agriculture/gardening, that improves the availability of healthy, fresh foods, will improve nutrition and health of residents and (2) creation of parks, playgrounds and other commons. Soil contamination with metal(loid)s (i.e., lead, arsenic) and organic chemical contaminants (i.e., polyaromatic hydrocarbons) presents the greatest challenge to vacant land reuse. Cost effective methods are needed to determine risk from legacy soil contaminant and to allow decision makers to determine suitability of vacant land for urban agriculture. Inexpensive laboratory methods developed under this CRIS can meet that need by providing accurate assessment of risk from soil contaminants in urban soils.

Publications

  • Basta, N., E. Dayton, C. Holloman, S. Whitacre, S. Casteel, P. Jardine, T. Melhorn and A. Hawkins. 2010. Predicting Trace Element Bioavailability in Contaminated Soils. Presentation 304-5,ASA, CSSA, and Soil Science Society International Annual Meeting, Long Beach, CA. Oct. 31 to Nov. 4, 2010.
  • Basta, N., K. Scheckel, K. Bradham, D. Thomas, M. Failla, R. Chaney, C. Schadt, and P. Jardine. 2010. Mechanisms and Permance of Sequestered Pb and As in Soils: Impact on Human Bioavailability. Partners in Environmental Technology Technical Symposium & Workshop sponsored by Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program and Environmental Security Technology Certification Program, Washington, DC. Nov. 30 to Dec 2, 2010.
  • Basta, N.T. 2010. Assessing Soil Ability to Reduce Human Exposure to Urban Contaminants: Lead and Arsenic. 2010 North Central Regional Soil Survey Conference, Columbus, OH., June 14-17, 2010.
  • Basta, N.T. 2010. Urban Soil Contaminant Assessment: Important Human Exposure Pathways. Brownfields & Urban Agricultural Reuse Midwest Summit. Chicago, IL, October 21- 22, 2010.
  • Betts, A., and N.T. Basta. 2010. Lead in Urban Soil: Remediation Potential of Phosphorus Sources by Chemical Immobilization. Water Management Association of Ohio (WMAO) 2010 Fall Conference, Columbus, OH Nov. 17-18, 2010.
  • Brian H. Lower (2010). Antibody recognition force microscopy (Ig-RFM) to identify and map the nanoscale distribution of protein molecules on the surface of live microorganisms. In Microscopy: Science, Technology, Applications and Education. Edited by A. Mendez-Vilas and J. Diaz. Badajoz, Spain: Formatex Research Center.
  • Mitchell, V., Alpers, C., Basta, N., Berry, D. , Christopher J., Fears R., Foster, A., Kim, C, Myers, P., and B. Parsons. 2010. Identifying Predictors for Bioavailability of Arsenic in Soil at Mining Sites. Society of Toxicology 49th Annual Meeting & ToxExpo, Salt Lake City, UT, Mar 7-11, 2010
  • Hale B., N. Basta, C. Boreiko, T. Bowers, B. Locey, M. Moore, M. Moutiere, L. Ritter, E. Smolders, I. Schoeters, and S. Tao. 2010. Variation in soil quality criteria for trace elements to protect human health exposure and effects estimation. p. 81-122. In: Merrington G, Schoeters I, (ed.) Soil quality standards for trace elements: Derivation, Implementation, and Interpretation. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. ISBN 978-1-4398-3023-9. 184 p.
  • Lijun Chen, Dennis A. Bazylinski and Brian H. Lower (2010). Bacteria that Synthesize Nano-sized Compasses to Navigate Earth. Nature Education Knowledge. 1(10):14.
  • Lumarie Perez-Guzman, Kyle R. Bogner and Brian H. Lower (2010). Earth's Ferrous Wheel. Nature Education Knowledge. 1(10):8.
  • Steven K. Lower, Ruchirej Yongsunthon, Alex C. DiBartola, Brian H. Lower, Andrew W. Buck and Vance G. Fowler (2010). A Tactile Response in Staphylococcus aureus. Biophysical Journal. 99(9): 2803-2811.
  • Van de Wiele, T., Christina M. Gallawa, Kevin M. Kubachka, John T. Creed, Nicholas Basta, Elizabeth A. Dayton, Shane Whitacre, Gijs Du Laing, and Karen Bradham. 2010. Arsenic metabolism by human gut microbiota upon in vitro digestion of contaminated soils. Environ. Health Perspect. 118(7): 1004-1009.
  • Venteris, E. R., N.T. Basta,, and R. Rea. 2010. Spatial prediction of arsenic background concentrations in soil, Ohio, U.S.A.: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 42, no. 2, p. 95. Geological Society of America,North-Central Section (44th Annual) and South-Central Section (44th Annual) Joint Meeting, April 11-13,2010.


Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities included conducting and analyzing experiments for objective 1 "To determine the ability of chemical speciation methods that measure heavy metal bioavailability, to estimate ecotoxicity of contaminated soil" and objective 2 "To determine (1) the effect of soil chemical properties on chemical speciation and heavy metal bioavailability in contaminated soil and (2) the ability of soil chemical properties to define ecotoxicity categories in development of Ecological Soil Screening Levels. Specifically, we conducted and analyzed experiments focused on application of statistical methods to determine which soil properties control metal bioavailability to plant ecological receptors. Dr. Brian Lower and an international team developed and applied a new technique called antibody-recognition force microscopy. Based on the proteins they suspected they would find, the researchers put protein-matching antibodies at the tip of a probe. Then, they used the probe to scan the surfaces of individual Shewanella. When the antibodies found a match, a microscope zeroed in and took high-resolution images. This high impact development was reported in scientific news releases by the Discovery Channel News, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, MSNBC News, Department of Energy News,and the Columbus Dispatch. Our events included delivery of 8 invited presentations to international scientific meetings, national meetings, and state and local audiences. We also organized the symposium "Metals Bioavailability in Mining and Urban Environments," at the 2009 Annual National Meeting of the American Society of Agronomy, the Soil Science Society of America, and the Crop Science Society of America, Pittsburgh, PA, Nov. 1-5, 2009. Organizers: K.G. Scheckel and N.T. Basta. Other significant presentations were delivered at the following international and national meetings: Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) and Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), Washington, DC. Dec 1-3, 2009; Ecotoxicology Technical Advisory Panel, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. August 19-21, 2009; Third International Contaminated Site Remediation Conference, Adelaide South Australia. September 27-30, 2009 (presentation delivered by R. Chaney); Electric Power Research Institute Arsenic Working Group, Pensacola, FL. December 3, 2009. My graduate student, S.D. Whitacre, matriculated with his M.S. in Soil Science in 2009. Mr. Whitacre's thesis was entitled "Soil controls on arsenic bioaccessibility: Arsenic fractions and soil properties." PARTICIPANTS: Dr. N.T. Basta, Dr. B.H. Lower, School of Environment and Natural Resources, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. Dr. Kirk Scheckel, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Risk Management Research Laboratory Cincinnati, OH. Dr. Karen Bradham, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Exposure Research Laboratory Research Triangle Park, NC. Dr. R.P. Lanno, Dept. of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. Dr. E.A. Dayton, School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audienced include scientists, environmental regulators (federal and state), and environmental consultants. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
Understanding microbe-mineral electron exchange is important to developing enhanced bioremediation methods for contaminated environments. Dr. Lower identified and located two proteins that give certain bacteria the power to detoxify dangerous metals, including uranium, chromium and technetium. Lower and colleagues studied a commonly occurring soil bacterium called Shewanella oneidensis. Lower's team used a new technique called antibody-recognition force microscopy. The images confirmed what the scientists had expected to find: Both of the proteins they looked for were there. This exploratory basic research opens up the possibility that scientists may be able to use Shewanella for soil and water remediation by produce proteins that remediate contaminated sites. Accurate environmental assessment of contaminants in soils is critical to evaluate whether expensive remediation of contaminated soil is necessary. Soil properties can mitigate hazardous effects of contaminants through soil chemical sequestration and should be considered when evaluating ecological risk from terrestrial contamination. We report a novel statistical approach, the use of ridge regression to quantify the ability of soil to sequester contaminants and reduce phytotoxicity. Measurement of key soil properties followed by ridge regression can be used to determine whether site soil remediation is necessary. Our research results show use of ridge regression provides a measure of the relative contribution of each soil property in modifying toxic metal (lead, cadmium, arsenic, and zinc) bioavailability and toxicity. The results from this project support risk assessors with tools to make better initial estimates of contaminated soil risk and determine whether any further assessment is warranted. Remediation costs associated with excavation and replacement of contaminated soil exceeding $10,000,000 per site are not uncommon. Use of soil properties to adjust risk may eliminate unnecessary soil remediation action and result in large remedial cost savings. In 2009, we extended the results of our research to scientists, regulators, risk assessors, environmental professionals, and policy makers at national and international meetings and by publication of our new ridge regression technique in high impact scientific journals.

Publications

  • Scheckel, K.G., R.L. Chaney, N.T. Basta and J.A. Ryan. 2009. Advances in Assessing Bioavailability of metal(loid)s in Contaminated Soils. Adv. Agron. 107:10-52.
  • Anderson, R.H., N.T. Basta. 2009. Application of Ridge Regression to Determine the Effect of Soil Properties on Phytotoxicity of As, Cd, Pb, and Zn in Soil. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 28:1018-1027. Published Online: December 2, 2008. http://www.setacjournals.org/perlserv/request=get-abstract&doi=10.18 97%2F08-062.1
  • Anderson, R.H., and N.T. Basta. 2009. Application of Ridge Regression to Quantify Marginal Effects of Collinear Soil Properties on Phytoaccumulation of As, Cd, Pb, and Zn. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 28:619-628. Published Online: November 3, 2008. http://www.setacjournals.org/perlserv/request=get-abstract&doi=10.18 97%2F08-186.1
  • Steven K. Lower. 2009. Antibody-Recognition Force Microscopy shows that Outer Membrane Cytochromes OmcA and MtrC are Expressed on the Exterior Surface of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. Vol. 75: 2931-2935.
  • Saumyaditya Bose, Michael F. Hochella Jr., Yuri A. Gorby, David W. Kennedy, Dave E. McCready, Andrew Madden, and Brian H. Lower. 2009. Bioreduction of Hematite Nanoparticles by the Dissimilatory Iron Reducing Bacterium Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. Vol. 73: 962-976.
  • Hawkins, Amy, Nick Basta, Elizabeth Dayton, Roman Lanno, Mark Barnett, Phil Jardine, Stan Casteel, and Kaye Savage. 2009. Soil Properties, Metal Bioavailability and Risk Assessment. Partners in Environmental Technology Technical Symposium & Workshop sponsored by Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) and Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), Washington, DC. Dec 1-3, 2009.
  • Nicholas T. Basta, Karen D. Bradham, Kirk G. Scheckel, and David J. Thomas. 2009. Assessing Arsenic Bioavailability in Soil When in Vitro Gastrointestinal Methods Are the Only Option. Presentation 126-4, Soil Science Society Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA. Nov. 1-5, 2009.
  • Shane D. Whitacre, Nicholas T. Basta and Elizabeth A. Dayton. 2009. Soil Controls on Arsenic Bioaccessibility: Arsenic Fractions and Soil Properties. Presentation 208-2. Soil Science Society Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA. Nov. 1-5, 2009.
  • Donahue, Rona J., Yue, Ziming, and Nicholas Basta. 2009. Mobility and Bioaccessibility of Arsenic in Contaminated Soils. Paper 70-11. Geological Soc. of America Annual Meeting , Portland, OR. October 18-21, 2009.
  • Rufus L. Chaney, Kirk G. Scheckel, Nicholas T. Basta and James A. Ryan. 2009. Progress in Understanding Element Bioavailability and Bioaccessibility in Soils. Third International Contaminated Site Remediation Conference, Adelaide South Australia. September 27-30, 2009.
  • Basta, N.T., E.A. Dayton, S.D. Whitacre. 2009. Characterization of feedstocks and candidate mulches for the development of a new mulch product for The Scotts Company. Final Report. OARDC SEEDS.
  • Columbus Dispatch, April 5, 2009 Sunday Edition Science Article titled "Tricking Toxins". http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/science/stories/2009/04/05/sci_t oxbacteria.ART_ART_04-05-09_G3_QKDEBCE.htmlsid=101
  • Discovery Channel News, online news article, March 27, 2009 titled "Microbes' Toxic Metal-Digestion Secret Revealed". http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/03/27/bacteria-uranium.html
  • MSNBC News Article, March 27, 2009 titled "Microbes digest, detoxify dangerous metals". http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29915669
  • Department of Energy News Article for May 2009 titled "Tips for Nanomapping". http://www.emsl.pnl.gov/news/highlights/lower20090601.pdf
  • Pacific Northwest National Laboratory June 2009 News Article titled "Breathing, Bacterium's Role in Remediation". http://www.pnl.gov/science/highlights/highlight.aspid=616


Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities included conducting and analyzing experiments for objective 1 "To determine the ability of chemical speciation methods that measure heavy metal bioavailability, to estimate ecotoxicity of contaminated soil." Specifically, we conducted and analyzed experiments focused on the ability of in vitro gastrointestinal methods to predict oral bioavailability and exposure to arsenic in contaminated soil. We also conducted research and analyzed experiments for project objective 2, "To determine the effect of soil chemical properties on chemical speciation and heavy metal bioavailability in contaminated soil and the ability of soil chemical properties to define ecotoxicity categories in development of Ecological Soil Screening Levels." Specifically, we conducted and analyzed experiments focused on application of statistical methods to determine which soil properties control metal bioavailability to plant ecological receptors. Our events included delivery of 17 invited presentations, including keynote presentations, at 3 international scientific meetings and 4 national meetings to large audiences. We organized two international symposia "Emerging Approaches for Evaluating the Effect of Soil Properties on Metal Bioavailability and Ecotoxicity," and "Advances in Contaminant Bioaccessibility Methodology for Human Health Risk Assessment from Ingestion of Contaminated Soil," which were held at the Society of Toxicology and Environmental Chemistry 5th World Congress in Sydney, Australia August 3-7, 2008. We delivered 8 invited presentations at the SETAC World Congress in Sydney. We also organized the symposium ""Urban Geochemistry and Associated Human and Ecological Health Issues," held at the Joint Meeting of the Society of Soil Science Society of America and The Geological Society of America in Houston, TX Oct. 5-9, 2008. Our symposia had audiences ranging between 200 to 300 people. Other significant presentations were delivered at the following international and national meetings: Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) and Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), Washington, DC. Dec 2-4, 2008; Superfund Basic Research Program Bioavailability Workshop: Assessing Bioavailability as a Determinant of Pollutant Exposure: Building a Multidisciplinary Paradigm for the 21st Century and Beyond. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Tampa, FL, Feb. 19-21, 2008; SERDP and ESTCP workshop on research and development needs for understanding and assessing the bioavailability of contaminants in soils and sediments, Annapolis, MD, Aug. 20-21, 2008; Bioavailability Research Group of Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Sept. 18-19, 2008; Society of Toxicology and Environmental Chemistry, North America 29th Annual Meeting, Milwaukee, WI, Nov. 16-20, 2008. My graduate student, R.H. Anderson, matriculated with his Ph.D. in Soil Science in 2008. Dr. Anderson Ph.D. dissertation was entitled "Soil physical and chemical property effects on toxicity and bioaccumulation of As (V), Cd, Pb, and Zn by herbaceous plant receptors." PARTICIPANTS: Dr. N.T. Basta, School of Environment and Natural Resources, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. Dr. Kirk Scheckel, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Risk Management Research Laboratory Cincinnati, OH. Dr. Karen Bradham, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Exposure Research Laboratory Research Triangle Park, NC. Dr. R.P. Lanno, Dept. of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. Dr. E.A. Dayton, School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audienced include scientists, environmental regulators (federal and state), and environmental consultants. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
Accurate environmental assessment of contaminants in soils is critical to evaluate whether expensive remediation of contaminated soil is necessary. Soil properties can mitigate hazardous effects of contaminants through soil chemical sequestration and should be considered when evaluating ecological risk from terrestrial contamination. We report a novel statistical approach, the use of ridge regression to quantify the ability of soil to sequester contaminants and reduce phytotoxicity. Measurement of key soil properties followed by ridge regression can be used to determine whether site soil remediation is necessary. Our research results show use of ridge regression provides a measure of the relative contribution of each soil property in modifying toxic metal (lead, cadmium, arsenic, and zinc) bioavailability and toxicity. The results from this project support risk assessors with tools to make better initial estimates of contaminated soil risk and determine whether any further assessment is warranted. Remediation costs associated with excavation and replacement of contaminated soil exceeding $10,000,000 per site are not uncommon. Use of soil properties to adjust risk may eliminate unnecessary soil remediation action and result in large remedial cost savings. In 2008, we extended the results of our research to scientists, regulators, risk assessors, environmental professionals, and policy makers at national and international meetings and by publication of our new ridge regression technique in high impact scientific journals. Incidental ingestion of soil contaminated with toxic metals (lead, arsenic) is often the "risk driver" for human health risk assessment. Soil has the ability to sequester toxic metals contaminants making them less bioavailable thereby reducing the risk they pose to human via the soil ingestion exposure pathway. In vitro gastrointestinal (IVG) methods have been developed to provide an expedient and inexpensive means to estimate bioavailability of arsenic and other contaminants from ingestion of contaminated soil. Our research has led to the development and implementation of the Ohio State University in vitro gastrointestinal (OSU IVG) test. The OSU IVG has met the USEPA requirement that an IVG method used for human health risk assessments be correlated with an acceptable in vivo model. In 2008, we extended the results of our research to scientists, regulators, risk assessors, environmental professionals, and policy makers at national and international meetings and by publication of our new ridge regression technique in high impact scientific journals. We also had two news releases of our OSU IVG test. Our research has advanced the acceptance of these inexpensive tests as an ecosystem service that provides accurate site environmental assessment. Our research and collaboration with international scientific and regulatory bodies including the Bioavailability Research Group Europe and Bioavailability Research Group of Canada has advanced development and implementation of IVG methods in Canada, the EU, and Australia.

Publications

  • Shuo, Y., H. Anderson, N. Basta, and R.P. Lanno. Factors affecting the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) for cadmium by earthworms: A literature review. Society of Toxicology and Environmental Chemistry, North America 29th Annual Meeting, Milwaukee, WI, Nov. 16-20, 2008.
  • Anderson, R.H., N.T. Basta, and R.P. Lanno. (2008). Using a Plant Contaminant Sensitivity Index to Quantify the Effects of Soil Properties on Arsenate Phytotoxicity. J. Environ. Qual. 37 :1701-1709.
  • Christopher M. Hurdzan, Nicholas T. Basta, Patrick G. Hatcher, and Olli H. Tuovinen. (2008). Phenanthrene Release from Natural Organic Matter Surrogates under Simulated Human Gastrointestinal Conditions. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 69(3):525-530.
  • Beak, Douglas G., Basta, Nicholas T., Scheckel, Kirk G., and Traina, Samuel J. (2008). Linking solid phase speciation of Pb sequestered to birnessite to Pb bioaccessibility and oral bioavailability. Environ. Sci. Technol. 42:779-785.
  • Basta, N.T., R.L. Chaney, and J.A. Ryan. 2008. Soil Element Bioavailability in Risk Assessment and Remediation of Contaminated Upland Soils (Keynote presentation). Partners in Environmental Technology Technical Symposium & Workshop sponsored by Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) and Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), Washington, DC. Dec 2-4, 2008
  • Venteris, E.R., R. Rea , J. M. Bigham, and N.T. Basta. 2008. Mapping Background Levels of Arsenic In Soil and Stream Sediments to Aid In the Determination of Regulations for Land Application of by-Products . Presentation 69-9. Tuesday, 7 October 2008. Joint Meeting of the Society of Soil Science Society of America and The Geological Society of America, Houston, TX, Oct. 5-9, 2008.
  • Basta, N.T., K.D. Bradham, and K.G. Scheckel. Assessing Arsenic Oral (Bio)Availability in Soil and Human Health Risk by Using In Vitro Gastrointestinal Methods . Presentation 71-8. Tuesday, 7 October 2008. Joint Meeting of the Society of Soil Science Society of America and The Geological Society of America, Houston, TX, Oct. 5-9, 2008.
  • Donahue, R.J., Y. Ziming, and N.T. Basta. 2008. Mobility and Bioaccessibility of Arsenic in Soil Contaminated by Arsenic Trioxide. Presentation 272-9. Tuesday, 7 October 2008. Joint Meeting of the Society of Soil Science Society of America and The Geological Society of America, Houston, TX, Oct. 5-9, 2008.
  • Basta, N.T. 2008. Bioaccessibility and Bioavailability Update: Developments and Musings on Recent Research/Activities in the USA. Bioavailability Research Group of Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Sept. 18-19, 2008
  • Chaney, R.L., N.T. Basta and J.A. Ryan. 2008. Element Bioavailability and Bioaccessibility in Soils: What is known now, and what are the significant data gaps SERDP and ESTCP workshop on research and development needs for understanding and assessing the bioavailability of contaminants in soils and sediments, Annapolis, MD, Aug. 20-21, 2008.
  • Anderson, R.H., N.T. Basta, and R.P. Lanno. 2008. Soil Properties and Ecological Risk Assessment of Arsenic Contaminated Soil: Phytotoxicity Adjustments using a Plant Contaminant Sensitivity Index. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 5th World Congress, Sydney, Australia, August 3-7, 2008.
  • Anderson, R.H., N.T. Basta, and R.P. Lanno. Novel Statistical Methods to Evaluate the Effect of Soil Properties on Metal Phytoavailability and Phytotoxicity. 2008. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 5th World Congress, Sydney, Australia, August 3-7, 2008.
  • Basta, N.T., E.A. Dayton, K.D. Bradham, R.P. Lanno, and S. Whitacre. 2008. Soil Chemical Methods to Quantify Metal Bioavailability and Exposure to Human and Ecological Receptors. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 5th World Congress, Sydney, Australia, August 3-7, 2008.
  • Basta, N.T., K.G. Scheckel, K.D. Bradham. 2008. Assessing Contaminant (Bio)availability in Soil when In vitro Gastrointestinal Methods are the Only Option. In Contaminant Bioaccessibility Methodology for Human Health Risk Assessment from Ingestion of Contaminated Soil, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 5th World Congress, Sydney, Australia, August 3-7, 2008.
  • Bradham, K.D., D. Thomas, N.Basta, K.Scheckel, T. Van de Wiele, M. Beringer, and A. Yeow. 2008. Bioavailability/Bioaccessibility Methodology for Use in Human Health Risk Assessment from Oral Ingestion of Contaminated Soil. In Contaminant Bioaccessibility Methodology for Human Health Risk Assessment from Ingestion of Contaminated Soil, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 5th World Congress, Sydney, Australia, August 3-7, 2008.
  • Van de Wiele, T., R. Diaz, S. Whitacre, K. Bradham, J. Creed, Richard Dick, and N. Basta. 2008. Oral Exposure To Metals And Metalloids: Do We Need To Include Intestinal Microbiota For Risk Assessment In Contaminant Bioaccessibility Methodology for Human Health Risk Assessment from Ingestion of Contaminated Soil, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 5th World Congress, Sydney, Australia, August 3-7, 2008.
  • Bradham, K. E.A. Dayton, N.T. Basta, and R. P. Lanno. 2008. Effect of Soil Properties on Metal Bioavailability and Toxicity. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 5th World Congress, Sydney, Australia, August 3-7, 2008.
  • Beak, D., N. Basta, K. Scheckel. 2008. The Use of In Vitro Methods and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy to Examine Mechanisms of Bioaccessibility. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 5th World Congress, Sydney, Australia, August 3-7, 2008.
  • Basta, N.T. and K.D. Bradham. 2008. Assessing Arsenic (Bio)availability in Soil and Human Health Risk by Using In Vitro Gastrointestinal Methods. Superfund Basic Research Program Bioavailability Workshop: Assessing Bioavailability as a Determinant of Pollutant Exposure: Building a Multidisciplinary Paradigm for the 21st Century and Beyond. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Tampa, FL, Feb. 19-21, 2008. http://www.uncsbrp.org/conference/index.cfm
  • OSU NEWS release: Scientists Simulate Gut Reaction To Arsenic Exposure. Oct. 7, 2008. OSU Research News, Research Communications, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
  • School of Environment and Natural Resources. 2008. Assessing human exposure to arsenic in soil. Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
  • Anderson, R.H. 2008. Ph.D. Dissertation. Soil physical and chemical property effects on toxicity and bioaccumulation of As (V), Cd, Pb, and Zn by herbaceous plant receptors. Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
  • Anderson, R.H., N.T. Basta. (2008). Application of Ridge Regression to Determine the Effect of Soil Properties on Phytotoxicity of As, Cd, Pb, and Zn in Soil. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. In Press. Published Online: December 2, 2008. http://www.setacjournals.org/perlserv/request=get-abstract&doi=10.18 97%2F08-062.1
  • Anderson, R.H., and N.T. Basta. (2008). Application of Ridge Regression to Quantify Marginal Effects of Collinear Soil Properties on Phytoaccumulation of As, Cd, Pb, and Zn. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. In press. Published Online: November 3, 2008. http://www.setacjournals.org/perlserv/request=get-abstract&doi=10.18 97%2F08-186.1


Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Research studies were conducted focused on project objective 1 to determine the ability of chemical speciation methods to measure heavy metal bioavailability to human and ecological receptors and project objective 2 to determine the effect of soil chemical properties on chemical speciation and heavy metal bioavailability in contaminated soil. We used soil chemical extraction methods and spectroscopic methods in tandem to characterize various pools and species of bioavailable arsenic in soil. In this work, arsenic extracted by five commonly used soil extractants and characterized by Extended X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure was compared with relative bioavailable arsenic (RBA As) measured in vivo by immature swine (Sus scrofa) dosing trials. Fifteen contaminated soils that contained 233 to 17 500 mg kg1 As (V) were studied. Soil extractants were selected to dissolve adsorbed and/or readily soluble arsenic and As in Fe and Mn oxide minerals. The strongest relationship between As determined by soil chemical extraction and in vivo bioavailable arsenic was found for hydroxylamine hydrochloride extractant. Although water soluble As, sodium acetate, and phosphate extractable As all had significant correlations with RBA As, these relationships were nonlinear. Speciation by EXAFS identified scorodite, sorbed As, elemental As, and lollingite with scorodite as the primary As solid phase. A strong inverse relationship was found between scorodite content and RBA As. A strong inverse relationship was found between percent Asox, As determined by acid ammonium oxalate and expressed as a percentage of Fe + Al content, and RBA As. Soil properties mitigate hazardous effects of contaminants through soil chemical sequestration and should be considered when evaluating ecological risk from terrestrial contamination. Empirical models that quantify relationships between soil properties and toxicity to ecological receptors are necessary for site specific adjustments to ecological risk assessments. However, differential sensitivities of test organisms in dose/response studies often limit the utility of such models. We report a novel approach to dose/response toxicity parameter estimation that normalizes estimates by partitioning the effect due to differential sensitivities of test organisms from that of soil chemical/physical properties. Five soils that ranged in chemical/physical properties were spiked with five concentrations of sodium arsenate. Bioassays were conducted where above ground dry matter growth (DMG) and the corresponding tissue As concentration were evaluated for three terrestrial plants (Alfalfa, Medicago sativa; Perennial ryegrass, Lolium perrene; and Japanese millet, Echinochloa esculenta) each with different sensitivities to arsenate. Conventional toxicity parameters and threshold tissue As concentrations which initiated a decline in DMG were estimated for each plant. Threshold tissue As concentrations were estimated using a plant metal upper critical value algorithm and used to normalize conventional toxicity parameter estimates. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Kirk Scheckel, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Risk Management Research Laboratory Cincinnati, OH. Dr. Karen Bradham, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Exposure Research Laboratory Research Triangle Park, NC. Dr. R.P. Lanno, Dept. of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. Dr. E.A. Dayton, School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. TARGET AUDIENCES: Scientists and regulators focused on the development and adoption of an in vitro gastrointestinal method to measure bioavailable arsenic in soil. This is a hot topic. Presentations were given at high impact scientific meetings and publications in high impact journals (JEHS). Scientists and regulators focused on the development and adoption of chemical and statistical methods to adjust ecological risk on a soil specific basis. Presentations were given at high impact scientific meetings (SETAC) and publications in high impact journals (JEQ) focused on this topic.

Impacts
We report novel findings on methods to assess the human risk from arsenic in soil. Results from this work suggest the % Asox and scorodite fractions represent the non-bioavailable portion of As in these soils. Arsenic (V) speciation by EXAFS and select chemical extraction methods can estimate bioavailable As in these smelter contaminated soils. We have identified methods that can estimate bioavailable As and measure oral bioaccessibility of arsenic in contaminated soil. These methods can be used to assess public health risks associated with exposure to arsenic-contaminated soils. Hazardous effects of environmental contaminants on non-human receptors are the focus of ecological risk assessments. Soil matrix properties can mitigate hazardous effects of contaminants through soil chemical sequestration and should be considered when evaluating ecological risk from terrestrial contamination. We report a novel statistical approach, the plant contaminant sensitivity index (PCSI), to quanity the ability of soil to sequester contaminants and reduce phytotoxicity. Empirical models that quantify relationships between chemical/physical properties of soils and hazardous effects of contaminants, such as toxicity, can improve the accuracy of ecological risk assessments. Adjustment of ecotoxicity parameters by PCSI is a promising approach to quantify the modifying effects of soil properties on phytotoxicity endpoints.

Publications

  • Basta, N.T., J. N. Foster, E.A. Dayton, R. R. Rodriguez, and S.W. Casteel. 2007. The effect of dosing vehicle on arsenic bioaccessibility in smelter-contaminated soils. Invited manuscript for the special JEHS publication Bioaccessibility and human bioavailability of soil contaminants J. Environ. Health Sci. Part A. 42:1275-1281.
  • Anderson, R.H.,N.T. Basta, and R.P. Lanno. 2008. Using a Plant Contaminant Sensitivity Index to Quantify the Effects of Soil Properties on Arsenate Phytotoxicity. J. Environ. Qual. (accepted for publication).
  • Basta, Nicholas T., and Richard H. Anderson. 2007. Soil properties and ecological risk assessment of arsenic contaminated soil: Phytotoxicity adjustments using plant metal upper critical values. In Electronic Proceedings of Partners in Environmental Technology Technical Symposium and Workshop. Strategic Environmental Research Development Program (SERDP) and Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), Washington, DC, Dec. 4-6, 2007.
  • Anderson, R.H., and N.T. Basta. 2007. Soil properties and ecological risk assessment of arsenic contaminated soil: Phytotoxicity adjustments using plant metal upper critical values. In Electronic Proceedings of Society of Toxicology and Environmental Chemistry, North America 28th Annual Meeting, Milwaukee, WI, Nov. 11-15, 2007.
  • Basta, Nicholas, Jill Foster, and Kirk Scheckel. 2007. Arsenic speciation using extended X-ray absorption fine structure and chemical extraction methods to assess oral bioavailability. Presentation 91-6, Nov. 5, 2007. In Electronic Proceedings of Soil Science Society Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Nov. 4-8, 2007.
  • Dayton, Elizabeth, Nicholas Basta, Karen Bradham, and Shane Whitacre. 2007. Soil extraction methods and endpoints of lettuce in arsenic contaminated soil. Presentation 326-2, Nov. 7, 2007. In Electronic Proceedings of Soil Science Society Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Nov. 4-8, 2007.
  • Anderson, Richard H., and Nicholas T. Basta. 2007. Soil properties and ecological risk assessment of arsenic contaminated soil: Phytotoxicity adjustments using plant metal upper critical values. Presentation 231-17, Nov. 6, 2007. In Electronic Proceedings of Soil Science Society Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Nov. 4-8, 2007.
  • Basta, N.T., K.G. Scheckel, and K.D. Bradham. 2007. Assessing contaminant bioavailability in soil when in vitro gastrointestinal methods are the only option. Abstract Book, abstract 516, p.30. International Society for Exposure Assessment, Durham, NC, Oct. 14-18, 2007.


Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06

Outputs
Significant progress was made during the reporting period to determine the ability of soil chemical speciation methods to predict measure toxicity and risk-based endpoints of heavy metal contaminated soil. Progress was made on project objective (1) to determine the ability of chemical speciation methods, that measure heavy metal bioavailability, to estimate toxicity of contaminated soil to human and ecological receptors and objective (2) to determine the effect of soil chemical properties on chemical speciation and heavy metal bioavailability in contaminated soil and the ability of soil chemical properties to define ecotoxicity categories in development of Ecological Soil Screening Levels. Soil properties greatly affected Pb bioavailability to human and ecological receptors and should be considered in ecological risk assessment of contaminated soil. We used path analysis (PA) to determine the relative contribution of soil properties [pH, organic carbon (OC), amorphous Fe and Al oxides (FEAL), and cation exchange capacity (CEC)] in modifying Pb bioavailability. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) ecological endpoints [bioaccumulation, and dry matter growth (DMG)] and earthworm (Eisenia fetida) ecological endpoints exposed to 21 Pb-spiked (2000 mg Pb/kg) soils were determined. Path analysis showed that CEC and OC reduced Pb bioavailability. Path analysis results are consistent with soil pH increasing the negative surface charge of organic matter and clay thereby increasing CEC and reducing Pb bioavailability. The soil properties FEAL and OC contributed most to decreasing Pb toxicity. In vitro gastrointestinal (IVG) methods have been developed to provide an expedient and inexpensive means to estimate bioavailability of arsenic and other contaminants from ingestion of contaminated soil. Both in vivo and in vitro techniques have used a fasting model when determining Pb bioavailability/bioaccessibility as a conservative estimate of risk. Some IVG procedures have incorporated a dosing vehicle (DV) or food (i.e., milk) to simulate in vivo conditions. Potential differences in the bioaccessibility of contaminants between fasting and fed states remain a concern for those interested in adopting in vitro procedures for regulatory purposes. The effect of eliminating a dough-like DV on As bioaccessibility (BA), and this effect on the relationship between in vitro bioaccessible and in vivo relative bioavailability (RBA) As was determined. Also, the effect of phosphate from the DV on IVG BA was investigated. The IVG method, with or without DV, is a reliable method to use as a rapid screening tool to provide an estimate of BA in contaminated soils. Further studies should be conducted to determine the influence of foodstuffs on BA for different types of As.

Impacts
Inexpensive in vitro methods may be useful in estimating the relative bioavailability of contaminants in soils. Because in vitro methods are inexpensive, they can be used to analyze large numbers of soil samples and provide an estimate of the variability in bioavailable contaminant at a single study site. Our research group reported the first in vitro method for estimating bioavailable arsenic in contaminated soil. Our results suggest the worst-case scenario for As bioaccessibility from soil ingestion is when the soil is ingested with high-phosphate food. In vitro methods used for Pb stress the worst case scenario is when soil is ingested under fasting conditions. However, these in vitro methods may have to incorporate food to determine worst case scenarios for ingestion of soil containing arsenic. Measurement of key soil properties could be used as an indicator tool at contaminated sites to determine whether site remediation is necessary. Our research results show use of path analysis could provide a measure of the relative contribution of each soil property in modifying Pb bioavailability and toxicity. The results from this project support risk assessors with tools to make better initial estimates of contaminated soil risk and determine whether any further assessment is warranted. Remediation costs associated with excavation and replacement of contaminated soil exceeding $10,000,000 per site are not uncommon. Use of soil properties to adjust risk may eliminate unnecessary soil remediation action and result in large remedial cost savings.

Publications

  • Basta, N.T., J. N. Foster, E.A. Dayton, R. R. Rodriguez, and S.W. Casteel. 2007. The Effect of Dosing Vehicle on Arsenic Bioaccessibility in Smelter-contaminated Soils. J. Environ. Health Sci. Part A. Invited manuscript for the special JEHS publication Bioaccessibility and human bioavailability of soil contaminants. In press.
  • Dayton, E.A, N.T. Basta, M.E. Payton, K.D. Bradham, J.L. Schroder, and R.P. Lanno. 2006. Evaluating the contribution of soil properties to modifying lead phytoavailability and phytotoxicity. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 25(3):719-725. Invited manuscript for the special ET&C publication Assessing Risks of Metals added to Soils in Europe and North America.
  • Si, J.T., B.G.Tian, H.T. Wang, N. Basta, J. Schroder, M. Casillas. 2006. Assessing availability, phytotoxicity and bioaccumulation of lead to ryegrass and millet based on 0.1 mol/L Ca(NO3)2 extraction. Journal of Environmental Sciences-China 18(5):958-963.
  • Bradham, K.D., E.A. Dayton, N.T. Basta, J. Schroder, M. Payton, and R.P. Lanno. 2006. Effect of soil properties on lead bioavailability and toxicity to earthworms. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 25(3):769-775. Invited manuscript for the special ET&C publication Assessing Risks of Metals added to Soils in Europe and North America.
  • Basta, N.T., J. N. Foster, K. G. Scheckel, and S. W. Casteel. 2006. Linking arsenic speciation in smelter contaminated soil to oral bioavailability. Society of Toxicology and Environmental Chemistry, North America 27th Annual Meeting, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Nov. 5-9, 2006.
  • Beak, D., N. Basta, K. Scheckel, and S. Traina. 2006. The use of in vitro methods to examine mechanisms of bioaccessibility assessment of a unified in-vitro bioaccessibility method for arsenic, cadmium and lead in soils. Society of Toxicology and Environmental Chemistry, North America 27th Annual Meeting, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Nov. 5-9, 2006.
  • Cave, M., J. Wragg, B. Klinck, C. Gron, A. Oomen, T. van de Wiele, C. Ollson, I. Koch, K. Reimer, and N. Basta. 2006. Assessment of a unified in-vitro bioaccessibility method for arsenic, cadmium and lead in soils. Society of Toxicology and Environmental Chemistry, North America 27th Annual Meeting, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Nov. 5-9, 2006.
  • Basta, N.T. 2006. Using in vitro gastrointestinal methods to measure contaminant bioaccessibility and risk from soil ingestion. 89th Canadian Chemistry Conference, Halifax, Nova Sciota, Canada, May 27-31, 2006.
  • Foster, Jill. 2006. M.S. Thesis. The effect of dosing vehicle and arsenic speciation on arsenic bioaccessibility in smelter contaminated soil. The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.


Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05

Outputs
Bioavailable heavy metals in soil systems are the contaminant species that constitute risk and toxicity to ecological and human receptors. Significant progress was made during the reporting period to determine the ability of soil chemical speciation methods to predict measure toxicity and risk-based endpoints of heavy metal contaminated soil. Specifically, progress was made on project objective (1) to determine the ability of chemical speciation methods, that measure heavy metal bioavailability, to estimate ecotoxicity of contaminated soil and objective (2) to determine the effect of soil chemical properties on chemical speciation and heavy metal bioavailability in contaminated soil and the ability of soil chemical properties to define ecotoxicity categories in development of Ecological Soil Screening Levels. Soil properties greatly affected Pb bioavailability to human and ecological receptors and should be considered in ecological risk assessment of contaminated soil. We used path analysis (PA) to determine the relative contribution of soil properties [pH, organic carbon (OC), amorphous Fe and Al oxides (FEAL), and cation exchange capacity (CEC)] in modifying Pb bioavailability. The response of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) biological endpoints [bioaccumulation, and dry matter growth (DMG)] grown on 21 Pb-spiked (2000 mg Pb/kg) soils were determined. Lettuce tissue Pb ranged from 3.22 to 233 mg Pb/kg and relative DMG ranged from 2.5 to 88.5% of their respective controls. Path analysis showed that CEC and OC reduced Pb bioavailability. Path analysis results are consistent with soil pH increasing the negative surface charge of organic matter and clay thereby increasing CEC and reducing Pb bioavailability. The soil properties FEAL and OC contributed most to decreasing Pb phytotoxicity.

Impacts
Thousands of metal contaminated sites within the U.S. and its territories contain unacceptable levels of the toxic metals. Previous research has shown that the metal-sequestering properties of soil can significantly lower the bioavailability and risk of heavy metals to human and ecological receptors. Measurement of key soil properties could be used as an indicator tool at contaminated sites to determine whether site remediation is necessary. Results from this study clearly show that soil properties are very important in modifying Pb bioavailability. Soil properties should be considered in ecological risk assessment of metal in contaminated soils. Our research results show use of path analysis could provide a measure of the relative contribution of each soil property in modifying Pb bioavailability and toxicity. Path analysis is useful for ecological studies involving soils with a wide range of physiochemical properties and can assist in site risk assessment of metals and remediation decisions on contaminated sites. The results from this project support risk assessors with tools to make better initial estimates of contaminated soil risk and determine whether any further assessment is warranted. Remediation costs associated with excavation and replacement of contaminated soil exceeding $10,000,000 per site are not uncommon. Use of soil properties to adjust risk may eliminate unnecessary soil remediation action and result in large remedial cost savings.

Publications

  • Dayton, E.A, N.T. Basta, M.E. Payton, R.P. Lanno, J.L. Schroder, and K.D. Bradham. 2005. Evaluating the contribution of soil properties to modifying lead phytoavailability and phytotoxicity. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. In press.
  • Bradham, K.D., E.A. Dayton, N.T. Basta, J. Schroder, M. Payton, and R.P. Lanno. 2005. Quantifying the modifying effect of soil properties on lead bioavailability and toxicity to earthworms. Invited manuscript for the special issue Environ. Toxicol. Chem. In press.
  • Basta, N.T. and R. Checkai. 2005. Terrestrial land application of byproducts: Ecological paradigms. Philosophies and approaches for developing environmental guidelines and regulation for land-applied waste symposium. Soil Science Society Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, Nov. 6-10, 2005.
  • Basta, N.T. and G.M. Pierzynski. 2005. Quantifying Reduction In Bioavailability And Human And Ecological Risk In Treated Heavy Metal Contaminated Soils Using In Vitro Methods And Bioassays, 8th International Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements, Adelaide, Australia, April 3-7, 2005.
  • Dayton, E.A., and N.T. Basta. 2005. In Vitro Extraction Methods and Ecotoxicity Endpoints of Lactuca Sativa in Arsenic Contaminated Soils. 8th International Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements, Adelaide, Australia, April 3-7, 2005.


Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04

Outputs
Oxide minerals are major scavengers of arsenic in soil and oxide minerals have been used as sorbents for remediation. Soil ingestion by children is an important pathway in assessing public health risks associated with exposure to arsenic-contaminated soils. An understanding of the oxide properties and how these properties effect the reactions occurring in the digestive tract after incidental ingestion is important. We evaluated the solubility and bioacessibility of arsenic sorbed to a model Fe oxide (e.g., ferrihydrite) in a simulated human digestive system. The ferrihydrite was analyzed for the following properties: surface area, PZC, sorption envelope, and sorption maximum. An In Vitro assay was employed modified slightly from that proposed by Rodriguez. Samples were taken at various times during the gastric and intestinal phases. The samples were then analyzed using ICP-OES for arsenic and Fe. A sub-sample was taken prior to the assay and solids remaining were collected for EXAFS analysis. The availability of arsenic was greatest in the intestine. During this time arsenic was released at higher surface loadings. This may have to do with the formation of surface precipitates. At low surface loadings arsenic was sorbed directly to the surface of the oxide, but as the surface loading was increased a surface monolayer forms. At higher arsenic loading rates multiple layers of arsenic are sorbed to the surface (surface precipitate). Results suggest that a surface precipitate may have formed at the higher surface coverages. The arsenic released during the intestinal phase is the arsenic not in direct contact with the Fe Surface (monolayer). Future research using advanced spectroscopic methods (e.g.,EXAFS) will be conducted to determine the relationship between surface complexation, solubility, and bioaccessibility. Solid phase chemical speciation of adsorbed arsenate species impacts arsenic bioaccessibility in soil. Arsenic adsorption that exceeded monolayer coverage had greater arsenic bioaccessibility than arsenic adsorbed at less than monolayer quantities. Arsenic bioaccessibility and hence risk is a function of arsenic adsorption capacity (i.e., monolayer coverage) of oxides. Risk of incidental ingestion of arsenic contaminated geomedia is not independent of arsenic concentration as commonly assumed by risk assessment models.

Impacts
Adding chemical sorbents to arsenic contaminated soil may serve as an inexpensive method. Many chemical immobilization treatments have been proposed in the last decade. However, few treatments are successful in reducing contaminant risks from soil ingestion by children. Our results show that ferrihyrite, an inexpensive Fe oxide mineral, can sorb arsenic strongly and the arsenic will not be released in the gastrointestinal tract. Ferrihydrite may serve as an inexpensive method to remediate arsenic contaminated soil by reducing risk associated with soil ingestion by children.

Publications

  • Mathews-Williamson, M. 2004. M.S. Thesis. Decrease in calcium chloride extractable and bioaccessible arsenic from CCA-contaminated soil by treatment with poorly crystalline iron or aluminum oxides.
  • Basta, N.T., J.A. Ryan, and R. L. Chaney. 2005. Trace element chemistry in residual-treated soil: Key concepts and metal bioavailability. J. Environ. Qual. 34: 49-63.
  • Schroder, J.L., N.T. Basta, S.W. Casteel, T.J. Evans, M.E. Payton, and J. Si. 2004. Validation of the in vitro method to estimate bioavailable lead in contaminated soils. J. Environ. Qual. 33:513-521.
  • Basta, N.T., and S.L. McGowen. 2004. Evaluation of chemical immobilization treatments for reducing heavy metal transport in a smelter-contaminated soil. Environ. Pollut. 127(1):73-82.
  • Brown, S.L., and N. T. Basta. 2004. Field test of in situ soil amendments at the Tar Creek National Priorities Superfund site. The 2nd International Conference on Soil Remediation (SOILREM 2004), Nanjing, P.R. China, November 9-12, 2004 .
  • Basta, N.T. 2004. Heavy metal and trace element chemistry in residual-treated soil: Implications on metal bioavailability and sustainable land application. Plenary presentation to be presented at Sustainable Land Application Conference, Lake Buena Vista, FL., Jan. 4-8, 2004.


Progress 10/01/03 to 12/31/03

Outputs
Three months after approval of OHO01068, research for objectives 1 and 2 is well underway. Research for objective 3 is in the planning stages.

Impacts
Pending.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period