Effects of organic matter on virus transport in unsaturated flow.

The effects of natural humic material and sewage sludge organic matter (SSOM) derived from primary treated sewage sludge on virus transport by unsaturated flow through soil columns were evaluated. Bacteriophage MS-2 was applied to loamy fine sand columns 0.052 m in diameter and 1.05 m long. Virus concentrations in the influent and effluent were measured daily for 7 to 9 days. In the first experiment, virus transport through two fresh soil columns was compared with that through a column previously leached with more than four pore volumes (T) of well water. The soil water organic matter concentrations in the leachate of the fresh soil declined with time. Relative virus concentrations (C/Co) from one fresh soil column reached 0.82 in 0.9 T and then declined to 0.51 by 2.1 T. The other fresh soil column reached and maintained a steady-state relative virus concentration [(C/Co)s] of 0.47 from 1.5 to 2.5 T. The leached column reached and maintained a (C/Co)s of 0.05. Concentrations measured at 0.2-, 0.4-, 0.8-, and 1.05-m depths indicated that most virus particles were removed in the surface 0.2 m. In the second experiment, one leached column was pretreated with SSOM derived from primary treated sewage sludge and the other leached column was untreated. SSOM concentrations declined with depth. A suspension of virus and SSOM in well water was applied to both columns. Although the (C/Co)s values were similar (0.41 for the pretreated column and 0.47 for the untreated column), breakthrough was delayed for the untreated column. Both natural humic material and sewage sludge-derived SSOM increased the unsaturated-flow transport of MS-2.     

Leaching of boron through sewage sludge amended soil: the role of clinoptilolite

A laboratory experiment was conducted to determine the release of boron from soil-sewage sludge mixtures by leaching using a clinoptilolite type natural zeolite, before land application of the sewage sludge. Soil columns were filled up with the clinoptilolite soil after mixing with sewage sludge at a rate of 30 tons ha(-1) and with two different particle sizes (0.1-0.25 and 1.0-2.0 mm) of clinoptilolite each at the concentrations of 1% and 2%. The particle size and the application rate of clinoptilolite affected both boron leaching from soil compared to the control treatment (soil and sewage sludge mixture). The total soluble boron leached from a soil column varied from 66-92% depending on the applications of clinoptilolite and reached 96% for the control treatment, following application of 80 cm depth of water in all treatments. In the cases of the 1% application rate of 0.1-0.25 and 1-2 mm sized clinoptilolite 78% and 92% of the total boron leached, respectively. While at 2% application rate of 0.1-0.25 and 1-2 mm zeolite, 66% and 87% of total soluble boron leached, respectively. Boron concentrations in the soil layers increased as application rate increased and particle size of clinoptilolite decreased because of its high adsorption capacity. Adsorption isotherms indicated that clinoptilolite had a high adsorption capacity for boron compared to the sewage sludge and soil.     

Mobility and Distribution of Zinc,Cadmium and Lead in Calcareous Soils Receiving Spiked Sewage Sludge

Leaching column experiments were conducted to determine the degree of mobility and the distribution of zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) because of an application of spiked sewage sludge in calcareous soils. A total of 20 leaching columns were set up for four calcareous soils. Each column was leached with one of these inflows: sewage sludge (only for two soils), spiked sewage sludge, or artificial well water (control). The columns were irrigated with spiked sewage sludge containing 8.5 mg Zn l^?1, 8.5 mg Cd l^?1, and 170 mg Pb l^?1 and then allowed to equilibrate for 30 days. At the end of leaching experiments, soil samples from each column were divided into 18 layers, each being 1 cm down to 6 cm and 2 cm below that, and analyzed for total and extractable Zn, Cd and Pb. The fractionation of the heavy metals in the top three layers of the surface soil samples was investigated by the sequential extraction method. Spiked sewage sludge had little effect on metal mobility. In all soils, the surface soil layers (0-1 cm) of the columns receiving spiked sewage sludge had significantly higher concentrations of total Zn, Cd and Pb than control soils. Concentration of the heavy metals declined significantly with depth. The mobility of Zn was usually greater than Cd and Pb. The proportion of exchangeable heavy metals in soils receiving spiked sewage sludge was significantly higher than that found in the control columns. Sequential extraction results showed that in native soils the major proportion of Zn and Pb was associated with residual (RES) and organic matter (OM) fractions and major proportion of Cd was associated with carbonate (CARB) fraction, whereas after leaching with spiked sewage sludge, the major proportion of Zn and Pb was associated with Fe-oxcide (FEO), RES, and CARB fractions and major proportion of Cd was associated with CARB, RES and exchangeable (EXCH) fractions. Based on relative percent, Cd in the EXCH fraction was higher than Zn and Pb in soils leached with spiked sewage sludge.     

Poliovirus retention in soil columns after application of chemical- and polyelectrolyte-conditioned dewatered sludges

The transport of poliovirus type 1 (strain LSc) was studied in Red Bay sandy loam columns that were treated with chemical- or polyelectrolyte-conditioned dewatered sludges and then leached with natural rainwater under saturated flow conditions. Poliovirus was concentrated in the alum and ferric chloride sludges that were produced following the flocculation of virus-seeded raw sewage. Virtually complete inactivation of the virus was observed following the flocculation of raw sewage or the stabilization of alum and ferric chloride sludges with lime at pH 11.5. Poliovirus was also concentrated in polyelectrolyte-conditioned dewatered sludge that was produced from virus-seeded, anaerobically digested sludge. Despite the saturated flow conditions for a sustained period, no viruses were detected in the leachates of the soil columns that were treated with these chemical and chemically treated sludges. Since the viruses were mostly associated with the solids in these sludge samples, it is believed that they were immobilized along with the sludge solids in the top portion of the soil columns.     

Poliovirus retention in soil columns after application of chemical- and polyelectrolyte-conditioned dewatered sludges.

The transport of poliovirus type 1 (strain LSc) was studied in Red Bay sandy loam columns that were treated with chemical- or polyelectrolyte-conditioned dewatered sludges and then leached with natural rainwater under saturated flow conditions. Poliovirus was concentrated in the alum and ferric chloride sludges that were produced following the flocculation of virus-seeded raw sewage. Virtually complete inactivation of the virus was observed following the flocculation of raw sewage or the stabilization of alum and ferric chloride sludges with lime at pH 11.5. Poliovirus was also concentrated in polyelectrolyte-conditioned dewatered sludge that was produced from virus-seeded, anaerobically digested sludge. Despite the saturated flow conditions for a sustained period, no viruses were detected in the leachates of the soil columns that were treated with these chemical and chemically treated sludges. Since the viruses were mostly associated with the solids in these sludge samples, it is believed that they were immobilized along with the sludge solids in the top portion of the soil columns.     

Efficacy of Biosolids in Assisted Phytostabilization of Metalliferous Acidic Sandy Soils with Five Grass Species

The role of sewage sludge as an immobilising agent in the phytostabilization of metal-contaminated soil was evaluated using five grass species viz., Dactylis glomerata L., Festuca arundinacea Schreb., F. rubra L., Lolium perenne L., L. westerwoldicum L. The function of metal immobilization was investigated by monitoring pH, Eh and Cd, Pb, and Zn levels in column experiment over a period of 5-months. Grasses grown on sewage sludge-amendments produced high biomass in comparison to controls. A significant reduction in metal uptake by plants was also observed as a result of sewage sludge application, which was attributed to decreased bioavailability through soil stabilisation. We have observed that the sludge amendment decreased metal bioavailability and concentrations in soil at a depth of 25 cm, in contrast to untreated columns, where metal concentrations in the soil solution were very high.     

Mobility and survival of Salmonella Typhimurium and human adenovirus from spiked sewage sludge applied to soil columns

Aims:  This study investigated the survival and transport of sewage sludge-borne pathogenic organisms in soils.
Methods and Results:  Undisturbed soil cores were treated with Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica serovar Typhimurium- lux (STM- lux ) and human adenovirus (HAdV)-spiked sewage sludge. Following an artificial rainfall event, these pathogens were analysed in the leachate and soil sampled from different depths (0–5 cm, 5–10 cm and 10–20 cm) after 24 h, 1 and 2 months. Significantly more STM- lux and HAdV leached through the soil cores when sewage sludge was present. Significantly more STM- lux were found at all soil depths, at all time periods in the sewage sludge treatments, compared to the controls. The rate of decline of STM- lux in the controls was more rapid than in the sewage sludge treatments. Survival and transport of HAdV were minimal.
Conclusions:  The presence of sewage sludge can significantly influence the transport and survival of bacterial pathogens in soils, probably because of the presence of organic matter. Environmental contamination by virus is unlikely because of strong soil adsorption.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  This study suggests that groundwater contamination from vertical movement of pathogens is a potential risk and that it highlights the importance of the treatment requirements for biosolids prior to their application to land.     

Differences on nitrogen availability in a soil amended with fresh, composted and thermally-dried sewage sludge

Anaerobically-digested sludge called fresh sludge (F), composted sludge (C) and thermally-drying sludge (T), all from the same batch, were applied to the surface of a calcareous Udic Calciustept with loamy texture. Dosage equivalent was 10 t ha(-1) of dry matter. The concentration of mineral nitrogen (ammonium and nitrate) in the soil was measured in order to estimate the effects of the post-treatments to which the different kinds of sewage sludge are subjected in relation to the availability of N in the surface layer of the soil. The most significant differences in NH(4)-N and NO(3)-N concentrations due to the transformation of the organic matter were observed during the first three weeks following soil amendment. Thermally-dried and composted sludge initially displayed higher concentrations of ammonium and nitrate in soil. Five months after the amendment, soil applied with fresh sludge showed the highest concentrations of NH(4)-N and NO(3)-N (6.1 and 36.6 mg kg(-1), respectively). It is clear that the processes of composting and thermal-drying influence the bioavailability of nitrogen from the different types of sewage sludge.     

Virus movement in soil during saturated and unsaturated flow

Virus movement in soil during saturated and unsaturated flow was compared by adding poliovirus to sewage water and applying the water at different rates to a 250-cm-long soil column equipped with ceramic samplers at different depths. Movement of viruses during unsaturated flow of sewage through soil columns was much less than during saturated flow. Viruses did not move below the 40-cm level when sewage water was applied at less than the maximum infiltration rate; virus penetration in columns flooded with sewage was at least 160 cm. Therefore, virus movement in soils irrigated with sewage should be less than in flooded groundwater recharge basins or in saturated soil columns. Management of land treatment systems to provide unsaturated flow through the soil should minimize the depth of virus penetration. Differences in virus movement during saturated and unsaturated flow must be considered in the development of any model used to simulate virus movement in soils.     

Virus movement in soil during saturated and unsaturated flow.

Virus movement in soil during saturated and unsaturated flow was compared by adding poliovirus to sewage water and applying the water at different rates to a 250-cm-long soil column equipped with ceramic samplers at different depths. Movement of viruses during unsaturated flow of sewage through soil columns was much less than during saturated flow. Viruses did not move below the 40-cm level when sewage water was applied at less than the maximum infiltration rate; virus penetration in columns flooded with sewage was at least 160 cm. Therefore, virus movement in soils irrigated with sewage should be less than in flooded groundwater recharge basins or in saturated soil columns. Management of land treatment systems to provide unsaturated flow through the soil should minimize the depth of virus penetration. Differences in virus movement during saturated and unsaturated flow must be considered in the development of any model used to simulate virus movement in soils.     

Characterization of cadmium desorption in soils and its relationship to plant uptake and cadmium leaching

Experiments on Cd desorption were conducted with a range of water-to-soil ratios to assess the desorption characteristics of Cd in soils and the availability of Cd for absorption by plant roots and leaching to groundwater, Soil samples were collected from sites contaminated by a former Pb and Zn smelter, by sewage irrigation, or with artificial additions of Cd and sewage sludge. Glasshouse pot experiments were conducted in which the yield and Cd uptake of crop plants were determined. Cadmium leached from soil columns was also studied using soil lysimeters. The soil solution Cd concentration decreased with increasing solution-to-soil ratio and followed a negative power function. Two constants obtained from logarithmic linear regression were identified. The intercept (C₁) was Cd concentration in the soil solution where the solution/soil ratio was equal to 1 and this constant was the intensity factor of the initial element supply in the soil. The slope (a) showed a decreasing trend for Cd concentration in the soil solution which was related to the soil buffering capacity. A corrected concentration (C₁/a) is proposed for expressing soil desorption ability. This combined index was significantly correlated with Cd uptake by plants and also with Cd leached from soil columns.     

Metal Transport and Bioavailability in Soil Contaminated with CCA-Treated Wood Leachates

A laboratory study was conducted to investigate metal transport and accumulation within soils contaminated with As, Cr, and Cu from CCA-treated wood leachates. New blocks of CCA-treated wood were leached using synthetic rainwater. Soil columns were constructed and filled with three different soils, including a sandy soil, an organic soil and a clay soil. The leachate was applied intermittently until 80 pore volumes were eluted through each column. Metal concentrations (Cu, Cr, and As) were measured in the leachate before passage through the columns as well as in each elutriate fraction collected. Chemical analysis was complemented with toxicity testing using Ceriodaphnia dubia, Selenastrum capricornutum, and MetPLATE?. Following application of 80 pore volumes of leachate, the columns were dissected and the profile of the metal concentrations within each column was determined. A comparison of the arsenic, chromium and copper leaching patterns found arsenic to be the most mobile, with copper the most retained in the soil columns (As < Cr < Cu). Transport patterns of As differed in the three soil types, with observed mobility highest in the sandy soil and lowest in the clay soil. The three metals accumulated in the top layer of soil. Arsenic posed the greatest risk when soil concentrations were compared to risk-based target levels. Although metals were detected in soil elutriates, no toxicity was detected in any of the soil column elutriates using any of the three toxicity assays.     

Effect of soil permeability on virus removal through soil columns

Laboratory experiments were performed on four different soils, using 100 cm long columns, to determine the extent of virus movement when wastewater percolated through the soils at various hydraulic flow rates. Unchlorinated secondary sewage effluent seeded with either poliovirus type 1 (strain LSc) or echovirus type 1 (isolate V239) was continuously applied to soil columns for 3 to 4 days at constant flow rates. Water samples were extracted daily from ceramic samplers at various depths of the column for the virus assay. The effectiveness of virus removal from wastewater varied greatly among the different soil types but appeared to be largely related to hydraulic flow rates. At a flow rate of 33 cm/day, Anthony sandy loam removed 99% of seeded poliovirus within the first 7 cm of the column. At flow rates of 300 cm/day and above, Rubicon sand gave the poorest removal of viruses; less than 90% of the seeded viruses were removed by passage of effluent through the entire length of the soil column. By linear regression analyses, the rate of virus removal in soil columns was found to be negatively correlated with the flow of the percolating sewage effluent. There was no significant difference in rate of removal between poliovirus and echovirus in soil columns 87 cm long. The rate of virus removal in the upper 17 cm of the soil column was found to be significantly greater than in the lower depths of the soil column. This study suggests that the flow rate of water through the soil may be the most important factor in predicting the potential of virus movement into the groundwater. Furthermore, the length of the soil column is critical in obtaining useful data to predict virus movement into groundwater.     

Virus movement in soil columns flooded with secondary sewage effluent.

Secondary sewage effluent containing about 3 X 10(4) plaque-forming units of polio virus type 1 (LSc) per ml was passed through columns 250 cm in length packed with calcareous sand from an area in the Salt River bed used for ground-water recharge of secondary sewage effluent. Viruses were not detected in 1-ml samples extracted from the columns below the 160-cm level. However, viruses were detected in 5 of 43 100-ml samples of the column drainage water. Most of the viruses were adsorbed in the top 5 cm of soil. Virus removal was not affected by the infiltration rate, which varied between 15 and 55 cm/day. Flooding a column continuosly for 27 days with the sewage water virus mixture did not saturate the top few centimeters of soil with viruses and did not seem to affect virus movement. Flooding with deionized water caused virus desorption from the soil and increased their movement through the columns. Adding CaCl2 to the deionized water prevented most of the virus desorption. Adding a pulse of deionized water followed by sewage water started a virus front moving through the columns, but the viruses were readsorbed and none was detected in outflow samples. Drying the soil for 1 day between applying the virus and flooding with deionized water greatly reduced desorption, and drying for 5 days prevented desorption. Large reductions (99.99% or more) of virus would be expected after passage of secondary sewage effluent through 250 cm of the calcareous sand similar to that used in our laboratory columns unless heavy rains fell within 1 day after the application of sewage stopped. Such virus movement could be minimized by the proper management of flooding and drying cycles.     

Poliovirus removal from primary and secondary sewage effluent by soil filtration.

Adsorption of poliovirus from primary sewage effluent was similar to that from secondary sewage effluent in both batch soil studies and experiments with soil columns 240 cm long. Virus desorption by distilled water was also similar in a soil column that had been flooded with either primary or secondary effluent seeded with virus. These results indicated that absorption of poliovirus from primary effluent and virus movement through the soil were not affected by the higher organic content of primary sewage effluent.     

Poliovirus removal from primary and secondary sewage effluent by soil filtration.

Adsorption of poliovirus from primary sewage effluent was similar to that from secondary sewage effluent in both batch soil studies and experiments with soil columns 240 cm long. Virus desorption by distilled water was also similar in a soil column that had been flooded with either primary or secondary effluent seeded with virus. These results indicated that absorption of poliovirus from primary effluent and virus movement through the soil were not affected by the higher organic content of primary sewage effluent.     

Virus movement in soil columns flooded with secondary sewage effluent.

Secondary sewage effluent containing about 3 X 10(4) plaque-forming units of polio virus type 1 (LSc) per ml was passed through columns 250 cm in length packed with calcareous sand from an area in the Salt River bed used for ground-water recharge of secondary sewage effluent. Viruses were not detected in 1-ml samples extracted from the columns below the 160-cm level. However, viruses were detected in 5 of 43 100-ml samples of the column drainage water. Most of the viruses were adsorbed in the top 5 cm of soil. Virus removal was not affected by the infiltration rate, which varied between 15 and 55 cm/day. Flooding a column continuosly for 27 days with the sewage water virus mixture did not saturate the top few centimeters of soil with viruses and did not seem to affect virus movement. Flooding with deionized water caused virus desorption from the soil and increased their movement through the columns. Adding CaCl2 to the deionized water prevented most of the virus desorption. Adding a pulse of deionized water followed by sewage water started a virus front moving through the columns, but the viruses were readsorbed and none was detected in outflow samples. Drying the soil for 1 day between applying the virus and flooding with deionized water greatly reduced desorption, and drying for 5 days prevented desorption. Large reductions (99.99% or more) of virus would be expected after passage of secondary sewage effluent through 250 cm of the calcareous sand similar to that used in our laboratory columns unless heavy rains fell within 1 day after the application of sewage stopped. Such virus movement could be minimized by the proper management of flooding and drying cycles.     

Effect of soil permeability on virus removal through soil columns.

Laboratory experiments were performed on four different soils, using 100 cm long columns, to determine the extent of virus movement when wastewater percolated through the soils at various hydraulic flow rates. Unchlorinated secondary sewage effluent seeded with either poliovirus type 1 (strain LSc) or echovirus type 1 (isolate V239) was continuously applied to soil columns for 3 to 4 days at constant flow rates. Water samples were extracted daily from ceramic samplers at various depths of the column for the virus assay. The effectiveness of virus removal from wastewater varied greatly among the different soil types but appeared to be largely related to hydraulic flow rates. At a flow rate of 33 cm/day, Anthony sandy loam removed 99% of seeded poliovirus within the first 7 cm of the column. At flow rates of 300 cm/day and above, Rubicon sand gave the poorest removal of viruses; less than 90% of the seeded viruses were removed by passage of effluent through the entire length of the soil column. By linear regression analyses, the rate of virus removal in soil columns was found to be negatively correlated with the flow of the percolating sewage effluent. There was no significant difference in rate of removal between poliovirus and echovirus in soil columns 87 cm long. The rate of virus removal in the upper 17 cm of the soil column was found to be significantly greater than in the lower depths of the soil column. This study suggests that the flow rate of water through the soil may be the most important factor in predicting the potential of virus movement into the groundwater. Furthermore, the length of the soil column is critical in obtaining useful data to predict virus movement into groundwater.     

Effects of different sewage sludge applications on heavy metal accumulation,growth and yield of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.)

In this study, we present the response of spinach to different amendment rates of sewage sludge (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 g kg^?1) in a greenhouse pot experiment, where plant growth, biomass and heavy metal uptake were measured. The results showed that sewage sludge application increased soil electric conductivity (EC), organic matter, chromium and zinc concentrations and decreased soil pH. All heavy metal concentrations of the sewage sludge were below the permissible limits for land application of sewage sludge recommended by the Council of the European Communities. Biomass and all growth parameters (except the shoot/root ratio) of spinach showed a positive response to sewage sludge applications up to 40 g kg^?1 compared to the control soil. Increasing the sewage sludge amendment rate caused an increase in all heavy metal concentrations (except lead) in spinach root and shoot. However, all heavy metal concentrations (except chromium and iron) were in the normal range and did not reach the phytotoxic levels. The spinach was characterized by a bioaccumulation factor <1.0 for all heavy metals. The translocation factor (TF) varied among the heavy metals as well as among the sewage sludge amendment rates. Spinach translocation mechanisms clearly restricted heavy metal transport to the edible parts (shoot) because the TFs for all heavy metals (except zinc) were <1.0. In conclusion, sewage sludge used in the present study can be considered for use as a fertilizer in spinach production systems in Saudi Arabia, and the results can serve as a management method for sewage sludge.     

Influence of soil type, moisture content and biosolids application on the fate of Escherichia coli in agricultural soil under controlled laboratory conditions

AIMS: To determine the fate of the enteric indicator organism, Escherichia coli, in sewage sludge (biosolids)-amended agricultural soil in relation to soil type and moisture status under controlled conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: We enumerated Escherichia coli in soil by membrane filtration and most probable number techniques. The background concentration of E. coli was higher in sandy loam than in silty clay soil. E. coli numbers increased in soil following addition of dewatered, mesophilic anaerobically digested sludge. Escherichia coli declined to a small extent with time in both moist and air-dried unamended control soils, although decay was only highly significant (P < 0.001) in moist sandy loam (T(90) = 100 days). Removal rates were high in sludge-treated moist soil (T(90) = 20 days), but were significantly reduced in amended air-dried soil. CONCLUSIONS: Slow removal of E. coli in air-dried soil as against their rapid decay in moist soil after sludge application indicated that the soil biota are involved in pathogen reduction processes in sludge-amended soil. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Soil ecological mechanisms are implicated as having a critical role in the fate of enteric organisms introduced into temperate agricultural soil in sewage sludge.