Gentle remediation options for soil with mixed chromium (VI) and lindane pollution: biostimulation, bioaugmentation, phytoremediation and vermiremediation
Rafael G. Lacalle,
Juan D. Aparicio,
Unai Artetxe,
Erik Urionabarrenetxea,
Marta A. Polti,
Manuel Soto,
Carlos Garbisu,
José M. Becerril
Affiliations
Rafael G. Lacalle
Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Bº Sarriena s/n, E-48940, Leioa, Spain; Corresponding author.
Juan D. Aparicio
Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos (PROIMI), CONICET, Av. Belgrano y Pasaje Caseros, 4000, Tucumán, Argentina; Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Ayacucho, 491. 4000, Tucumán, Argentina
Unai Artetxe
Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Bº Sarriena s/n, E-48940, Leioa, Spain
Erik Urionabarrenetxea
Department of Zoology and Animal Cell Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Bº Sarriena s/n, 48940, Leioa, Spain; Department of Zoology and Animal Cell Biology, Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Areatza Z-G, E-48620, Plentzia, Spain
Marta A. Polti
Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Ayacucho, 491. 4000, Tucumán, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Miguel Lillo 205, 4000, Tucumán, Argentina
Manuel Soto
Department of Zoology and Animal Cell Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Bº Sarriena s/n, 48940, Leioa, Spain; Department of Zoology and Animal Cell Biology, Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Areatza Z-G, E-48620, Plentzia, Spain
Carlos Garbisu
NEIKER, Department of Conservation of Natural Resources, c/Berreaga 1, E-48160, Derio, Spain
José M. Becerril
Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Bº Sarriena s/n, E-48940, Leioa, Spain
Gentle Remediation Options (GROs), such as biostimulation, bioaugmentation, phytoremediation and vermiremediation, are cost-effective and environmentally-friendly solutions for soils simultaneously polluted with organic and inorganic compounds. This study assessed the individual and combined effectiveness of GROs in recovering the health of a soil artificially polluted with hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] and lindane. A greenhouse experiment was performed using organically-amended vs. non-amended mixed polluted soils. All soils received the following treatments: (i) no treatment; (ii) bioaugmentation with an actinobacteria consortium; (iii) vermiremediation with Eisenia fetida; (iv) phytoremediation with Brassica napus; (v) bioaugmentation + vermiremediation; (vi) bioaugmentation + phytoremediation; and (vii) bioaugmentation + vermiremediation + phytoremediation. Soil health recovery was determined based on Cr(VI) and lindane concentrations, microbial properties and toxicity bioassays with plants and worms. Cr(VI) pollution caused high toxicity, but some GROs were able to partly recover soil health: (i) the organic amendment decreased Cr(VI) concentrations, alleviating toxicity; (ii) the actinobacteria consortium was effective at removing both Cr(VI) and lindane; (iii) B. napus and E. fetida had a positive effect on the removal of pollutants and improved microbial properties. The combination of the organic amendment, B. napus, E. fetida and the actinobacteria consortium was the most effective strategy.
