Effects of Pb Smelting on the Soil Bacterial Community near a Secondary Lead Plant

Zhanbin Luo, Jing Ma, Fu Chen, Xiaoxiao Li and Shaoliang Zhang
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Zhanbin Luo: School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221008, Jiangsu, China
Jing Ma: School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221008, Jiangsu, China
Fu Chen: School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221008, Jiangsu, China
Xiaoxiao Li: School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221008, Jiangsu, China
Shaoliang Zhang: School of Environment Science and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221008, Jiangsu, China

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 5, 1-16

Abstract: Secondary lead smelting is a widespread industrial activity which has exacerbated Pb or Cd contamination of soil and water across the world. Soil physicochemical properties, soil enzyme activities, heavy metal concentrations, and bacterial diversity near a secondary lead plant in Xuzhou, China were examined in this study. The results showed that secondary lead smelting activities influenced nearby soils. Soil acidification decreased one order of magnitude, with a mean value of 7.3. Soil organic matter also showed a downward trend, while potassium and nitrogen appeared to accumulate. Soil urease and protease activity increased in samples with greater heavy metal pollution, but overall the soil microbial biodiversity decreased. Soil heavy metal concentration—especially Pb and Cd—greatly exceeded the concentrations of Chinese Environmental Quality Standard for Soils (GB 15618-1995). Some environmental factors—such as pH, organic matter, enzyme activity, and the concentration of heavy metals—significantly affected bacterial diversity: compared with the control site, the Chao1 estimator decreased about 50%, while the Shannon diversity index dropped approximately 20%. Moreover, some genera have significant relationships with heavy metal concentration—such as Ramlibacter with Zn and Steroidobacter with Cd—which might act as bio-indicators for soil remediation. These results will provide a new insight in the future for reclaiming soil contaminants caused by secondary lead smelting.

Keywords: secondary lead; bacterial community; lead contamination; high-throughput sequencing; environmental management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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