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Evaluation of ecotoxicological and chemical properties of soil amended with Hudson River (New York, USA) sediment

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the potential for application of Hudson River sediment as a plant growth medium by mixing with various proportions of soil. The growth medium obtained by the admixture of soil and Hudson River sediment was characterized by optimal pH, reduced salinity, and presence of macro- (K, Mg) and micronutrients (Fe, Mn). Apart from beneficial nutrients and organic matter, the riverine sediment also contained toxic metals (Zn 86 mg; Cu 17.8 mg; Ni 16.6 mg; Cr 20.7 mg; Cd 0.46 mg; Pb 20.7 mg/kg, at concentrations below the threshold effect concentration) and PCBs (total concentration 254 ng/g), which can have a negative impact on soil ecosystems. The results ecological risk assessment of six trace elements and PCBs in sediment suggested medium/moderate risk (PECq = 0.21) and the need for ecotoxicological tests prior to its use as a growth medium. However, ecotoxicity tests of the soil/sediment admixture indicated that it was non-toxic or less-toxic to crustacean Heterocypris incongruens (PE = − 8–38%) and bacteria Aliivibrio fischeri (PE = − 20–38). For Sinapis alba L. and Lepidium sativum L., the germination index (GI) indicated the dominance of inhibitory effect on plant growth; whereas for the Sorghum saccharatum L., the GI value showed the stimulatory effect. Based on the above physicochemical and ecotoxicological analyses, the sediment was found suitable for use as a growth medium, for non-edible plants. It is worth to underline that this sediment was collected from relatively less contaminated location of the river and therefore the results may not represent sediments from entire stretch of the Hudson River.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Mr. Karl Brosch at Wadsworth Center, NYSDOH, for his assistance in conducting the study, and Dr. Hongkai Zhu and Mr. Jin Park for their help during sediment sampling.

Funding

The study was supported by the Kosciuszko Foundation Exchange Program to Magdalena Urbaniak for travel to the USA and by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Empire State Plaza, P.O. Box 509, Albany, NY, 12201-0509, USA

    Magdalena Urbaniak, Sunmi Lee, Mari Takazawa & Kurunthachalam Kannan

  2. Department of Applied Ecology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Banacha 12/16, 90-237, Lodz, Poland

    Magdalena Urbaniak & Elżbieta Mierzejewska

  3. Department of Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Al. Mickiewicza 21, 31-120, Krakow, Poland

    Agnieszka Baran & Magdalena Szara

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  1. Magdalena Urbaniak
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Correspondence to Agnieszka Baran.

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Urbaniak, M., Baran, A., Szara, M. et al. Evaluation of ecotoxicological and chemical properties of soil amended with Hudson River (New York, USA) sediment. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 7388–7397 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-07354-6

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