Spatial-vertical variations of energetic compounds and microbial community response in soils from an ammunition demolition site in China

Huijun Zhang; Yongbing Zhu; Shiyu Wang; Sanping Zhao; Yaguang Nie; Chao Ji; Qing Wang; Xiaoyong Liao; Hongying Cao; Xiaodong Liu

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162553

Spatial-vertical variations of energetic compounds and microbial community response in soils from an ammunition demolition site in China

Sci Total Environ. 2023 Jun 1:875:162553. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162553. Epub 2023 Mar 8.

Authors

Huijun Zhang¹, Yongbing Zhu², Shiyu Wang¹, Sanping Zhao², Yaguang Nie³, Chao Ji¹, Qing Wang², Xiaoyong Liao⁴, Hongying Cao⁴, Xiaodong Liu⁵

Affiliations

¹ Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China.
² State Key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing 102205, China.
³ Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
⁵ Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Crust-Mantle Materials and Environments, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China. Electronic address: ycx@ustc.edu.cn.

PMID: 36898332
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162553

Abstract

Ammunition-related activities have caused severe energetic compound (EC) contamination and pose serious risks to ecosystems. However, little is known regarding the spatial-vertical variations of ECs or their migration in soils at ammunition demolition sites. Although the toxic effect of some ECs to microorganisms have been reported through laboratory simulations, the responses of indigenous microbial communities to ammunition demolition activities are unclear. In this study, the spatial-vertical variations of ECs in 117 topsoil samples and three soil profiles from a typical ammunition demolition site in China were studied. Heavy contamination of ECs was concentrated in the top soils of the work platforms, and ECs were also detected in the surrounding area and nearby farmland. ECs showed different migration characteristics in the 0-100 cm soil layer of the different soil profiles. Demolition activities and surface runoff play critical roles in the spatial-vertical variations and migration of ECs. These findings suggest that ECs are able to migrate from the topsoil to the subsoil and from the core demolition area to further ecosystems. The work platforms exhibited lower microbial diversity and different microbiota compositions compared to the surrounding areas and farmlands. Using the random forest analysis, pH and 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (TNB) were characterized as the most important factors affecting microbial diversity. Network analysis revealed that Desulfosporosinus was highly sensitive to ECs and may be a unique indicator of EC contamination. These findings provide key information in understanding EC migration characteristics in soils and the potential threats to indigenous soil microorganisms in ammunition demolition sites.

Keywords: Ammunition demolition; Energetic compounds; Microbial community; Soil; Spatial-vertical variations.

MeSH terms

China
Microbiota*
Soil / chemistry
Soil Microbiology
Soil Pollutants* / analysis
Weapons

Substances

Soil
Soil Pollutants