Paul Bertsch - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Paul Bertsch

Science of The Total Environment, 2020

Seven virus concentration methods were evaluated to recover CoV from wastewater. • The mean MHV r... more Seven virus concentration methods were evaluated to recover CoV from wastewater. • The mean MHV recoveries ranged from 26.7 to 65.7%. • Adsorption-extraction with MgCl 2 pretreatment most efficiently concentrated MHV. • MHV seems to be an appropriate process control.

Highly acidic and metal-rich runoff from coal storage facilities can have a dramatic impact on lo... more Highly acidic and metal-rich runoff from coal storage facilities can have a dramatic impact on local surface water and groundwater quality. In order to identify important reactions governing metal transport within subsurface environments subject to infiltration of coal pile runoff (CPR), samples of uncontaminated subsoil adjacent to a coal stockpile runoff containment basin at the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site were collected and subjected to leaching with acidic, metalliferous CPR. Effluent was collected and multicomponent transport through the subsoil evaluated. Mass balance calculations, a sequential dissolution scheme in which column leaching was terminated and elements were partitioned to water, 1 M NH4C1, and ammonium oxalate in the dark-extractable phases, and mineralogical and surface chemical analyses were used to identify important chemical processes and mineralogical alterations occurring during leaching. The manner in which a chemical material partitions among the dissolved (D), particulate (P), and colloidal (C) phases affects both its chemical and physical behavior in the aquatic environment. The fractions of the chemical that are present in each of these three phases will be determined by the values of two simple parameters, KjSp/av and KcSJctv,. The variables K? and Kc are the particle/ water and colloid/water partition constants (mL/g), respectively, Sp and Sc are the volume concentrations of particulate and colloidal material (mg/L), respectively, and aw is the fractional volume of the system that is aqueous. This parameterization allows a rapid overview of how partitioning (1) changes as a function of chemical partitioning properties and water type, (2) affects apparent partition constants (i.e., X"pp values) computed between the particulate phase and the remainder of the system, and (3) causes Kppp values to become independent of chemical properties at high values of KcSQ/aw.

$Research paper thumbnail of Nanoparticles Composed of Zn and ZnO Inhibit \u3cem\u3ePeronospora tabacina\u3c/em\u3e Spore Germination \u3cem\u3ein vitro\u3c/em\u3e and \u3cem\u3eP. tabacina\u3c/em\u3e Infectivity on Tobacco Leaves$

Manufactured nanoparticles (NPs) are increasingly being used for commercial purposes and certain ... more Manufactured nanoparticles (NPs) are increasingly being used for commercial purposes and certain NP types have been shown to have broad spectrum antibacterial activity. In contrast, their activities against fungi and fungi-like oomycetes are less studied. Here, we examined the potential of two types of commercially available Zn NPs (Zn NPs and ZnO NPs) to inhibit spore germination and infectivity on tobacco leaves resulting from exposure to the fungi-like oomycete pathogen Peronospora tabacina (P. tabacina). Both types of NPs, as well as ZnCl2 and bulk ZnO control treatments, inhibited spore germination compared to a blank control. ZnO ENMs were shown to be a much more powerful suppressor of spore germination and infectivity than bulk ZnO. ZnO and Zn NPs significantly inhibited leaf infection at 8 and 10 mg·L−1, respectively. Both types of NPs were found to provide substantially higher concentration dependent inhibition of spore germination and infectivity than could be readily expl...

Plant, Cell and Environment, 1997

Hydrolysis of Al 3+ was performed in the presence of isolated root cell walls from a series of wh... more Hydrolysis of Al 3+ was performed in the presence of isolated root cell walls from a series of wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.) known to have differential tolerance to Al contamination. Aluminium speciation was dependent on the cell wall concentration. At low cell wall concentrations, significant amounts of the very toxic Al 13 species were formed. At higher cell wall concentrations, formation of the tridecamer was hindered or completely inhibited. The sensitive wheat cultivars displayed a higher affinity for aluminium than the tolerant cultivars. A possible Al tolerance mechanism based on cell wall permeability is discussed.

Science of The Total Environment, 2021

This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2009

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) investigated the natural attenuation of chlorinated volatile or... more The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) investigated the natural attenuation of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. Investigations focused on a contaminant plume that discharges from a sand aquifer, through organic-rich wetland sediments, to a freshwater tidal creek. Over a fiveyear period, the hydrogeology and geochemistry along wetland flow paths and the rates of biodegradation and sorption were studied. Several major findings of the study indicate that natural attenuation is occurring at the West Branch Canal Creek site. Based on the results of this study, natural attenuation has been proposed as a clean-up remedy in an interim record of decision for the West Branch Canal Creek site.

Clay mineralogists, soil chemists, and environmental geochemists have long recognized the unique ... more Clay mineralogists, soil chemists, and environmental geochemists have long recognized the unique properties of both crystalline and poorly ordered nanoscale phases ubiquitous in earth systems; however, widespread recognition of the occurrence and unique properties of these phases has only relatively recently emerged along with the commercial popularity of nanotechnology. The emergence of new powerful tools for examining nanoscale materials over the past one and a half decades has also spawned great interest in the occurrence, distribution, and properties of nanoscale mineral phases in terrestrial and aquatic systems and their role in facilitating/directing coupled biogeochemical processes that are critical for elemental cycling and contaminant fate and behaviour.

Scientific reports, Jan 27, 2018

Soil-borne colloids have been linked to long-distance transport of radionuclides, metal(loid)s an... more Soil-borne colloids have been linked to long-distance transport of radionuclides, metal(loid)s and nutrients. Colloid-associated nitrogen (N) will have different mechanisms of biogeochemical cycling and potential for water-borne transport over longer distances compared to dissolved N. The role that colloids play in the supply and mobility of N within catchments discharging into the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) lagoon is unexplored. Here, we examine water-dispersible clay (WDC) from soil samples collected from gullies and agricultural drains within three different land uses (sugarcane, non-agricultural land and grazing) within the Townsville area. The proportion of soil N associated with WDC was inversely correlated with total soil N, with up to 45% of the total soil N being colloid-associated in low N gully soils. Within the <0.45 µm fraction of the WDC, only 17-25% of the N was truly dissolved (<3 kDa) at the gully sites compared to 58% in the sugarcane sites. Our results demonst...

Biointerphases, Jan 4, 2017

Metal containing engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are now commonly used in various industrial and ... more Metal containing engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are now commonly used in various industrial and commercial applications. Many of these materials can be transformed during waste water treatment and ultimately enter terrestrial ecosystems via agriculturally applied biosolids. It is unclear how agriculturally important soil microbes will be affected by exposure to environmentally relevant, sublethal concentrations of ENMs and their transformation products (i.e., ions, aggregates, etc.). A method was developed, which puts O2 consumption responses in terms of viability, and tested by examining the toxic effects of Ag(+), Zn(2+), and Ni(2+) ions on the plant growth promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) Bacillus amyloliquefaciens GB03. The method was then used to examine the toxicity of Ag(+), as-synthesized polyvinylpyrrolidone-coated silver ENM (PVP-AgENMs), and 100% sulfidized AgENM on B. amyloliquefaciens GB03, and two additional PGPRs Sinorhizobium meliloti 2011, and Pseudomonas putida UW4...

Environmental Science & Technology

Chronic exposure to environmental contaminants can induce heritable &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;... more Chronic exposure to environmental contaminants can induce heritable &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;transgenerational&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; modifications to organisms, potentially affecting future ecosystem health and functionality. Incorporating transgenerational epigenetic heritability into risk assessment procedures has been previously suggested. However, a critical review of existing literature yielded numerous studies claiming transgenerational impacts, with little compelling evidence. Therefore, contaminant-induced epigenetic inheritance may be less common than is reported in the literature. We identified a need for multigeneration epigenetic studies that extend beyond what could be deemed &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;direct exposure&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; to F1 and F2 gametes and also include subsequent multiple nonexposed generations to adequately evaluate transgenerational recovery times. Also, increased experimental replication is required to account for the highly variable nature of epigenetic responses and apparent irreproducibility of current studies. Further, epigenetic end points need to be correlated with observable detrimental organism changes before a need for risk management can be properly determined. We suggest that epigenetic-based contaminant studies include concentrations lower than current &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;EC10-20&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; or &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;Lowest Observable Effect Concentrations&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; for the organism&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s most sensitive phenotypic end point, as higher concentrations are likely already regulated. Finally, we propose a regulatory framework and optimal experimental design that enables transgenerational epigenetic effects to be assessed and incorporated into conventional ecotoxicological testing.

Environmental Science Technology, 1992

Environmental science & technology, Aug 5, 2016

The widespread use of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) results in their movement into wastewater tre... more The widespread use of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) results in their movement into wastewater treatment facilities and subsequently to agricultural soils via application of contaminated sludge. On-route, the chemical properties of Ag may change and further alterations are possible upon entry to soil. In the present study, we examined the long-term stability and (bio)availability of Ag along the 'wastewater-sludge-soil' pathway. Synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) revealed that ca. 99% of Ag added to the sludge reactors as either Ag-NPs or AgNO3 was retained in sludge, with ≥ 79% of this being transformed to Ag2S, with the majority ( ≥ 87%) remaining in this form even after introduction to soils at various pH values and Cl concentrations for up to 400 d. Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT), chemical extraction, and plant uptake experiments indicated that the potential (bio)availability of Ag in soil was low but increased markedly in soils with elevated C...

Nanomaterials, 2016

Bioaccumulation of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) by plants has been demonstrated in numerous st... more Bioaccumulation of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) by plants has been demonstrated in numerous studies over the past 5-10 years. However, the overwhelming majority of these studies were conducted using hydroponic systems and the degree to which the addition of the biological and chemical components present in the soil might fundamentally alter the potential of plant bioaccumulation of ENMs is unclear. Here, we used two genotypes of Solanum lycopersicum (tomato), reduced mycorrhizal colonization (rmc), a mutant which does not allow arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization, and its progenitor, 76R, to examine how colonization by AMF alters trends of gold ENM bioaccumulation from a natural soil. Gold was taken up and bioaccumulated by plants of both genotypes. Gold concentrations were significantly higher in the rmc treatment although this was likely attributable to the large differences in biomass between the 76R and rmc plants. Regardless, there was little evidence that AMF played a significant role in trafficking Au ENMs into the plants. Furthermore, despite very low NH 4 NO 3 extractable Au concentrations, Au accumulated at the root-soil interface. Although this observation would seem to suggest that ENMs may have potential to influence this particularly biologically active and important soil compartment, we observed no evidence of this here, as the 76R plants developed a robust AMF symbiosis despite accumulation of Au ENMs at the rhizoplane.

Microbial Ecology, 2006

Microbial communities from riparian sediments contaminatedwith high levels of Ni and U were exami... more Microbial communities from riparian sediments contaminatedwith high levels of Ni and U were examined for metal-tolerantmicroorganisms. Isolation of four aerobic Ni-tolerant, Gram-positiveheterotrophic bacteria indicated selection pressure from Ni. Theseisolates were identified as Arthrobacter oxydans NR-1, Streptomycesgalbus NR-2, Streptomyces aureofaciens NR-3, and Kitasatosporacystarginea NR-4 based on partial 16S rDNA sequences. A functional genemicroarray containing gene probes for functions associated withbiogeochemical cycling,

Environmental Geosciences, 2005

Environmental Science & Technology, 2003

Optimization of phytoremediation and assessment of potential health hazards from metals in the en... more Optimization of phytoremediation and assessment of potential health hazards from metals in the environment requires an understanding of absorption, localization, and transport of the target metal by plants. The objectives of this study were to localize Cr and determine the oxidation state and possible complexation mode of Cr in intact plant tissue by means of XANES, synchrotron XRF microprobe spectroscopy, and EPR spectroscopy. Subterranean clover (Trifolium brachycalycinum) was grown hydroponically with Cr(VI) (0.04-2.0 mmol L -1 ) and compared with plants grown without Cr and with inorganic Cr(III) and various Cr(III)-organic sources. The uptake, translocation, and form of Cr in the plant were dependent on the form and concentration of supplied Cr. Chromium was found predominately in the +3 oxidation state, regardless of the Cr source supplied to the plant, though at high Cr(VI) treatment concentrations, Cr(VI) and Cr(V) were also observed. At low Cr(VI) concentrations, the plant effectively reduced the toxic Cr(VI) to less toxic Cr(III), which was observed both as a Cr(III) hydroxide phase at the roots and as a Cr(III)organic complex in the roots and shoots. At low Cr(VI) treatment concentrations, Cr in the leaves was observed predominately around the leaf margins, while at higher concentrations Cr was accumulated at leaf veins.

ABSTRACT The Atlantic Coastal Plain physiographic unit of the eastern US represents a large land ... more ABSTRACT The Atlantic Coastal Plain physiographic unit of the eastern US represents a large land area ranging from Mississippi to New Jersey. Soils widely distributed in this physiographic unit are characterized by highly weathered, deep coarse textured vadose zones, located on mature landscapes. Furthermore, soil types common in the upper coastal plain (UCP) region have strong similarities to soils widely distributed in watersheds of the Amazon Basin. Thus, an understanding of the biogeochemical dynamics controlling carbon fluxes in these systems has significant implications for natural resource management of large land areas and for the potential to enhance C-sequestration in the terrestrial biosphere. We have examined the distributions of lipids in vertical profiles in upland soils within the UCP. Our results showed that biogenic hydrocarbons, fatty acids, and aliphatic alcohols decreased with increasing depth within the soil profiles. However, differences were observed within subgroups of the lipid classes. The concentration of unsaturated fatty acids decreased markedly in the subsoil horizons while cuticular fatty acids increased. This was especially pronounced when considered as a relative proportion of total lipids. The alcohol fraction was dominated by long-chain aliphatic alcohols of cuticular origin which also increased in relative proportion with depth. Additional studies of a selected profile showed that the lipid composition of the colloidal fraction extracted with water from the surface horizon closely resembled the lipid composition of the deeper soil horizon. These results are corroborated by mineralogical analysis of colloids associated with subsoils which suggest they are derived from the surface the horizons and suggest that the colloidal phase plays an important role in controlling the flux of these cuticular lipid components to the deep sandy, E horizon subsoils.

Environmental science & …, Jan 1, 1993

Journal of Environment Quality, 1996

... with microwave heating (Oilman. 1988; Ncas and Collins. 1988; Matusiewicz and Sturgeon. 1989;... more ... with microwave heating (Oilman. 1988; Ncas and Collins. 1988; Matusiewicz and Sturgeon. 1989; Kimber and Kobot. 1990). Digested samples were then transferred to acid washed polyethylene bottles. Another aliquot of the ...