Effects of sewage sludge on Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate uptake by plants. [Lactuca sativa L. ; Daucus carota L. ; Capsicum annuum L. ; Festuca arundinacea Schreb]

Journal Article · · Journal of Environmental Quality; (USA)

OSTI ID:7197506

Aranda, J M; O'Connor, G A; Eiceman, G A ^[1]

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1. New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces (USA)

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a priority organic pollutant frequently found in municipal sludges. A greenhouse study was conducted to determine the effect of sludge on plant uptake of {sup 14}C-DEHP (carbonyl labeled). Plants grown included three food chain crops, lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), carrot (Daucus carota L.) and chile pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Net {sup 14}C concentration in plants grown in soil amended with {sup 14}C-DEHP-contaminated sludge was independent of sludge rate (at the same DEHP loading) for lettuce, chile fruit, and carrot roots. Net {sup 14}C concentration, however, was inversely related to sludge rate in carrot tops, fescue, and chile plants. Intact DEHP was not detected in plants by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis. Calculated plant DEHP concentrations (based on measured net {sup 14}C concentrations and DEHP specific activities) were generally correlated better with DEHP soil solution concentrations than with total DEHP soil concentrations. Net {sup 14}C-DEHP bioconcentration factors were calculated from initial soil DEHP concentration and plant fresh weights. Bioconcentration factors ranged from 0.01 to 0.03 for fescue, lettuce, carrots, and chile, suggesting little DEHP uptake. Additionally, because intact DEHP was not detected in any plants, DEHP uptake by plants was of minor importance and would not limit sludge additions to soils used to grow these crops.

• OSTI ID: 7197506
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Quality; (USA), Vol. 18:1; ISSN 0047-2425
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
PHTHALIC ACID ESTERS
UPTAKE
PLANTS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
SEWAGE SLUDGE
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
GRASS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VEGETABLES
ESTERS
FOOD
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LILIOPSIDA
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
SEWAGE
SLUDGES
WASTES
540211* - Environment
Terrestrial- Basic Studies- Radiometric Techniques- (1990-)