Effects of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances(PFAS)on soil structure and function

Soils are impacted globally by several anthropogenic factors,including chemical pollutants.Among those,perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances(PFAS)are of concern due to their high environmental persistence,and as they might affect soil structure and function.However,data on impacts of PFAS on soil structure and microbially-driven processes are currently lacking.This study explored the effects of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid(PFOS),perfluorooctanoic acid(PFOA)and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid(PFBS)at environmental-relevant concentrations on soil health,using a 6-week microcosm experiment.PFAS(even at 0.5 ng g-1 for PFBS)significantly increased litter decomposition,associated with positive effects on-glucosidase activities.This effect increased with PFAS concentrations.Soil pH was significantly increased,likely as a direct consequence of increased litter decomposition affected by PFAS.Soil respiration was significantly inhibited by PFAS in week 3,while this effect was more variable in week 6.Water-stable aggregates were negatively affected by PFOS,possibly related to microbial shifts.PFAS affected soil bacterial and fungal abundance,but not microbial and certain enzyme activities.Our work highlights the potential effects of PFAS on soil health,and we argue that this substance class could be a factor of environmental change of potentially broad relevance in terrestrial ecosystem functioning.

Biochar pyrolyzed at low temperature enhanced acidophilous plant growth by promoting rhizospheric microbes in a slightly alkaline urban soil

Biochar has been considered as a potential way to enhance acidophilous plant growth in alkaline soils.However,whether such enhancements are closely linked with biochar pyrolysis temperature and its improvements in rhizospheric soil fertility and microbial activities remains largely unknown.We performed a pot experiment to investigate changes in azalea(Rhodo-dendron)morphology and physiology,as well as its rhizosphere soil chemical and biological properties in a slightly alkaline urban soil under the amendment of biochars that pyrolyzed at three temperatures(i.e.,350,550 and 700°C).Our results showed that the effects of biochars on plant growth and soil properties depended on pyrolysis temperature.In comparison with the non-amended control,350 and 550°C biochars showed significant promotions on the azalea growth in terms of photosynthetic characteristics,biomass,root morphology,and N and P uptake.Whereas,700°C biochar showed an inhibi-tion effect on them.350°C biochar decreased soil pH and increased soil available P and K contents and the activities ofα-glucosidase,N-β-glucosaminidase,phosphatase and sulfatase.In addition,350°C biochar significantly enhanced bacterial 16S rRNA and fungal 18S rRNA gene abundances in the rhizosphere soil of azalea and mycorrhizal infection.Correlation analysis indicated that soil pH,available nutrients and fungal abundance had positive associations with the enhanced plant growth parameters.Therefore,our findings suggest that biochar produced at low temperature could be a feasible strategy for enhancing acidophilous azalea growth and improving urban soil quality.