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. 2016 Jun 16:6:28069.
doi: 10.1038/srep28069.

Influence of fullerene (C60) on soil bacterial communities: aqueous aggregate size and solvent co-introduction effects

Zhong-Hua Tong  1   2 , Marianne Bischoff  2 , Loring F Nies  3 , Natalie J Carroll  4 , Bruce Applegate  5 , Ronald F Turco  2
Affiliations

Influence of fullerene (C60) on soil bacterial communities: aqueous aggregate size and solvent co-introduction effects

Zhong-Hua Tong et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Fullerene C60 nanoparticles are being used in broad range of applications. It is important to assess their potential impacts in the environment. We evaluated the effects of C60 introduced as aqueous suspensions of nC60 aggregates of different particle size or via organic solvents on soils with different organic matter contents in this study. Impacts of the application were evaluated by measuring total microbial biomass, metabolic activity and bacterial community structure. Results show that nC60 aggregates, introduced as an aqueous suspension, had size-dependent effects on soil bacterial community composition in the low organic matter system, but induced minimal change in the microbial biomass and metabolic activity in soils with both high and low organic matter contents. Fullerene C60, co-introduced via an organic solvent, did not influence the response of soil microbes to the organic solvents. Our results suggest that nC60 aggregates of smaller size may have negative impact on soil biota and soil organic matter may play a key role in modulating the environmental effect of nanomaterials.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Microbial activity estimated by 14CO2 released (% of 14C applied) 3 hours following 14C-labled glucose amendment.
(a) Soils treated with C60 aggregates in aqueous suspensions (nC60) of different size, tetrahydrofuran residue (THF-R) and water (control) weekly. (b) Soils treated with solvents saturated with or without C60 at different doses (denoted as CL, CM and CH) after a 2-week incubation. Data are mean values ± SD, n = 3, *P < 0.05 compared to the control.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Microbial biomass indicated as total phospholipid-PO4.
(a) Soils treated with tetrahydrofuran residue (THF-R), C60 aggregates in aqueous suspensions (nC60) of different size compared with the control after a 7-week incubation. (b) Soils treated with solvents saturated with or without C60 at different doses (denoted as CL, CM and CH) after a 2-week incubation. Data are mean values ± SD, n = 3, *P < 0.05 compared to the control.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Microbial community analysis of the Drummer and Tracy soil samples treated with C60 aggregates in aqueous suspensions (nC60) of different size, tetrahydrofuran residue (THF-R), and water (control).
(a,b) DGGE profiles of 16S rRNA gene fragments. (c,d) Dendrograms based on UPGMA cluster analysis showing similarity of the DGGE profiles. Lane M: DGGE marker. Arrows indicate the bands which were extracted from the gels for sequence analysis.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Microbial community analysis for the Drummer soil treated with solvents saturated with or without C60 at different doses (denoted as CL, CM and CH).
(a) DGGE profiles of 16S rRNA gene fragments. (b) Dendrograms based on UPGMA cluster analysis showing similarity of the DGGE profiles. Lane M: DGGE marker. Arrows indicate the bands which were extracted from the gels for sequence analysis.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Microbial community analysis for the Tracy soil treated with solvents saturated with or without C60 at different doses (denoted as CL, CM and CH).
(a) DGGE profiles of 16S rRNA gene fragments. (b) Dendrograms based on UPGMA cluster analysis showing similarity of the DGGE profiles. Lane M: DGGE marker. Arrows indicate the bands which were extracted from the gels for sequence analysis.
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