A new approach to estimate bioavailability of pyrethroids in soil by compound-specific stable isotope analysis.

In this study, the microbial degradation of six pyrethroids (bifenthrin, fenpropathrin, permethrin, α-cypermethrin, fenvalerate and deltamethrin) was investigated in soil to develop a new approach to estimate bioavailability of pyrethoids by compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA). After 56-day incubation, the residual concentrations of pyrethroids in unsterilized soil were much lower than those in sterilized soil, indicating that microbial degradation was dominant for the elimination of pyrethroids. Meanwhile, the stable carbon isotope ratios of the six pyrethroids were determined during the degradation. Significant stable carbon isotope fractionation was observed during the microbial degradation of fenpropathrin, α-cypermethrin and deltamethrinhe. The enrichment factor ε was determined as -1.88‰, -1.82‰ and -2.00‰, respectively. A new approach was then developed to estimate the bioavailability of the three pyrethroids by determining stable carbon isotope ratios. The approach established in the study provides an alternative method to dynamically and quantitatively estimate bioavailability of compounds in soil based on CSIA.

Xu Z ，Liu W ，Yang F 《-》

Microbial degradation of alpha-cypermethrin in soil by compound-specific stable isotope analysis.

To assess microbial degradation of alpha-cypermethrin in soil, attenuation of alpha-cypermethrin was investigated by compound-specific stable isotope analysis. The variations of the residual concentrations and stable carbon isotope ratios of alpha-cypermethrin were detected in unsterilized and sterilized soils spiked with alpha-cypermethrin. After an 80 days' incubation, the concentrations of alpha-cypermethrin decreased to 0.47 and 3.41 mg/kg in the unsterilized soils spiked with 2 and 10 mg/kg, while those decreased to 1.43 and 6.61 mg/kg in the sterilized soils. Meanwhile, the carbon isotope ratios shifted to -29.14 ± 0.22‰ and -29.86 ± 0.33‰ in the unsterilized soils spiked with 2 and 10 mg/kg, respectively. The results revealed that microbial degradation contributed to the attenuation of alpha-cypermethrin and induced the carbon isotope fractionation. In order to quantitatively assess microbial degradation, a relationship between carbon isotope ratios and residual concentrations of alpha-cypermethrin was established according to Rayleigh equation. An enrichment factor, ϵ = -1.87‰ was obtained, which can be employed to assess microbial degradation of alpha-cypermethrin. The significant carbon isotope fractionation during microbial degradation suggests that CSIA is a proper approach to qualitatively detect and quantitatively assess the biodegradation during attenuation process of alpha-cypermethrin in the field.

Xu Z ，Shen X ，Zhang XC ，Liu W ，Yang F ... -  《-》

Estimation of soil-specific microbial degradation of alpha-cypermethrin by compound-specific stable isotope analysis.

Jin S ，Yao X ，Xu Z ，Zhang X ，Yang F ... -  《-》

Physical and chemical properties of pyrethroids.

Laskowski DA 《Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology》

Assessing microbial degradation degree and bioavailability of BDE-153 in natural wetland soils: Implication by compound-specific stable isotope analysis.

Microbial degradation is an important pathway for the attenuation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in natural soils. In this study, the compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) was applied to characterize microbial degradation of BDE-153, one of the prevailing and toxic PBDE congeners, in natural wetland soils. During the 45-day incubation, the residual percentages of BDE-153 decreased to 67.9% and 73.6% in non-sterilized soils spiked with 1.0 and 5.0 μg/g, respectively, which were both much lower than those in sterilized soils (96.0% and 97.2%). This result indicated that microbial degradation could accelerate BDE-153 elimination in wetland soils. Meanwhile, the significant carbon isotope fractionation was observed in non-sterilized soils, with δ13C of BDE-153 shifting from -29.4‰ to -26.7‰ for 1.0 μg/g and to -27.2‰ for 5.0 μg/g, respectively, whilst not in sterilized soils. This phenomenon indicated microbial degradation could induce stable carbon isotope fractionation of BDE-153. The carbon isotope enrichment factor (εc) for BDE-153 microbial degradation was first determined as -7.58‰, which could be used to assess the microbial degradation and bioavailability of BDE-153 in wetland soils. Based on δ13C and εc, the new methods were developed to dynamically and quantitatively estimate degradation degree and bioavailability of BDE-153 during degradation process, respectively, which could exclude interference of physical processes. This work revealed that CSIA was a promising method to investigate in situ microbial degradation of PBDEs in field studies.

Wang G ，Liu Y ，Tao W ，Zhao X ，Wang H ，Lou Y ，Li N ，Liu Y ... -  《-》