Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of heavy metal pollution on enzyme activities in railway cut slope soils

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Railway transportation is an important transportation mode. However, railway transportation causes heavy metal pollution in surrounding soils. Heavy metal pollution has a serious negative impact on the natural environment, including a decrease of enzyme activities in soil and degradation of sensitive ecosystems. Some studies investigated the heavy metal pollution at railway stations or certain transportation hubs. However, the pollution accumulated in artificial cut slope soil all along the rails is still questioned. The interest on non-point source pollution from railways is increasing in an effort to protect the soil quality along the line. In this study, we studied spatial distributions of heavy metals and five enzyme activities, i.e., urease (UA), saccharase (SAC), protease (PRO), catalase (CAT), and polyphenol oxidase (POA) in the soil, and the correlation among them beside three different railways in Sichuan Province, China, as well. Soil samples were respectively collected from 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 150 m away from the rails (depth of 0–8 cm). Results showed that Mn, Cd, Cu, and Zn were influenced by railway transportation in different degrees while Pb was not. Heavy metal pollution was due to the abrasion of the gravel bed as well as the tracks and freight transportation which caused more heavy metal pollution than passenger transportation. Enzymatic activities were significantly negatively correlated with heavy metals in soils, especially Zn and Cu. Finally, it is proposed that combined use of PRO and POA activities could be an indicator of the heavy metal pollution in cut slope soils. The protective measures aimed at heavy metal pollution caused by railway transportation in cut slope soils are urgent.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abrahim, G. M. S., & Parker, R. J. (2008). Assessment of heavy metal enrichment factors and the degree of contamination in marine sediments from Tamaki Estuary, Auckland, New Zealand. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 136(1–3), 227–238.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Achilleas, C., & Nikolaos, S. (2009). Heavy metal contamination in street dust and roadside soil along the major national road in Kavala’s region, Greece. Geoderma, 151, 257–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bao, S. D. (1981). Soil agricultural chemistry analysis. China Agriculture Press, 25–114.

  • Baran, A., & Tarnawski, M. (2015). Assessment of heavy metals mobility and toxicity in contaminated sediments by sequential extraction and a battery of bioassays. Ecotoxicology, 24, 1279–1293.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boussen, S., Soubrand, M., & Bril, H. (2013). Transfer of lead, zinc and cadmium from mine tailings to wheat (Triticum aestivum) in carbonated Mediterranean (Northern Tunisia) soils. Geoderma, 192, 227–236.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bradshaw, A. D. (1997). Restoration of mined lands using natural processes. Ecological Engineering, 8, 255–269.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bremner, J. M., & Mulvaney, R. L. (1978). Urease activity in soils (pp. 149–196). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brookes, P. C. (1995). The use of microbial parameters in monitoring soil pollution by heavy metals. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 19, 269–279.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burkhardt, M., Rossi, L., & Boller, M. (2008). Diffuse release of environmental hazards by railways. Desalination, 226(1–3), 106–113.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Z. Q., Ai, Y. W., & Fang, C. (2014a). Distribution and phytoavailability of heavy metal chemical fractions in artificial soil on rock cut slopes alongside railways. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 273(6), 165–173.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Z. Q., Wang, K. X., & Ai, Y. W. (2014b). The effects of railway transportation on the enrichment of heavy metals in the artificial soil on railway cut slopes. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 186(2), 1039–1049.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ewais, E. A. (1997). Effects of cadmium, nickel and lead on growth, chlorophyll content and proteins of weeds. Biologia Plantarum, 39(3), 403–410.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Filip, Z. (2002). International approach to assessing soil quality by ecologically-related biological parameters. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, 88(2), 169–174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frankenberger, W. T., & Dick, W. A. (1983). Relationship between enzyme activities and microbial growth and activity indices in soil. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 47(5), 945–951.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fu, S., Wei, C. Y., & Li, L. H. (2016). Characterizing the accumulation of various heavy metals in native plants growing around an old antimony mine. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, 22(4), 882–898.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Giller, K. E., Witter, E., & McGrath, S. P. (1998). Toxicity of heavy metals to microorganisms and microbial processes in agricultural soils: a review. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 30, 1389–1414.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gil-Sotres, F., Trasar-Cepeda, C., & Seoane, S. (2005). Different approaches to evaluating soil quality using biochemical properties. Soil Biological and Biochemistry, 37(5), 877–887.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gómez-Sagasti, M. T., Alkorta, I., & Becerril, J. M. (2012). Microbial monitoring of the recovery of soil quality during heavy metal phytoremediation. Water Air and Soil Pollution, 223(6), 3249–3262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guan, Y. S. (1986). Soil enzymes and their methodology. Beijing: Agricultural Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gülser, F., & Erdogan, E. (2008). The effects of heavy metal pollution on enzyme activities and basal soil respiration of roadside soils. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 145(1–3), 127–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hill, B. H., Elonen, C. M., Jicha, T. M., & Bolgrien, D. W. (2010). Sediment microbial enzyme activity as an indicator of nutrient limitation in the great rivers of the Upper Mississippi River basin. Biogeochemistry, 97(2), 195–209.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hinojosa, M. B., Carreira, J. A., & Garcia-Ruiz, R. (2004). Soil moisture pre-treatment effects on enzyme activities as indicators of heavy metal-contaminated and reclaimed soils. Soil Biology Biochemistry, 36(10), 1559–1568.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, Z. Y., Chen, J., & Ai, X. Y. (2017). The texture, structure and nutrient availability of artificial soil on cut slopes restored with OSSS e influence of restoration time. Journal of Environmental Management, 200, 502–510.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Igbinosa, E. O. (2015). Effect of cassava mill effluent on biological activity of soil microbial community. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 187(7), 418–428.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iturbe, R., Flores, R. M., & Torres, L. G. (2003). Soil and water contamination levels in an out-of-service oil distribution and storage station in Michoacan, Mexico. Water Air and Soil Pollution, 146(1–4), 261–281.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jaiswal, D., & Pandey, J. (2018). Impact of heavy metal on activity of some microbial enzymes in the riverbed sediments: ecotoxicological implications in the Ganga River (India). Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 150(15), 104–115.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jimenez, M., Horra, A. M., & Pruzzo, L. (2002). Soil quality: a new index based on microbiological and biochemical parameters. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 35(4), 302–306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kandeler, E., & Gerber, H. (1988). Short-term assay of soil urease activity using colorimetric determination of ammonium. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 6(1), 68–72.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karaca, A., Naseby, D. C., & Lynch, J. M. (2002). Effect of cadmium contamination with sewage sludge and phosphate fertiliser amendments on soil enzyme activities, microbial structure and available cadmium. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 35(6), 428–434.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, K. H., & Kim, S. H. (1999). Heavy metal pollution of agricultural soils in central regions of Korea. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 111(1–4), 109–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kizilkaya, R. (2004). Cu and Zn accumulation in earthworm Lumbricus terrestris L. in sewage sludge amended soil and fractions of Cu and Zn in casts and surrounding soil. Ecological Engineering, 22(2), 141–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lebrun, J. D., Trinsoutrot-Gattin, I., & Vinceslas-Akpa, M. (2012). Assessing impacts of copper on soil enzyme activities in regard to their natural spatiotemporal variation under long-term different land uses. Soil Biology Biochemistry, 49(6), 150–156.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liang, J., Yang, Z. X., & Tang, L. (2017). Changes in heavy metal mobility and availability from contaminated wetland soil remediated with combined biochar-compost. Chemosphere, 181, 281–288.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, H., Chen, L. P., & Ai, Y. W. (2009). Heavy metal contamination in soil alongside mountain railway in Sichuan, China. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 152(1–4), 25–33.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lorenzo, R., Kaegia, R., & Gehriga, R. (2006). Particle emissions of a railway line determined by detailed single particle analysis. Atmospheric Environment, 40(40), 7831–7841.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lv, Y. Z., & Li, B. G. (2006). Soil science (Vol. 20–26, pp. 148–151). China Agriculture Press.

  • Malar, S., Sahi, S. V., & Favas, P. J. (2015). Mercury heavy-metal-induced physiochemical changes and genotoxic alterations in water hyacinths [Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.)]. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 22(6), 4597–4608.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Malawska, M., & Wiłkomirski, B. (2001). An analysis of soil and plant (Taraxacum officinale) contamination with heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the area of railway junction Iława Główna, Poland. Water Air & Soil Pollution, 127(1–4), 339–349.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mętrak, M., Chmielewska, M., & Sudnik-Wójcikowska, B. (2015). Does the function of railway infrastructure determine qualitative and quantitative composition of contaminants (PAHs, heavy metals) in soil and plant biomass? Water Air & Soil Pollution, 226(8), 253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mikanova, O. (2006). Effects of heavy metal on some soil biological parameters. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 88(1–3), 220–223.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Novak, J., Szymezak, J., & Slobodzian, T. (2003). Proba okreslenia 50% progu toksycznosci dawek roznych metali ciezkich dla fosfataz glebowych. Zeszyty Problemowe Postepow Nauk Rolniczych, 492, 241–248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nunan, N., Morgan, M. A., & Scott, J. (2000). Temporal changes in nitrogen mineralisation, microbial biomass, respiration and protease activity in a clay loam soil under ambient temperature. Biology & Environment Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 100B(2), 107–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nwaogu, L. A., Ujowundu, C. O., & Iheme, C. I. (2014). Effect of sublethal concentration of heavy metal contamination on soil physicochemical properties, catalase and dehydrogenase activities. International Journal of Biochemistry Research & Review, 4(2), 141–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Connor, T. P., & Paul, J. F. (2000). Misfit between sedimentary toxicity and chemistry. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 40(1), 59–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plakhotnik, V. N., Onyshchenko, J. V., & Yaryshkina, L. A. (2005). The environmental impacts of railway transportation in the Ukraine. Transportation Research Part D, 10(3), 263–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qin, S. P., Hu, C. S., & Wang, Y. Y. (2010). Tillage effects on intracellular and extracellular soil urease activities determined by an improved chloroform fumigation method. Soil Science, 175(11), 568–572.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shi, G. T., Chen, Z. L., & Xu, S. Y. (2008). Potentially toxic metal contamination of urban soils and roadside dust in Shanghai, China. Environmental Pollution, 156(2), 251–260.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sierra, J., Brisson, N., & Ripoche, D. (2003). Application of the STICS crop model to predict nitrogen availability and nitrate transport in a tropical acid soil cropped with maize. Plant and Soil, 256(2), 333–345.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sinsabaugh, R. L., Lauber, C., & Weintraub, M. (2008). Stoichiometry of soil enzyme activity at global scale. Ecology Letters, 11(11), 1252–1264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sutherland, R. A. (2000). Bed sediment-associated trace metals in an urban stream, Oahu, Hawaii. Environmental Geology, 39(6), 611–627.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trasar-Cepeda, C., Leiros, M. C., & Seoane, S. (2000). Limitations of soil enzymes as indicators of soil pollution. Soil Biology Biochemistry, 32(13), 1867–1875.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wierzbicka, M., Bemowska-Kalabun, O., & Gworek, B. (2015). Multidimensional evaluation of soil pollution from railway tracks. Ecotoxicology, 24(4), 805–822.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wiłkomirski, B., Sudnik-Wójcikowska, B., & Malawska, M. (2011). Railway transportation as a serious source of organic and inorganic pollution. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 218(1–4), 333–345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, H. F., Gong, C. F., & Liu, P. (2009). Effects of different Mn stress on rhizosphore microbes of Phytolacca americana and soil enzymes activities. Guizhou Agricultural Sciences, 37, 94–98.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, H., Zhang, Y. L., & Wang, Z. F. (2013). Heavy metal enrichment in the soil along the Delhi–Ulan section of the Qinghai–Tibet railway in China. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 185(7), 5435–5447.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, X., Pu, S. & Chen, J. (2011). The influence of heavy metal available forms of Cu, Pb on catalase activity. Water Resource and Environmental Protection, (6), 334–337.

  • Zhou, Q. (2008). Biomonitoring: an appealing tool for assessment of metal pollution in the aquatic ecosystem. Analytica Chimica Acta, 606(2), 135–150.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

National Key R & D Program of China (2017YFC0504903), Key Technology R & D Program of Sichuan Province, China (2016FZ0056), and CAS Key Technology Talent Program are acknowledged. The authors thank all the supporters of this project and the referees for their constructive comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China

    Xiaoyi Meng, Yingwei Ai, Ruirui Li & Wenjuan Zhang

Authors
  1. Xiaoyi Meng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yingwei Ai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ruirui Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Wenjuan Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yingwei Ai.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Meng, X., Ai, Y., Li, R. et al. Effects of heavy metal pollution on enzyme activities in railway cut slope soils. Environ Monit Assess 190, 197 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-6567-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-6567-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation