Unknown

Dataset Information

0

N-P Fertilization Stimulates Anaerobic Selenium Reduction in an End-Pit Lake.


ABSTRACT: Selenium (Se), an essential micro nutrient, is toxic to aquatic life at slightly higher water concentrations. Watersheds receiving leachate from selenium rich sources require large-scale, long-term treatment to mitigate Se toxicity. We applied the principles of anaerobic bacterial bioreactors, previously successful in small scale Se mitigation, to a whole end-pit lake ecosystem. Fertilization of the lake with N and P increased primary production, creating a meromictic, anoxic layer, and enhanced the habitat for locally present, anaerobic, Se and sulfur reducing bacteria. Within two years, Se concentrations were reduced ten-fold, reaching water-quality guideline values. The successful experiment demonstrated a novel treatment of large volumes of Se-contaminated water, and introduced an inexpensive method to mitigate a persistent aquatic pollutant of global concern.

SUBMITTER: Luek A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5585328 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

altmetric image

Publications

N-P Fertilization Stimulates Anaerobic Selenium Reduction in an End-Pit Lake.

Luek Andreas A   Rowan David J DJ   Rasmussen Joseph B JB  

Scientific reports 20170905 1


Selenium (Se), an essential micro nutrient, is toxic to aquatic life at slightly higher water concentrations. Watersheds receiving leachate from selenium rich sources require large-scale, long-term treatment to mitigate Se toxicity. We applied the principles of anaerobic bacterial bioreactors, previously successful in small scale Se mitigation, to a whole end-pit lake ecosystem. Fertilization of the lake with N and P increased primary production, creating a meromictic, anoxic layer, and enhanced  ...[more]

Similar Datasets

| S-EPMC8824210 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC10787447 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC4844624 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC6052161 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC1287608 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC10457590 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3127698 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC8307862 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC7563247 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC9694729 | biostudies-literature