1. Mycoremediation of Pesticide Contaminated Soil Using Mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus.
- Author
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O. D., Adelaja, Njoku, K. L., and Akinola, M. O.
- Subjects
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FUNGAL remediation , *PESTICIDE pollution , *SOIL conservation , *SOIL pollution , *PLEUROTUS ostreatus , *MUSHROOMS - Abstract
The indiscriminate use of the Sniper Branded pesticide (2,2-dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate (DDVP) containing pesticide) in recent times in the country and its reported persistence in the environment has made it an environmental and health concern for the country. This study investigated the ability of Pleurotus ostreatus in degrading the stated DDVP containing pesticide substance in contaminated soil samples under laboratory controlled environment. The experimental setup include soil samples contaminated with three concentrations of the pesticide: 10% v/w, 30% v/w and 60% v/w, the soil samples were then inoculated with vigorously growing spawns of P. ostreatus. The setup was then incubated for 90 days, after which the pesticide concentration, nutrient content, organic content, pH, and heavy metal content of the soil samples were determined. The results of the study showed that the nutrient and organic content of the soil decreased after 90 days' incubation with mushroom. Furthermore, the heavy metal contents of the soil samples incubated with mushroom had significantly (p<0.05) lower proportions of heavy metal content. Of note is the total clean-up of the lead ion concentration of the pesticide polluted soil for all concentrations prepared in the study. Additionally, incubation with P. ostreatus significantly (p<0.05) reduced the pesticide concentration in the soil by 57.74% for the 10% concentration and by 31.64% for 60% concentration. The results showed that P. ostreatus is useful in the bioremediation of soils contaminated with pesticides containing DDVP on a small scale project. Therefore, the study recommended that soil contaminated with the DDVP pesticides may be treated with P. ostreatus to reduce heavy metal contents and total pesticide concentration in the soil to the generally acceptable levels that may not be deleterious to the environment and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2017