Sulphate in freshwater ecosystems: A review of sources, biogeochemical cycles, ecotoxicological effects and bioremediation

Dominik Zak; Michael Hupfer; Alvaro Cabezas; Gerald Jurasinski; Joachim Audet; Andreas Kleeberg; Robert McInnes; Søren Munch Kristiansen; Rasmus Jes Petersen; Haojie Liu; Tobias Goldhammer

doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103446

Sulphate in freshwater ecosystems: A review of sources, biogeochemical cycles, ecotoxicological effects and bioremediation

Dominik Zak^*, Michael Hupfer, Alvaro Cabezas, Gerald Jurasinski, Joachim Audet, Andreas Kleeberg, Robert McInnes, Søren Munch Kristiansen, Rasmus Jes Petersen, Haojie Liu, Tobias Goldhammer

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Geoscience

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Review › Research › peer-review

150 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Sulphate (SO₄^2-) concentrations in freshwaters have increased globally over the last decades even though a strong reduction in atmospheric sulphur (S) deposition has occurred across large parts of North America and Europe. However, the extent and effects of increased SO₄^2- concentrations in freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems remain poorly understood regarding many aspects of ecosystem structure and functioning. Here, we review the sources of SO₄^2- pollution, environmental impacts on freshwater ecosystems and bioremediation opportunites and we identify key knowledge gaps and future research needs. Natural sources of dissolved SO₄^2- in freshwater ecosystems include mineral weathering, volcanic activity, decomposition and combustion of organic matter, oxidation of sulphides, and sea spray aerosols. Acid mine drainage, fertiliser leaching from agricultural soils, wetland drainage, agricultural and industrial wastewater runoff as well as sea level changes are the main direct and indirect sources of the anthropogenic SO₄^2- input to waterbodies. Increasing SO₄^2- concentrations in freshwater systems influence the biogeochemical processes of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. Similarly, iron availability can be critical in determining the adverse effects of SO₄^2- on environmental receptors. The literature reviewed clearly demonstrates that SO₄^2- pollution may have toxic effects on aquatic plants and animal organisms, including, among others, fishes, invertebrates and amphibians, and it may also have negative implications for human health. Bioremediation systems provide opportunities to mitigate the impacts of SO₄^2-, but removal efficiencies range widely from 0% to 70% across treatment systems such as constructed wetlands, permeable reactive barriers and bioreactors. We conclude that examination of increased SO₄^2- concentrations and fluxes at different spatial scales is urgently needed as the ongoing global perturbation of the S cycle is likely to be accelerated by climate change and human development activities. The adverse effects of this on freshwater organisms worldwide may prove detrimental to the future well-being of humans and ecosystems. Field-scale research to estimate the ecotoxicological effects of elevated SO₄^2- concentrations is recommended as is widespread implementation of large-scale wetland restoration and bioremediation systems to reduce SO₄^2- loads on freshwater ecosystems.

Original language	English
Article number	103446
Journal	Earth-Science Reviews
Volume	212
Number of pages	23
ISSN	0012-8252
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103446
Publication status	Published - Jan 2021

Keywords

biodiversity
carbon sequestration
constructed wetlands
eutrophication
sulphur cycle
toxicity
INDUSTRIAL WASTE-WATER
PERMEABLE REACTIVE BARRIER
DISSOLVED ORGANIC-CARBON
ZERO-VALENT IRON
HYDROGEN-SULFIDE
SURFACE-WATER
BROOK-EXPERIMENTAL-FOREST
ACID-MINE DRAINAGE
CONSTRUCTED WETLAND
LONG-TERM TRENDS

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10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103446

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Zak, D., Hupfer, M., Cabezas, A., Jurasinski, G., Audet, J., Kleeberg, A., McInnes, R., Kristiansen, S. M., Petersen, R. J., Liu, H., & Goldhammer, T. (2021). Sulphate in freshwater ecosystems: A review of sources, biogeochemical cycles, ecotoxicological effects and bioremediation. Earth-Science Reviews, 212, Article 103446. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103446

@article{a39af21e5616449e86f436c3b95c5b3d,

title = "Sulphate in freshwater ecosystems: A review of sources, biogeochemical cycles, ecotoxicological effects and bioremediation",

abstract = "Sulphate (SO42-) concentrations in freshwaters have increased globally over the last decades even though a strong reduction in atmospheric sulphur (S) deposition has occurred across large parts of North America and Europe. However, the extent and effects of increased SO42- concentrations in freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems remain poorly understood regarding many aspects of ecosystem structure and functioning. Here, we review the sources of SO42- pollution, environmental impacts on freshwater ecosystems and bioremediation opportunites and we identify key knowledge gaps and future research needs. Natural sources of dissolved SO42- in freshwater ecosystems include mineral weathering, volcanic activity, decomposition and combustion of organic matter, oxidation of sulphides, and sea spray aerosols. Acid mine drainage, fertiliser leaching from agricultural soils, wetland drainage, agricultural and industrial wastewater runoff as well as sea level changes are the main direct and indirect sources of the anthropogenic SO42- input to waterbodies. Increasing SO42- concentrations in freshwater systems influence the biogeochemical processes of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. Similarly, iron availability can be critical in determining the adverse effects of SO42- on environmental receptors. The literature reviewed clearly demonstrates that SO42- pollution may have toxic effects on aquatic plants and animal organisms, including, among others, fishes, invertebrates and amphibians, and it may also have negative implications for human health. Bioremediation systems provide opportunities to mitigate the impacts of SO42-, but removal efficiencies range widely from 0% to 70% across treatment systems such as constructed wetlands, permeable reactive barriers and bioreactors. We conclude that examination of increased SO42- concentrations and fluxes at different spatial scales is urgently needed as the ongoing global perturbation of the S cycle is likely to be accelerated by climate change and human development activities. The adverse effects of this on freshwater organisms worldwide may prove detrimental to the future well-being of humans and ecosystems. Field-scale research to estimate the ecotoxicological effects of elevated SO42- concentrations is recommended as is widespread implementation of large-scale wetland restoration and bioremediation systems to reduce SO42- loads on freshwater ecosystems.",

keywords = "biodiversity, carbon sequestration, constructed wetlands, eutrophication, sulphur cycle, toxicity, INDUSTRIAL WASTE-WATER, PERMEABLE REACTIVE BARRIER, DISSOLVED ORGANIC-CARBON, ZERO-VALENT IRON, HYDROGEN-SULFIDE, SURFACE-WATER, BROOK-EXPERIMENTAL-FOREST, ACID-MINE DRAINAGE, CONSTRUCTED WETLAND, LONG-TERM TRENDS",

author = "Dominik Zak and Michael Hupfer and Alvaro Cabezas and Gerald Jurasinski and Joachim Audet and Andreas Kleeberg and Robert McInnes and Kristiansen, {S{\o}ren Munch} and Petersen, {Rasmus Jes} and Haojie Liu and Tobias Goldhammer",

note = "Funding Information: We gratefully acknowledge the contribution of the staff at the IGB Department of Chemical Analytics and Biogeochemistry, in particular the expert advice of J{\"o}rg Gelbrecht. This study was facilitated through an internal IGB grant “Frontiers in freshwater science” and supported by the State Office of Mining, Geology and Resources, Brandenburg. Finalisation of the study was funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania within the scope of the project WETSCAPES ( ESF/14-BM-A55-0030/16 ) and the GRS Cluster “Signatures of severely disturbed landscapes - case study mining landscapes” (BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg/IGB). The following German authorities are thanked for providing sulphate monitoring data: the Chair of Water Conservation at BTU Cottbus/Senftenberg, the State Office for the Environment Brandenburg, State Office for the Environment Baden Wurttemberg; the State Agency for Flood Protection and Water Management Saxony Anhalt; the State Office for the Environment Rhineland-Palatinate, the Berlin Senate for the Environment, Transport and Climate Protection, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the State Office for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Areas Schleswig-Holstein and the Bavarian State Office for the Environment. Funding agencies were not involved in the study design, collection, analysis and interpretation of data nor in the writing of the manuscript and the decision to submit the article for publication. The Editage and Anne Mette Poulsen are thanked for English language editing. We gratefully acknowledge Joan-Albert Sanchez-Cabeza for editorial handling and two anonymous referees for constructive comments that have greatly improved the paper. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 Elsevier B.V. Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",

year = "2021",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103446",

language = "English",

volume = "212",

journal = "Earth-Science Reviews",

issn = "0012-8252",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

}

Sulphate in freshwater ecosystems: A review of sources, biogeochemical cycles, ecotoxicological effects and bioremediation. / Zak, Dominik; Hupfer, Michael; Cabezas, Alvaro et al.
In: Earth-Science Reviews, Vol. 212, 103446, 01.2021.

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Review › Research › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Sulphate in freshwater ecosystems

T2 - A review of sources, biogeochemical cycles, ecotoxicological effects and bioremediation

AU - Zak, Dominik

AU - Hupfer, Michael

AU - Cabezas, Alvaro

AU - Jurasinski, Gerald

AU - Audet, Joachim

AU - Kleeberg, Andreas

AU - McInnes, Robert

AU - Kristiansen, Søren Munch

AU - Petersen, Rasmus Jes

AU - Liu, Haojie

AU - Goldhammer, Tobias

N1 - Funding Information: We gratefully acknowledge the contribution of the staff at the IGB Department of Chemical Analytics and Biogeochemistry, in particular the expert advice of Jörg Gelbrecht. This study was facilitated through an internal IGB grant “Frontiers in freshwater science” and supported by the State Office of Mining, Geology and Resources, Brandenburg. Finalisation of the study was funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania within the scope of the project WETSCAPES ( ESF/14-BM-A55-0030/16 ) and the GRS Cluster “Signatures of severely disturbed landscapes - case study mining landscapes” (BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg/IGB). The following German authorities are thanked for providing sulphate monitoring data: the Chair of Water Conservation at BTU Cottbus/Senftenberg, the State Office for the Environment Brandenburg, State Office for the Environment Baden Wurttemberg; the State Agency for Flood Protection and Water Management Saxony Anhalt; the State Office for the Environment Rhineland-Palatinate, the Berlin Senate for the Environment, Transport and Climate Protection, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the State Office for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Areas Schleswig-Holstein and the Bavarian State Office for the Environment. Funding agencies were not involved in the study design, collection, analysis and interpretation of data nor in the writing of the manuscript and the decision to submit the article for publication. The Editage and Anne Mette Poulsen are thanked for English language editing. We gratefully acknowledge Joan-Albert Sanchez-Cabeza for editorial handling and two anonymous referees for constructive comments that have greatly improved the paper. Publisher Copyright: © 2020 Elsevier B.V. Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2021/1

Y1 - 2021/1

N2 - Sulphate (SO42-) concentrations in freshwaters have increased globally over the last decades even though a strong reduction in atmospheric sulphur (S) deposition has occurred across large parts of North America and Europe. However, the extent and effects of increased SO42- concentrations in freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems remain poorly understood regarding many aspects of ecosystem structure and functioning. Here, we review the sources of SO42- pollution, environmental impacts on freshwater ecosystems and bioremediation opportunites and we identify key knowledge gaps and future research needs. Natural sources of dissolved SO42- in freshwater ecosystems include mineral weathering, volcanic activity, decomposition and combustion of organic matter, oxidation of sulphides, and sea spray aerosols. Acid mine drainage, fertiliser leaching from agricultural soils, wetland drainage, agricultural and industrial wastewater runoff as well as sea level changes are the main direct and indirect sources of the anthropogenic SO42- input to waterbodies. Increasing SO42- concentrations in freshwater systems influence the biogeochemical processes of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. Similarly, iron availability can be critical in determining the adverse effects of SO42- on environmental receptors. The literature reviewed clearly demonstrates that SO42- pollution may have toxic effects on aquatic plants and animal organisms, including, among others, fishes, invertebrates and amphibians, and it may also have negative implications for human health. Bioremediation systems provide opportunities to mitigate the impacts of SO42-, but removal efficiencies range widely from 0% to 70% across treatment systems such as constructed wetlands, permeable reactive barriers and bioreactors. We conclude that examination of increased SO42- concentrations and fluxes at different spatial scales is urgently needed as the ongoing global perturbation of the S cycle is likely to be accelerated by climate change and human development activities. The adverse effects of this on freshwater organisms worldwide may prove detrimental to the future well-being of humans and ecosystems. Field-scale research to estimate the ecotoxicological effects of elevated SO42- concentrations is recommended as is widespread implementation of large-scale wetland restoration and bioremediation systems to reduce SO42- loads on freshwater ecosystems.

AB - Sulphate (SO42-) concentrations in freshwaters have increased globally over the last decades even though a strong reduction in atmospheric sulphur (S) deposition has occurred across large parts of North America and Europe. However, the extent and effects of increased SO42- concentrations in freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems remain poorly understood regarding many aspects of ecosystem structure and functioning. Here, we review the sources of SO42- pollution, environmental impacts on freshwater ecosystems and bioremediation opportunites and we identify key knowledge gaps and future research needs. Natural sources of dissolved SO42- in freshwater ecosystems include mineral weathering, volcanic activity, decomposition and combustion of organic matter, oxidation of sulphides, and sea spray aerosols. Acid mine drainage, fertiliser leaching from agricultural soils, wetland drainage, agricultural and industrial wastewater runoff as well as sea level changes are the main direct and indirect sources of the anthropogenic SO42- input to waterbodies. Increasing SO42- concentrations in freshwater systems influence the biogeochemical processes of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. Similarly, iron availability can be critical in determining the adverse effects of SO42- on environmental receptors. The literature reviewed clearly demonstrates that SO42- pollution may have toxic effects on aquatic plants and animal organisms, including, among others, fishes, invertebrates and amphibians, and it may also have negative implications for human health. Bioremediation systems provide opportunities to mitigate the impacts of SO42-, but removal efficiencies range widely from 0% to 70% across treatment systems such as constructed wetlands, permeable reactive barriers and bioreactors. We conclude that examination of increased SO42- concentrations and fluxes at different spatial scales is urgently needed as the ongoing global perturbation of the S cycle is likely to be accelerated by climate change and human development activities. The adverse effects of this on freshwater organisms worldwide may prove detrimental to the future well-being of humans and ecosystems. Field-scale research to estimate the ecotoxicological effects of elevated SO42- concentrations is recommended as is widespread implementation of large-scale wetland restoration and bioremediation systems to reduce SO42- loads on freshwater ecosystems.

KW - biodiversity

KW - carbon sequestration

KW - constructed wetlands

KW - eutrophication

KW - sulphur cycle

KW - toxicity

KW - INDUSTRIAL WASTE-WATER

KW - PERMEABLE REACTIVE BARRIER

KW - DISSOLVED ORGANIC-CARBON

KW - ZERO-VALENT IRON

KW - HYDROGEN-SULFIDE

KW - SURFACE-WATER

KW - BROOK-EXPERIMENTAL-FOREST

KW - ACID-MINE DRAINAGE

KW - CONSTRUCTED WETLAND

KW - LONG-TERM TRENDS

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85097634460&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103446

DO - 10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103446

M3 - Review

AN - SCOPUS:85097634460

SN - 0012-8252

VL - 212

JO - Earth-Science Reviews

JF - Earth-Science Reviews

M1 - 103446

ER -

Sulphate in freshwater ecosystems: A review of sources, biogeochemical cycles, ecotoxicological effects and bioremediation

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