Grantee Research Project Results
2024 Progress Report: Fate and Transport of Unregulated Organic Contaminants in Biosolids - Development of a Human and Environmental Exposure Risk Framework
EPA Grant Number: R840247Title: Fate and Transport of Unregulated Organic Contaminants in Biosolids - Development of a Human and Environmental Exposure Risk Framework
Investigators: Prasse, Carsten , Burke, Thomas A. , Nachman, Keeve
Institution: Johns Hopkins University
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: September 1, 2021 through May 13, 2025
Project Period Covered by this Report: September 1, 2023 through August 31,2024
Project Amount: $1,498,000
RFA: National Priorities: Evaluation of Pollutants in Biosolids (2020) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Water Quality , Water , Water Treatment
Objective:
We propose a transdisciplinary and highly innovative project to develop a flexible framework for the prioritization of biosolids-associated organic contaminants (BOCs). The objectives are to 1) characterize the occurrence, fate, and transport of BOCs after land application of biosolids; 2) model BOC exposures and perform hazard and risk assessments to identify high-priority BOCs; and 3) utilize an array of communication channels to translate our findings and methodology for the wastewater and agriculture communities, regulators, and the general public.
Progress Summary:
During the third monitoring period, we have completed and published the characterization of the occurrence of biosolidsassociated organic compounds (BOCs) using nontarget analysis (Objective 1). To this end, biosolids samples from across the United States were analyzed using a new non-target analysis workflow and the associated hazards were assessed using the online tools (Hazard Comparison Dashboard) included in the EPA CompTox Chemical Dashboard. During the monitoring period, we also started a second field study to investigate the soil column transport and groundwater leaching of BOCs. We further continued laboratory experiments to investigate the biodegradation and leaching of BOC in biosolid amended soils. We have also continued the development of a hazard and risk prioritization frameworks for biosolids-associated organic compounds, specifically in the domains of exposure assessment and hazard characterization (Objective 2). For the framework we are looking at a variety of health endpoints including cancer
and genotoxicity and focus on both human or ecological receptors and associated exposure pathways. We have successfully piloted this approach using the results of the non-target analysis of the biosolids samples as well as produce. We have also held two stakeholder advisory board meetings during which we presented the project results achieved to date and discussed them with the advisory board members.
Future Activities:
In the next monitoring period we will continue the laboratory experiments to assess biotransformation, leaching, and plant uptake, translocation and metabolism of BOCs. These laboratory experiments will be used to inform our interpretation of results obtained from our first field study that was conducted during this monitoring period. We will also conduct further analysis of biosolid samples to quantify the concentration of priority BOCs identified in the project. We will further conduct a second field study to evaluate groundwater leaching under field conditions. The data that we expect to generate in the next reporting period will be used for the further development and refinement of the hazard and risk prioritization framework.
References:
Publications:
Newmeyer, M.N., Lyu, Q., Sobus, J.R., Williams, A.J., Nachman, K.E., Prasse, C. (2024).
Combining non-targeted analysis with computer-based hazard comparison approaches to support
prioritization of unregulated organic contaminants in biosolids. Environmental Science &
Technology, 58 (27), 12135–12146.
Brueck, C.L., Xin, X., Lupolt, S.N., Kim, B.F., Santo, R.E., Lyu, Q, Williams, A.J., Nachman,
K.E., Prasse, C. (2024). (Non)targeted chemical analysis and risk assessment of organic
contaminants in darkibor kale grown at rural and urban farms. Environmental Science &
Technology, 58 (8), 3690-3701.
Presentations:
Newmeyer MN, Lowe CN, Black GP, Charest N, Sobus JR, Williams AJ, Prasse C.
Implementing a chemical space mapping tool to improve interpretation of nontargeted analyses
of biosolids: A proof-of-concept study. American Chemical Society Spring 2023 Meeting,
March 2023, Indianapolis, IN and Virtual.
Newmeyer MN, Lupolt SN, Williams AJ, Nachman KE, Prasse C. Characterizing biosolidsassociated
organic contaminants (BOCs) to support human health risk-based prioritization. American Chemical Society Fall 2023 Meeting, August 2023, San Francisco, CA and Virtual.
Demo R, Prasse C, Nachman KE, Lupolt S. Qualitative characterization of exposures to
biosolids among biosolids applicators. Oral presentation at the International Society for Exposure
Science Annual Conference; Montreal, Quebec; October 2024.
Lupolt SN, Gillooly S, Simones T, Nachman KE, Smith A. Farmworkers are not construction
workers: development of a farmworker scenario to support the derivation of soil screening levels
for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Oral presentation at the International Society for
Exposure Science Annual Conference; Montreal, Quebec; October 2024.
Prasse, C., Human and Environmental Exposure Framework for Biosolids. 4th EPA New
Approach Methods Conference, November 2024, Research Triangle Park, NC.
Prasse, C., Combining non-targeted analysis with computer-based hazard comparison approaches
to support prioritization of unregulated organic contaminants in environmental media. NACRW
annual meeting, July 2024, Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
Journal Articles on this Report : 2 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 8 publications | 2 publications in selected types | All 2 journal articles |
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Brueck CL, Xin X, Lupolt SN, Kim BF, Santo RE, Lyu Q, Williams AJ, Nachman KE, Prasse C. (Non) targeted Chemical Analysis and Risk Assessment of Organic Contaminants in Darkibor Kale Grown at Rural and Urban Farms. Environmental Science & Technology. 2024;3;58(8):3690-701. |
R840247 (2024) |
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Newmeyer MN, Lyu Q, Sobus JR, Williams AJ, Nachman KE, Prasse C. Combining Nontargeted Analysis with Computer-Based Hazard Comparison Approaches to Support Prioritization of Unregulated Organic Contaminants in Biosolids. Environmental Science & Technology. 2024; 25;58(27):12135-46. |
R840247 (2024) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
measurement methods, environmental chemistry, organics, human healthProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.