Use of lux-based biosensors for rapid diagnosis of pollutants in arable soils

A field trial, in Central Scotland, demonstrated that crop yields were reduced with increased application of paper mill sludge to land. A suite of ecotoxicity assays, including, luminescence response of lux-marked bacteria, respirometry and enzyme activity was used to assess toxicity of the paper mill sludge to the soil microbial biomass. The results from the use of the lux based biosensors correlated well with more traditional microbial indicators of soil pollution (respiration and enzyme activity). Concentrations of metals and organic contaminants in samples were confirmed using GFAAS and GC-MS, respectively. The main pollutant components of paper mill sludge were found to be Cd, Cu and PCP (pentachlorophenol). The range of environmental bioassays used, with chemical verification, was shown to offer a rapid and comprehensive battery test for rapid assessment of the ecotoxicity associated with papermill sludge application to land.