Effect of Nonylphenol Surfactants on Fungi following the Application of Sewage Sludge on Agricultural Soils

The effect of nonylphenol on fungi following the application of contaminated sewage sludge on agricultural soil was studied in laboratory experiments. Nonylphenol bioavailability and adsorption were determined in the soil alone and soil–sludge mixtures. Mixing the soil with sludge made it possible to measure the nonylphenol concentration in the soil solution, which comprised between 6.6 x 10-6 and 3.8 x 10-7 M, according to the sludge. We then examined the dose–response relationship between nonylphenol concentration in the culture medium and both biomass production and germination rate of the spores from several strains of filamentous fungi. When applied in this range of concentration, nonylphenol was without noticeable shortterm effect on these endpoints. Long-term exposure of fungi to nonylphenol was also assessed. The most intensive effect was a strong stimulation of spore production and germination in Fusarium oxysporum Schlechtendahl. Biomass production by the Fusarium strains also increased. Finally, nonylphenol was shown to induce laccase production in Trametes versicolor. We conclude that the potential of nonylphenol to adversely affect several soil fungi remains low.