Biosolid amendment, toxicity, and management through biochar in soil-vegetable systems: a review

Abstract

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products are toxic chemicals which are widespread primarily due to wastewater application and its treatment processes. Biosolids are treated organic end products produced during wastewater treatment. Biosolids are applied in agriculture soils to increase productivity after meeting regulatory directives. However, biosolids have been documented to contain pharmaceuticals and personal care products during wastewater treatment process. Land application of biosolids has the potential to transfer these contaminants into soil-vegetable system leading to potential health risk. Hence, effective management of biosolids is necessary for its land application with minimal contamination risks. For this, biochar application has gained interest in recent years. Biochar amendment can help in managing pharmaceutical and personal care product contamination. Biochar derived through pyrolysis of biosolids can be an effective alternative to reduce contamination through direct biosolid application. This review gives an overview of important pharmaceuticals and personal care products spread due to biosolid amendment in soil and highlights their contamination in soil-vegetable system. An insight into their accumulation in soil-vegetable system, the translocation and risk assessment studies have been investigated. Lastly, the management of these contaminants through biochar application along with research gaps and future perspectives is discussed.