Arsenic mobilization by anaerobic iron-dependent methane oxidation

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Main Authors: Glodowska, Martyna, Stopelli, Emiliano, Schneider, Magnus, Rathi, Bhasker, Straub, Daniel, Lightfoot, Alex, Kipfer, Rolf, Berg, Michael, Jetten, Mike S M, Kleindienst, Sara, Kappler, Andreas
Format: Dataset Open Access
Language:en
Published: PANGAEA 2020
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author Glodowska, Martyna
Stopelli, Emiliano
Schneider, Magnus
Rathi, Bhasker
Straub, Daniel
Lightfoot, Alex
Kipfer, Rolf
Berg, Michael
Jetten, Mike S M
Kleindienst, Sara
Kappler, Andreas
author_facet Glodowska, Martyna
Stopelli, Emiliano
Schneider, Magnus
Rathi, Bhasker
Straub, Daniel
Lightfoot, Alex
Kipfer, Rolf
Berg, Michael
Jetten, Mike S M
Kleindienst, Sara
Kappler, Andreas
collection Datos científicos de ciencias marinas y ambientales
contents Arsenic groundwater contamination is threatening the health of millions of people worldwide, particularly in river deltas in South and Southeast Asia where geogenic arsenic is released from sediments1-5. In most cases, the release of arsenic (As) was shown to be caused by microbially catalyzed reductive dissolution of As-bearing Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxide minerals with organic carbon being used as microbial electron and energy source6-8. Although in many As-contaminated aquifers high concentrations of methane (CH4) were observed9-11, the role of CH4 for As mobilization is unknown. Here we demonstrate that CH4 functions as electron donor for methanotrophic microorganisms and triggers the reductive dissolution of As-bearing Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxide minerals leading to As mobilization. In microcosms with As-bearing sediments from the Red River Delta amended with environmentally relevant concentrations of CH4 we found that CH4 triggers Fe(III) mineral reduction, supports the growth and activity of type-1 aerobic methanotrophs and archaea affiliating with Candidatus Methanoperedens, increases the abundance of methane oxidation mcrA and pmoA genes, and ultimately mobilizes significant amount of As into the water. Our findings provide evidence for a methane-mediated mechanism for arsenic mobilization that is distinct from previously described pathways. Taking this together with the common presence of methane in arsenic-contaminated aquifers, we suggest that this methane-driven arsenic mobilization may contribute to arsenic contamination of groundwater on a global scale.
format Dataset Open Access
id pangaea_https___doi_org_10_1594_PANGAEA_924771
institution PANGAEA
language en
publishDate 2020
publisher PANGAEA
record_format pangaea
spellingShingle Arsenic mobilization by anaerobic iron-dependent methane oxidation
Glodowska, Martyna
Stopelli, Emiliano
Schneider, Magnus
Rathi, Bhasker
Straub, Daniel
Lightfoot, Alex
Kipfer, Rolf
Berg, Michael
Jetten, Mike S M
Kleindienst, Sara
Kappler, Andreas
aquifers; arsenic; contamination; groundwater; iron; Methane; microorganisms
Arsenic groundwater contamination is threatening the health of millions of people worldwide, particularly in river deltas in South and Southeast Asia where geogenic arsenic is released from sediments1-5. In most cases, the release of arsenic (As) was shown to be caused by microbially catalyzed reductive dissolution of As-bearing Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxide minerals with organic carbon being used as microbial electron and energy source6-8. Although in many As-contaminated aquifers high concentrations of methane (CH4) were observed9-11, the role of CH4 for As mobilization is unknown. Here we demonstrate that CH4 functions as electron donor for methanotrophic microorganisms and triggers the reductive dissolution of As-bearing Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxide minerals leading to As mobilization. In microcosms with As-bearing sediments from the Red River Delta amended with environmentally relevant concentrations of CH4 we found that CH4 triggers Fe(III) mineral reduction, supports the growth and activity of type-1 aerobic methanotrophs and archaea affiliating with Candidatus Methanoperedens, increases the abundance of methane oxidation mcrA and pmoA genes, and ultimately mobilizes significant amount of As into the water. Our findings provide evidence for a methane-mediated mechanism for arsenic mobilization that is distinct from previously described pathways. Taking this together with the common presence of methane in arsenic-contaminated aquifers, we suggest that this methane-driven arsenic mobilization may contribute to arsenic contamination of groundwater on a global scale.
title Arsenic mobilization by anaerobic iron-dependent methane oxidation
topic aquifers; arsenic; contamination; groundwater; iron; Methane; microorganisms
url https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.924771