Bioremediation by integrating plant-fungi symbiosis and natural minerals for uptake of metal mixtures

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Project Summary The goal of this project is to develop effective bioremediation technologies for metal mixtures occurring in contaminated waters and soils in sites impacted by mining legacy that are used for agriculture and grazing in Navajo Nation and Laguna Pueblo. The burden of mining activities has affected various Superfund sites in the U.S., causing multigenerational metal exposures in our partner communities. The negative health impacts of human exposure to Uranium, Arsenic, Vanadium and other co-occurring metals are well documented. The chemical reactions influencing the solubility of metal mixtures in environmental systems remain unclear. Our collective expertise will integrate advances in will integrate advances in ecology, mycology, molecular biology, and environmental engineering. We will develop novel bioreactors catalyzed by plant-fungal symbiosis coupled with adsorption and precipitation using natural minerals for sustainable bioremediation of metal mixtures. The following specific aims are proposed: 1. Identify mechanisms underlying the interaction between plants and fungi in water that mediate the adsorption and precipitation of metal mixtures; and 2. Manipulate bioreactors in pots containing plants and fungi in soils with natural minerals under environmentally relevant water chemistries for remediation of metal mixtures. The proposed research will provide new insights about the reactivity of metal mixtures mediated by fungi and plants. Collaborations with Navajo Nation and Laguna Pueblo will serve to ensure that the science generated is responsive to community needs. Additionally, this project seeks to engage graduate students from under-represented minority groups, in this way contributing to training the next generation of scientists and engineers. The knowledge resulting from the proposed project is essential to risk assessment and to the advancement of bioremediation risk reduction strategies for metal mixtures.