Long-term effects of TBBPA-contaminated pyrogenic organic matter under abiotic aging: insights on immobilization capacity, surface functionality correlation, and phytotoxicity to Thinopyrum ponticum

Abstract

A large amount of annual global carbon input is reported from pyrogenic organic matter (POM) production, motivating numerous research studies. Given that tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) can be frequently exposed to possible fire scenarios, the potential long-term threats to the local environment are tied to the influence of interactions between POM and TBBPA. This study revealed the impacts of aging on POM and explored the contributions of surface alterations to the immobilization capacity of TBBPA. The freeze–thaw aging altered that surface with relatively low roughness, including both physical and chemical changes. Moreover, considering the surface alterations occurring during the aging process, the results based on asymmetrical factorial analysis showed that soil ions and dissolvable organic matter (DOM) play specific roles in TBBPA immobilization. The results further revealed that the introduction of DOM can create a different immobilization mechanism, in which the DOM can have a “throttling” effect that reduces the efficiency of active functional groups. However, in phototoxicity experiments, the vegetation exhibited vulnerability under the influence of POM to the toxic effects of TBBPA. These results suggest that sites with POM, whether manufactured or naturally produced, could be vulnerable to contaminants that hinder the growth of local vegetation.