京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第22429号 / 工博第4690号 / 新制||工||1732(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科都市環境工学専攻 / (主査)教授 清水 芳久, 教授 田中 宏明, 教授 米田 稔 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DGAM

Mercury (Hg) transport in streams is typically facilitated by dissolved organic matter (DOM), however, the dynamics of Hg and DOM during snowmelt in montane watersheds are poorly understood. Hg transport during snowmelt is widely recognized as a significant source of Hg to downstream lakes and reservoirs, such as Jordanelle Reservoir where fish consumption advisories are in effect due to elevated Hg concentrations in certain species of fish. For this study, total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MeHg), and DOM samples were collected at three sites in the upper Provo River, northern Utah, during the 2016 and 2017 water years. To evaluate Hg and DOM sources, samples were collected from snowpack and ephemeral streams in the watershed. In-situ fluorescent DOM (fDOM) data and other parameters were measured in the river to characterize high-frequency variation in water chemistry. Excitation-emissions matrices (EEMs) were used to determine changes in DOM characteristics during snowmelt. Hg concentrations increased in the upper Provo River from /L during baseflow to >;7 ng/L during the snowmelt period (~April-July), with filtered THg concentrations approximately ~75% of the unfiltered concentrations. In the watershed, filtered THg concentrations ranged from ~0.4 ng/L in snowpack to ~8 ng/L in ephemeral streams. Annual THg loading from the Provo River to Jordanelle Reservoir was approximately 1 kg/yr with ~90% of the flux occurring during the snowmelt period. High correlations between filtered THg and fDOM allowed for the development of a high frequency filtered THg proxy using in-situ fDOM sensors. DOM characteristic during the snowmelt period showed that Hg transport was facilitated by humic substances which was sourced from upland soils. Fractions of filtered methylmercury (MeHg) and filtered THg (filtered MeHG:filtered THg) were ~0.1 during baseflow and reduced to ~0.01 during snowmelt, implying that snowmelt runoff has little impact on the MeHg flux to Jordanelle Reservoir. The results suggest that Hg and DOM are flushed from soils during snowmelt, and that a significant majority of the Hg flux occurs the snowmelt period. Our study has implications for understanding Hg sources and transport mechanisms in other snowmelt dominated watersheds.

Freshwater bodies have been long observed to become browner within the northern hemisphere. This brownification, has made drinking water production difficult, since increased organic content in freshwaters requires higher dosages of chemicals during water treatment.  Changes in land use through increased industrial forestry, decreased sulphur deposition from reduced industrial emissions, changing patterns of hydrological and meteorological parameters resulting from climate change, including recently highlighted increase in iron concentrations have been proposed to explain brownification. Drained peat bogs are man-made source of brownifying substances, capable of causing brownification in the rivers and lakes where the water ends up. This research is aimed at investigating dissolved organic matter, total organic carbon, iron, phosphorous, nitrogen and colour in bog ditches draining into the Storån River and Lake Bolmen in southern Sweden, in order to answer these research questions: (1) What are the differences in the level of water quality parameters, pH, conductivity, temperature, DOM, TOC, total phosphorous, total nitrogen, Fe and colour, between bog ditches and Storån River? And what could be the outcome of Colour absorbance comparison, between bog ditches, Storån and lake Bolmen as a single control sample? (2) Is there any association among the different water quality parameters, pH, conductivity, temperature, DOM, TOC, total phosphorous, total nitrogen, Fe and colour within the bog ditch water? Water samples from bog ditches and their corresponding Storån River locations, were used in the analysis. DOM and flow showed significant differences, after statistical test for difference. Conductivity, DOM, total nitrogen and total phosphorous exhibited significant correlations with pH.  TOC also had a correlation with DOM., while colour correlated and depended strongly on Fe, within the bog ditches. Therefore, the bog ditch has behaved to contribute some amount of the brownification, found in Southern Swedish Lakes and Rivers. This knowledge might be useful in future, for more studies and control of Swedish fresh water brownification.

This research combines observation, experimentation, and modeling to evaluate the influence of lakes on dissolved organic matter (DOM) quantity, quality and export in subalpine watersheds of the Sawtooth Mountain Lake District, central Idaho. First, I conducted an empirical study of the hydrologic and biogeochemical controls on DOM dynamics in stream-lake fluvial networks. I hypothesized that lakes would decrease temporal variability (i.e., buffer) and alter the characteristics of DOM from inflow to outflow. I tested these hypotheses by evaluating DOM temporal patterns and measuring annual export in seven-paired lake inflows and outflows. I then evaluated how ultraviolet (UV) exposure affected DOM characteristics during snowmelt and baseflow, and how UV alters baseflow DOM bioavailability and nutrient limitation. Given that increased water residence time increases UV exposure, I hypothesized that lake outflow DOM would be more photorecalcitrant than DOM from lake inflows. I further hypothesized that UV exposure would increase DOM quality, heterotrophic processing, and nutrient demand. Results indicate that lakes can buffer stream temporal variability by acting as a DOM sink during snowmelt and a DOM source during baseflow. Lake outflow DOM photodegradation was similar to lake inflows during snowmelt (p=0.66). Conversely, outflow DOM was 2X more photorecalcitrant than inflow DOM during baseflow (ANOVA, p=0.03) and was strongly related to water residence time (WRT). During baseflow, light exposure increased inflow and outflow DOM bioavailability (p=0.059 and 0.024, respectively) and nutrient limitation (p=0.03 and 0.09, respectively). Combined, these results indicate that WRT in subalpine lakes strongly influences DOM temporal variability and DOM degradation and processing. Thus, lakes can provide temporal stability of DOM and potentially increase both carbon and nutrient uptake by heterotrophs in lake outflows. I then evaluated how global changes could alter hydrologic and nutrient dynamics in a subalpine lake. Model results indicate that the magnitude and timing of snowmelt runoff can have a substantial effect on water and nutrient exports. In phosphorus (P)-limited lakes, increases in inorganic N concentrations within and exported from lakes are likely to occur with increased temperatures and lake WRT. Increases in atmospheric N deposition will further enhance inorganic N exports in P-limited subalpine lakes.

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a major component of natural waters and provides essential nutrients for aquatic organisms. However, excess DOM in the water results in water quality issues and affects the aquatic life negatively. The present research evaluated the source, composition, reactivity, dynamics, and the spatial distribution of DOM in diverse water bodies using spectrofluorometric methods in tandem with multivariate statistics. The study was conducted in the inland and coastal water bodies of Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama over a period of three years (2016 to 2018). Surface water samples were collected from spatially separated waterbodies with diverse land use and land cover classes. In addition, reactivity of DOM was assessed by conducting a series of laboratory experiments at varying magnitudes of sunlight and bacterial activity. Spatial distribution and mobility of DOM, nutrients and trace elements with respect to land cover classes and hydrology was evaluated using watershed delineation and multivariate statistics. Results suggest that microbial humic-like or protein-like DOM compositions derived from microbial/anthropogenic sources were less reactive than the terrestrial humic-like compositions originated from forests and woody wetlands. Furthermore, the sunlight was the major factor causing the degradation of DOM in the water bodies, while temperature had a minor effect. Additionally, the results also suggest that livestock fields in the pastoral and rangelands release a high amount of microbial humic-like DOM along with nutrients such as phosphates and nitrates into the water bodies. Present research identified the presence of four types of DOM in the study areas and were terrestrial humic-like, microbial humic-like, soil-derived humic-like and protein-like compositions. Additionally, trace element availability and mobility of coastal areas is influenced by local hydrology and precipitation. Research also identified forested areas as the major source of DOM to the water bodies of Mississippi. In conclusion, present research found that watershed land use and land cover, hydrology, and climate control the dynamics of DOM, other nutrients, and trace element delivery to the water bodies, while combined effects of light and bacteria are more efficient in reprocessing DOM chemistry within the waterbody.

A Ilha Comprida formou-se no Quaternário tardio e é uma ilha barreira arenosa composta de um conjunto de superfícies de rugosidade moderada à plana, nas quais se formaram Espodossolos com padrões variados de desenvolvimento e morfologia. Essa pesquisa utilizou a abordagem multiescalar, com observações e descrições através de sensoriamento remoto, topocronossequências, perfis, horizontes e seções delgadas de solo. O levantamento cartográfico com o auxílio de fotografias aéreas 1:16.000 do setor sul da Ilha Comprida permitiu mapear as feições geomorfológicas de cordões praiais, áreas planas, reentrâncias de manguezais, dunas frontais (cordões eólicos), rupturas de deflação (blow-outs) e bordas de terraços. O estudo baseou-se em dois perfis transversais (leste-oeste) com 3 km de extensão, onde foi possível identificar diversas unidades de crescimento sedimentar. As transeções A-B e C-D estão situadas no interior e na falésia sul da ilha, respectivamente. Comparando-se os solos dessas transeções é possível constatar o papel desempenhado pela evolução da drenagem na formação, manutenção e degradação dos horizontes espódicos. A degradação dos horizontes espódicos da transeção C-D está ligada à abertura de canais de raízes onde se instalam fluxos preferenciais de água, somado a atividade decompositora de Acidobactérias. Foram realizados levantamentos topográficos e da configuração vertical e lateral dos horizontes dos solos das transeções, sendo instalados 14 poços de monitoramento do nível freático na transeção A-B. As informações do relevo, solo e dinâmica atual do lençol freático permitiram identificar cinco compartimentos morfopedológicos. Os compartimentos I, II e IV, com maior rugosidade do terreno, possuem Espodossolos bem desenvolvidos providos de ortstein na zona próxima ao limite de oscilação do lençol freático, enquanto o compartimento III é mais plano e apresenta Espodossolos Hidromórficos e Organossolos. No compartimento V, mais recente, a podzolização é incipiente. As análises de estatística da distribuição das areias e micromorfologia indicam que a granulometria e o ajuste espacial dos grãos de areia de certas camadas sedimentares, atuam no acúmulo de Matéria Orgânica Dissolvida (MOD) através do acentuado gradiente de condutividade hidráulica ou por quebra de capilaridade. O resultado é a formação de bandas e horizontes cimentados (Bhm) em determinados contatos estratigráficos. Os cordões e entre-cordões praiais convergentes para à Ponta da Trinheira (sudoeste da ilha) controlam a direção dos fluxos hídricos superficiais e subsuperficiais do local, funcionando como escoadouro de MOD, cujo aporte contínuo e lateral explicaria a formação dos horizontes Bhm gigantes que sustentam o limite territorial em forma de \"L\". A descida gradual e contínua do NRM e o efeito de borda na falésia sul ocorrido após sua erosão colaboraram para o dessecamento e hiperdesenvolvimento do ortstein deste local. O horizonte glei (2Cg) é um paleomangue e ocorre de forma pontual na face lagunar da ilha. Seu impedimento à drenagem limita o avanço da podzolização em profundidade, formando o horizonte Bhm acima do horizonte 2Cg. Algumas raízes e paleogalerias tubulares de Callichirus major, preenchidas por areia, promovem bioturbações capazes de condicionar o acúmulo e cimentação de MOD. As galerias formadas pelo crustáceo são holocênicas e a manutenção de seus vestígios até os dias atuais se deve ao processo de pedofossilização por podzolização. / Formed since the late Quaternary period, the Ilha Comprida is made up by a set of geomorphological units depicted whether by rough or smooth surfaces, where both have Spodosols with a range of morphology and development stages. Multiscale approach has been applies through the spatial representation of topochronossequences, soil profiles, soil horizons and soil thin sections. Cartography survey of the south Ilha Comprida has been aided by aerial photos, allowed to mapping geomorphological features: beach ridge and swales; plan surfaces; coves with mangrove recesses; and edge of terrains. The study was based on two transversal profiles (east-west) with nearly 3 km of width, located at southernmost of Ilha Comprida, where there are several growth units. There transections A-B and C-D are located inland and at the cliffs, respectively. The soils from these transections show the role play by drainage conditions on formation and degradation of spodic horizon. The degradation of spodic horizons through transection C-D is linked to the preferential flow channels created by roots growth, plus by the decomposition activities of Acidbacterias. Traditional topography survey and lateral configuration of soils has been draw to depict these transections, where 14 wells were deployed for water table monitoring (transection A-B).The relief, soil, and water table information allowed the delimiting of five morphopedologic compartments. The compartments I, II and IV has rough surfaces (higher and close beach ridges) with Spodosol well developed provided with ortstein at oscillation zone of water table, while compartment III is a flat surface with Hydromorphic Spodosol and Histosols. Compartment V is the youngest surface and has incipient podsolization. Statistic of sand grain size and micromorphology analysis indicates that granulometry and spatial sand arrangement of some sedimentary package, deal with Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) accumulation through high hydraulic conductivity gradient or capillarity breaks. It results in formation of bands and commentated horizons (Bhm) at some stratigraphic boundaries. The presence of beach ridges and swales alignments convergent towards southwest of Ilha Comprida, plus the directions of local hydrography flows, implies that the swales are channels of DOM, which contribute to ortstein formation at Ponta da Trincheira. The slow decreasing of sea level along the Holocene, in addition to the edge effect upon erosion of the south sandy cliff, also played a role to ortstein genesis. Gley horizon (2Cg) with mineralogical assemblage similar to the soils found in the mangrove, suggest that some mangroves has been buried by the costal dynamics typical in infra-tidal environment. Currently, these buried horizons occur locally and plays a impediments for drainage, which is expressed in accumulation and cementation by organic matter (Bhm horizon). Some roots and Callichirus major fossils entail bioturbation that also enable accumulation and cementation of DOM. This icnofossils might have been preserved through pedofossilization by the podsolization process itself.

A Ilha Comprida formou-se no Quaternário tardio e é uma ilha barreira arenosa composta de um conjunto de superfícies de rugosidade moderada à plana, nas quais se formaram Espodossolos com padrões variados de desenvolvimento e morfologia. Essa pesquisa utilizou a abordagem multiescalar, com observações e descrições através de sensoriamento remoto, topocronossequências, perfis, horizontes e seções delgadas de solo. O levantamento cartográfico com o auxílio de fotografias aéreas 1:16.000 do setor sul da Ilha Comprida permitiu mapear as feições geomorfológicas de cordões praiais, áreas planas, reentrâncias de manguezais, dunas frontais (cordões eólicos), rupturas de deflação (blow-outs) e bordas de terraços. O estudo baseou-se em dois perfis transversais (leste-oeste) com 3 km de extensão, onde foi possível identificar diversas unidades de crescimento sedimentar. As transeções A-B e C-D estão situadas no interior e na falésia sul da ilha, respectivamente. Comparando-se os solos dessas transeções é possível constatar o papel desempenhado pela evolução da drenagem na formação, manutenção e degradação dos horizontes espódicos. A degradação dos horizontes espódicos da transeção C-D está ligada à abertura de canais de raízes onde se instalam fluxos preferenciais de água, somado a atividade decompositora de Acidobactérias. Foram realizados levantamentos topográficos e da configuração vertical e lateral dos horizontes dos solos das transeções, sendo instalados 14 poços de monitoramento do nível freático na transeção A-B. As informações do relevo, solo e dinâmica atual do lençol freático permitiram identificar cinco compartimentos morfopedológicos. Os compartimentos I, II e IV, com maior rugosidade do terreno, possuem Espodossolos bem desenvolvidos providos de ortstein na zona próxima ao limite de oscilação do lençol freático, enquanto o compartimento III é mais plano e apresenta Espodossolos Hidromórficos e Organossolos. No compartimento V, mais recente, a podzolização é incipiente. As análises de estatística da distribuição das areias e micromorfologia indicam que a granulometria e o ajuste espacial dos grãos de areia de certas camadas sedimentares, atuam no acúmulo de Matéria Orgânica Dissolvida (MOD) através do acentuado gradiente de condutividade hidráulica ou por quebra de capilaridade. O resultado é a formação de bandas e horizontes cimentados (Bhm) em determinados contatos estratigráficos. Os cordões e entre-cordões praiais convergentes para à Ponta da Trinheira (sudoeste da ilha) controlam a direção dos fluxos hídricos superficiais e subsuperficiais do local, funcionando como escoadouro de MOD, cujo aporte contínuo e lateral explicaria a formação dos horizontes Bhm gigantes que sustentam o limite territorial em forma de \"L\". A descida gradual e contínua do NRM e o efeito de borda na falésia sul ocorrido após sua erosão colaboraram para o dessecamento e hiperdesenvolvimento do ortstein deste local. O horizonte glei (2Cg) é um paleomangue e ocorre de forma pontual na face lagunar da ilha. Seu impedimento à drenagem limita o avanço da podzolização em profundidade, formando o horizonte Bhm acima do horizonte 2Cg. Algumas raízes e paleogalerias tubulares de Callichirus major, preenchidas por areia, promovem bioturbações capazes de condicionar o acúmulo e cimentação de MOD. As galerias formadas pelo crustáceo são holocênicas e a manutenção de seus vestígios até os dias atuais se deve ao processo de pedofossilização por podzolização. / Formed since the late Quaternary period, the Ilha Comprida is made up by a set of geomorphological units depicted whether by rough or smooth surfaces, where both have Spodosols with a range of morphology and development stages. Multiscale approach has been applies through the spatial representation of topochronossequences, soil profiles, soil horizons and soil thin sections. Cartography survey of the south Ilha Comprida has been aided by aerial photos, allowed to mapping geomorphological features: beach ridge and swales; plan surfaces; coves with mangrove recesses; and edge of terrains. The study was based on two transversal profiles (east-west) with nearly 3 km of width, located at southernmost of Ilha Comprida, where there are several growth units. There transections A-B and C-D are located inland and at the cliffs, respectively. The soils from these transections show the role play by drainage conditions on formation and degradation of spodic horizon. The degradation of spodic horizons through transection C-D is linked to the preferential flow channels created by roots growth, plus by the decomposition activities of Acidbacterias. Traditional topography survey and lateral configuration of soils has been draw to depict these transections, where 14 wells were deployed for water table monitoring (transection A-B).The relief, soil, and water table information allowed the delimiting of five morphopedologic compartments. The compartments I, II and IV has rough surfaces (higher and close beach ridges) with Spodosol well developed provided with ortstein at oscillation zone of water table, while compartment III is a flat surface with Hydromorphic Spodosol and Histosols. Compartment V is the youngest surface and has incipient podsolization. Statistic of sand grain size and micromorphology analysis indicates that granulometry and spatial sand arrangement of some sedimentary package, deal with Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) accumulation through high hydraulic conductivity gradient or capillarity breaks. It results in formation of bands and commentated horizons (Bhm) at some stratigraphic boundaries. The presence of beach ridges and swales alignments convergent towards southwest of Ilha Comprida, plus the directions of local hydrography flows, implies that the swales are channels of DOM, which contribute to ortstein formation at Ponta da Trincheira. The slow decreasing of sea level along the Holocene, in addition to the edge effect upon erosion of the south sandy cliff, also played a role to ortstein genesis. Gley horizon (2Cg) with mineralogical assemblage similar to the soils found in the mangrove, suggest that some mangroves has been buried by the costal dynamics typical in infra-tidal environment. Currently, these buried horizons occur locally and plays a impediments for drainage, which is expressed in accumulation and cementation by organic matter (Bhm horizon). Some roots and Callichirus major fossils entail bioturbation that also enable accumulation and cementation of DOM. This icnofossils might have been preserved through pedofossilization by the podsolization process itself.

<p>Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in natural waters is a heterogeneous mixture of organic molecules with direct and indirect influences on aquatic organisms. Although the influences are usually attributed to DOM quantity (quantified as Dissolved Organic Carbon, DOC), the role of quality (optical and binding characteristics obtained by absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy and potentiometric titration, respectively) is not well-understood. Through an initial critical review of the literature, followed by experimental geochemical, toxicological, and physiological investigations, a number of conclusions were reached that improve our knowledge in this area. Freshwater DOM sources exhibit source-dependent protection against metal toxicity, in particular copper (Cu). Generally, for this indirect effect, optically-dark terrestrially-derived or allochthonous DOMs offer better protection than microbially-derived or autochthonous sources. Linear regressions revealed that the better ameliorative effect is principally related to a higher aromatic composition (specific absorption coefficient, SAC₃₄₀) and a greater humic-like fluorescent component as quantified by parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC). In addition, the allochthonous DOMs were shown to have relatively higher magnitudes of titration index (TI), a new summary of chemical reactivity of DOM molecules obtained by titration analysis, and closely related to optical properties. TI was strongly correlated with SAC₃₄₀, suggesting greater binding capacities for DOM molecules with higher SAC₃₄₀. Consequently, a method for incorporation of SAC₃₄₀ as a DOM quality measure into the Biotic Ligand Model (BLM) was developed which improved Cu toxicity predictions in experimental tests with natural DOMs. For direct effects, two basic physiological functions (Na⁺ metabolism and nitrogen excretion) of the adult water flea (<em>Daphnia magna</em>, a cladoceran crustacean) and the zebrafish (<em>Danio </em><em>rerio</em>, a teleost fish) were investigated at circumneutral and acidic pH (≥ 7 and ~ 5, respectively). Three previously characterized, chemically-distinct natural DOM sources as well as a commercial humic acid (AHA) were examined. Regardless of the pH conditions, while Na⁺ regulation of <em>D</em>. <em>magna </em>remained unaffected by the presence of all DOMs, the passive diffusive efflux of Na⁺ in zebrafish was attenuated, indicating ameliorative action against unidirectional Na⁺ loss. In addition, only a distinct allochthonous-autochthonous DOM source stimulated the Na⁺ uptake rate of zebrafish at low pH. Ammonia excretion rates of <em>D</em>. <em>magna </em>were reduced at circumneutral pH by the most highly coloured, allochthonous DOM, and at low pH by all three natural DOMs. Both in <em>D. magna </em>and in <em>D. rerio</em>, urea excretion rates at both pH conditions were not influenced by the presence of the various DOMs, and the same was true for ammonia excretion in the zebrafish. A commercially prepared humic acid (Aldrich humic acid, AHA) exerted anomalous actions relative to those of natural DOMs, and does not appear to be representative of their normal effects. In contrast to the actions of DOM in detoxifying metals, these direct effects of DOMs on freshwater organisms appeared highly unpredictable with variable dependencies on the source, pH and species. This thesis has advanced our understanding of the relationships between DOM quality and its indirect and direct effects on aquatic organisms, and points to new directions for future work.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Landfilling is the most widely used method for the disposal of municipal solid wastes (MSW) in the United States due to its simplicity and low cost. According to the 2014 report on Advancing Sustainable Materials Management by the USEPA, only 34% of the total MSW generated in the US was recycled, while 13% was combusted for energy recovery. In 2014, 53% of the MSW generated, (i.e. 136 million tons) in the US was landfilled. The treatment of landfill leachates, generated by percolation of water through the landfill, primarily due to precipitation, has been found to be one of the major challenges associated with landfill operation and management. Currently, leachates from most landfills are discharged into wastewater treatment plants, where they get treated along with domestic sewage. Issues associated with treatment of landfill leachates due to their high nitrogen and heavy metal content have been widely studied. Recently, it has been observed that the organic carbon in landfill leachates, specifically humic and fulvic acids (together referred to as "humic substances") contain aromatic groups that can absorb large amounts of ultraviolet (UV) light, greatly reducing the UV transmissivity in wastewater plants using UV disinfection as the final treatment step. This interference with UV disinfection is observed even when landfill leachates constitute a very small fraction (of the order of 1%) of the total volumetric flow into wastewater treatment plants. Humic substances are present as dissolved organic matter (DOM) and typically show very low biodegradability. Removing these substances using chemical treatment or membrane processes is an expensive proposition. However, the concentrations of humic substances are found to be reduced in leachates from landfill cells that have aged for several years, suggesting that these substances may be degraded under the conditions of long-term landfilling. The primary objective of this research was to use a two-stage process employing thermophilic pretreatment followed by a mesophilic anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) to mimic the conditions of long-term landfilling. The AnMBR was designed to keep biomass inside the reactor and accelerate degradation of biologically recalcitrant organic carbon such as humic substances. The treatment goal was to reduce UV absorbance in raw landfill leachates, potentially providing landfills with an innovative on-site biological treatment option prior to discharging leachates into wastewater treatment plants. The system was operated over 14 months, during which time over 50% of UV-quenching organic carbon and 45% of UV absorbance was consistently removed. To the best of our knowledge, these removal values are higher than any reported using biological treatment in the literature. Comparative studies were also performed to evaluate the performance of this system in treating young leachates versus aged leachates. Next-generation DNA sequencing and quantitative PCR (qPCR) were used to characterize the microbial community in raw landfill leachates and the bioreactors treating landfill leachate. Analysis of microbial community structure and function revealed the presence of known degraders of humic substances in raw as well as treated landfill leachates. The total number of organisms in the bioreactors were found to be higher than in raw leachate. Gene markers corresponding to pathogenic bacteria and a variety of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were detected in raw landfill leachates and the also in the reactors treating leachate, which makes it necessary to compare these ARG levels with wastewater treatment in order to determine if leachates can act as sources of ARG addition into wastewater treatment plants. In addition, the high UV absorbance of leachates could hinder the removal of ARBs and ARGs by UV disinfection, allowing their release into surface water bodies and aiding their proliferation in natural and engineered systems. / Ph. D. / Municipal solid waste is most often disposed by dumping it in landfills. Percolation of water through these landfills due to precipitation or the intrusion of surface or groundwater, results in the formation of landfill leachate, a mixture of organic and inorganic contaminants, at the bottom of the landfill. Landfills are therefore lined with special materials to prevent leachate from seeping into soil or groundwater and have sophisticated collection systems to periodically extract and dispose leachate. Perhaps the most commonly used method for the disposal of landfill leachates is discharge into wastewater treatment plants, where leachates can cause toxicity to biological processes due to their high organic load as well as their substantial heavy metal content. In the last decade or so, it has been established that leachates can absorb UV light considerably by virtue of aromatic organic compounds present in them, causing inhibition of UV disinfection in wastewater treatment. Thus, leachates must be appropriately treated to reduce their capacity to absorb UV light prior to discharge into wastewater treatment plants. This study employed a novel two – stage reactor system to treat landfill leachates in order to reduce their UV-quenching ability. The system was successfully operated over 14 months and was able to remove more than half of the UV light absorbing organic carbon from landfill leachate. Additionally, samples of biomass isolated from untreated landfill leachates and the reactors treating them revealed the potential presence of pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes. Preliminary data suggests that landfill leachates might have large antibiotic resistance content, higher than that observed in wastewater and other engineered systems.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第25264号 / 工博第5223号 / 新制||工||1996(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科都市環境工学専攻 / (主査)教授 高岡 昌輝, 教授 米田 稔, 教授 松田 知成 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DFAM