Speciation of Heavy Metals by Modified BCR Sequential Extraction in Soils Contaminated by Phosphogypsum in Sfax, Tunisia

Abstract

The accumulation of trace metals in soil is a serious environmental problem that creates a hazard when metals are transferred to water or plants. To understand the mobility and bioavailability of trace metals, the concentrations and distributions of trace metals must be established for different physical and chemical phases of the soil. We determined the concentrations of trace metals (Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, Co, Ni, Mn, and Fe) in soil using the sequential extraction method recommended by Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) and analysed chemical properties, such as the pH, cation exchange capacity, total organic carbon, electrical conductivity, and calcium carbonate. Our results revealed higher concentrations of trace metals in topsoil samples (0–20 cm) than in subsoil samples (20–40 cm and 40–60 cm) for most metals at four sites. Zn in the topsoil was mostly associated with the non-resistant fraction at all sites. Approximately 60% more Pb was bound to the non-residual, exchangeable and reducible fractions at all sites, and soil depths. Cr, Cu, Ni and Fe were mainly in the residual fraction, whereas Mn was largely present in the non-resistant fraction. The global contamination factor of trace metals decreased with soil depth. The mobility and bioavailability were greatest for Zn, followed by Cu and Pb. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.erem.70.4.7807