Bioavailability Of Contaminants In Soil Research Articles

From environmental bioavailability of metal(loid)s to their ecogenotoxicological effects in land snails.

To date, no study has linked the environmental and the ecogenotoxicological bioavailability of contaminants to land snails. Yet, understanding the specific ecotoxicological mechanisms from bioaccumulation to genotoxicity is necessary e.g., to build an adverse outcome pathway relevant to risk assessment. Consequently, the aim of our study is to look for relationships between accumulated concentrations of As, Cd and Hg in sub-adult snails and ecotoxicological effects at the individual (survival and growth) and molecular (genomic stability) levels. This study combines random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) coupled with high-resolution capillary electrophoresis system (HRS) and micronucleus (MN) assay on haemocytes to consider various types of cytogenomic damage, such as chromosomal aberrations, breakages, adducts and mutations. The results showed alteration of the individual endpoints at higher accumulation quotients (AQs) that reflect the excess of transfers to snails, especially with decreased survival for As. In addition, genotoxic effects were observed with an increased occurrence of MN in haemocytes for the three meta(loid)s considered (R2 from 0.57 to 0.61 as a function of the meta(loid)s). No concentration-dependent decrease in genome stability was highlighted by RAPD-HRS in snails exposed to As and Cd but not Hg. Our results demonstrate the complementarity of the RAPD-HRS and the MN assay for understanding the different genotoxic mechanisms of the three metal(loid)s studied in land snails. They show a way to better assess environmental risks of contaminated soils by associating ecotoxicity, genotoxicity and bioaccumulation assays (ISO 24032), i.e., ecogenotoxicological bioavailability. Convergences highlighted here between the bioaccumulation of metal(loid)s in viscera and genotoxic effects in haemocytes constitute a way to better assess the bioavailability of contaminants in soils to the land snail and the subsequent environmental risk.

Advances in ecological risk assessment of soil in contaminated sites

With the rapid urbanization and industrial structure adjustment in China, many contaminated sites have been left for remediation. It is essential to develop and implement ecological risk assessment (ERA) before remediating contaminated sites at a large scale as well as sequential management. In this review, we discussed the key problems in ecological risk assessment of soils in contaminated sites focusing on scientific principles, frameworks, techniques, and approaches, including 1) the site-specific framework, 2) uncertainty of conceptual model, 3) toxic mechanisms of combined contamination in soil, 4) screening of assessment endpoints, and 5) development of assessing approaches and frameworks. Then, two perspectives were addressed: the toxicological mechanism of soil combined pollution including bioavailability of contaminants in soil and their joint effect is the scientific problem in ecological risk assessment of soil in contaminated site; and weight of evidence approach based on USEPA four-step approach and EU Tier approach is applicable for ecological risk assessment in field conditions. Future studies should focus on: 1) the coordination of ecological risk assessment (ERA) framework and risk management framework, 2) conceptual mo-del, 3) process-based reactive transport models for exposure evaluation, 4) ecotoxicological mechanism of combined contamination in site soil, and 5) high ecological level endpoints. The aim of this review was to provide theoretical base and framework for the establishment of local guideline of ecological risk assessment in China.

Application of chemical and biological tests for estimation of current state of a tailing dump and surrounding soil from the region of Tarniţa, Suceava, Romania.

This paper presents the results from a study on the current state of tailing dump, surrounding soil and water in the region of Tarniţa-Suceava, Romania. A number of chemical analyses and germination tests were applied in an attempt to estimate the ability of soil to maintain the plants growing, the bioavailability, and heavy metals uptake. Total heavy metals, exchangeable metals, acidity, and carbon and nitrogen content were determined. A modified sequential extraction method was used to determine geochemical phase distribution of heavy metals. The most abundant heavy metals in the studied samples were Cu, Zn, and Pb. Elevated concentrations of As were also found. The results from sequential extraction revealed that up to 51% of copper was retained by amorphous and crystalline iron oxides in soil. Higher content of lead was noticed in amorphous iron oxide fraction. The heavy metal concentration in river water during dry season varied from 0.13 mg/L (Fe) to 4.2 mg/L (Zn) and was below the maximum contamination level for drinking water. The soil toxicity and heavy metal bioavailability of tailing dump material and surrounding soils were studied by germination tests. The germinated plantlets on the studied soils were found to accumulate elevated concentrations of heavy metals thus indicating the bioavailability of soil contaminants. Soil decontamination by distilled water or magnesium nitrate solution was found to be efficient enough to improve the capability of the studied soils to support the germination process.

Effect of plant root exudates on the desorption of hexachlorocyclohexane isomers from contaminated soils

Plants and their associated microbiota can have a significant impact on the behaviour of soil contaminants. Particularly, root exudation is one of the most important plant-associated processes in this respect, as it may have a substantial effect on the bioavailability of soil contaminants, specially of hydrophobic contaminants strongly sorbed by soil. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of root exudates (natural and artificial) on the desorption of α-, β-, δ- and γ-isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) from contaminated soil, using batch experiments. Natural root exudates were obtained from Holcus lanatus plants growing in the same (contaminated) area. Fifteen compounds (mainly organic acids and phenolic compounds) usually found in root exudates were also tested, individually or as mixtures (1 and 10 mM). Both natural and artificial exudates favoured the mobilization of sorbed HCH in soil. The effect was highly significant for α-, β- and γ-HCH isomers, for which the desorption rates increased by 23.0, 26.8 and 15.5% in the presence of natural root exudates and by 40.1, 25.9 and 25.6% in the presence of the artificial mixture (at 10 mM). The δ-HCH desorption rates increased by less than 10%. The effect of individual exudate components was very variable, but increased with the carbon content, reflecting the significance of hydrophobic interactions between the exudates and HCH molecules in the desorption of these last from soil. These findings indicate that plants may significantly influence the bioavailability of persistent contaminants, with major implications for improving phyto- and bioremediation procedures.

Influence of Plant Root Exudates on the Mobility of Fuel Volatile Compounds in Contaminated Soils

Vegetation and its associated microorganisms play an important role in the behaviour of soil contaminants. One of the most important elements is root exudation, since it can affect the mobility, and therefore, the bioavailability of soil contaminants. In this study, we evaluated the influence of root exudates on the mobility of fuel derived compounds in contaminated soils. Samples of humic acid, montmorillonite, and an A horizon from an alumi-umbric Cambisol were contaminated with volatile contaminants present in fuel: oxygenates (MTBE and ETBE) and monoaromatic compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene). Natural root exudates obtained from Holcus lanatus and Cytisus striatus and ten artificial exudates (components frequently found in natural exudates) were added to the samples, individually and as a mixture, to evaluate their effects on contaminant mobility. Fuel compounds were analyzed by headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In general, the addition of natural and artificial exudates increased the mobility of all contaminants in humic acid. In A horizon and montmorillonite, natural or artificial exudates (as a mixture) decreased the contaminant mobility. However, artificial exudates individually had different effects: carboxylic components increased and phenolic components decreased the contaminant mobility. These results established a base for developing and improving phytoremediation processes of fuel-contaminated soils.

Chemical extraction to assess the bioavailability of chlorobenzenes in soil with different aging periods

Bioavailability is mainly influenced by aging and desorption of contaminants in soil. The purpose of this study was to investigate the desorption kinetics of chlorobenzenes (CBs) in soil and to investigate whether chemical extractions are suitable for the bioavailability assessment of CBs in soil. A soil spiked with CBs and aged for different periods was extracted with Tenax, hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD), and butanol to assess the bioavailability of CBs in soil, respectively. Earthworm (Eisenia foetida) accumulation was used as bioassay in parallel experiments to evaluate the chemical extractions. The results showed that desorption of CBs from soil with consecutive Tenax extraction fitted into triphasic kinetics model. Different chemical methods extracted different amounts of CBs over different aging periods. For hexachlorobenzene (HCB), the extraction efficiency was in the order of butanol > Tenax-6h > HPCD extraction, while the order of butanol > HPCD > Tenax-6h extraction for pentachlorobenzene (PeCB). The bioaccumulation by earthworm decreased with increasing aging period and was significantly higher for HCB than for PeCB (p < 0.05). Earthworm accumulated CBs correlated well with all the three chemical extracted CBs. However, HPCD extraction showed the converse extraction tendency with earthworm uptake of CBs. Chemical extraction could be used to assess the bioavailability of contaminants in soil; however, they were method and compound specific. Tenax and butanol extractions were more reliable than HPCD extraction for bioavailability assessment of the tested CBs and the soil used since they showed the consistent extraction tendency with earthworm uptake of CBs.

Simulation of Adsorption Equilibrium of Heavy Metal Cations on Soils in Circumneutral Aqueous Solution: Influences of Solution PH and Dissolved Humus Substances

Adsorption isotherms are often required for understanding mobility, fate and bioavailability of contaminants in soils. Those about Pb (II) and Cd (II) on Andosols and Kanto loam were investigated in this work. Results show that adsorption increased with cation equilibrium concentration (10-4 - 1 meq L-1) and solution pH (5 - 7), and also that most adsorption isotherms can be simulated precisely with the ion-exchange-based Urano model. The applicability of model in predicting adsorption equilibriums of cations on soils in circumneutral aqueous solution (pH 5 - 7) were experimentally confirmed. There is an exception as to the Pb (II) adsorption on Andosols with the solid-to-liquid phase ratio higher than 1:100, there adsorption isotherms at pH 5 and pH 7 crossed, and the measurement precision decreased. The Urano model equation becomes inapplicable. Further experiment where humus substances (HS) were added indicated that the abnormal phenomenon can be attributed to dissolved HS and their complexation with Pb (II). The dissolution of HS with solution pH has enhanced Pb (II) concentration in solution but hardly reduced the total amount of adsorption on soil.

Earthworms (Eisenia foetida, Savigny) mucus as complexing ligand for imidacloprid

Earthworms can excrete copious amounts of mucus that may affect the fraction, transport fate, and bioavailability of contaminants in soil. However, interaction of mucus with organic contaminants is still not well-known. In the present study, complexation properties of surface mucus (from the earthworm species Eisenia foetida, Savigny) with imidacloprid were investigated using fluorescence excitation emission matrix (EEM) spectroscopy. It was found that carbohydrates and proteins are major components in mucus of this species. Two fluorescent peaks belonging to protein-like substances were identified in the EEM spectrum of mucus. The protein-like fluorescence was clearly quenched by imidacloprid, indicating that the protein-like substances reacted strongly with imidacloprid. The fluorescence quenching processes was governed by a static process. The values of effective quenching constant (logKa) for these two peaks were 11.46 and 7.96, respectively, indicating that there is a strong interaction between mucus and imidacloprid and mucus–imidacloprid complexes are formed. Higher binding constants (logKb = 25.6 and 14.0) than those for heavy metals binding to dissolved organic matter or organic pollutants binding to proteins confirm the strong complexation between mucus and imidacloprid. Our study implies that earthworm surface mucus may significantly affect the fraction, toxicity, and bioavailability of organic contaminants in the soil due to its high affinity for organic contaminants.

The Influence of Liquid to Soil Ratios on Arsenic and Lead Bioaccessibility in Reference and Field Soil

ABSTRACT In vitro bioaccessibility testing is gaining popularity as a tool to estimate the oral bioavailability of contaminants in soil for human health risk assessment (HHRA). Bioaccessibility tests are used to measure the bioaccessible fraction of a contaminant in soil, which can then be used to estimate the bioavailable fraction. Inherent uncertainties are associated with bioaccessibility tests. Various test parameters need to be carefully considered in their development, including the liquid to soil (L/S) ratio employed. We used L/S ratios (v:wt) ranging from 25 ml:1 g to 1,000 ml:1 g in a modified relative bioaccessibility extraction procedure to investigate the effects on bioaccessibility of lead and arsenic in field and reference soils. General trends of increased percent bioaccessibility of lead and arsenic with increasing L/S ratio were observed in the reference soil. A similar positive relationship was observed for lead in the field soil; soluble arsenic concentrations were below the detection limit and data were insufficient to observe a trend. Percent bioaccessibility was significantly affected at each extreme of the L/S ratios tested (p < .05). Biological relevance, technical feasibility, and mathematical relationships with in vivo results should be considered when selecting an appropriate L/S ratio for bioaccessibility testing.

Environmental metabolomics: new insights into earthworm ecotoxicity and contaminant bioavailability in soil

Environmental metabolomics is a growing and emerging sub-discipline of metabolomics. Studies with earthworms have progressed from the initial stages of simple contact exposure tests to detailed studies of earthworm responses in soil. Over the past decade, a variety of endogenous metabolites have been identified as potential biomarkers of contaminant exposure. Furthermore, metabolomic methods have delineated responses from sub-lethal exposure of earthworms to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and metals in soil suggesting that environmental metabolomics may be used as a direct measure of contaminant bioavailability in soil. Environmental metabolomics has the potential to fill knowledge gaps related to earthworm toxicity and contaminant bioavailability. However, challenges with metabolite quantification and limited systems-level models of metabolic data require improvement before detailed models of "normal" responses can be developed and used routinely in assessment of contaminated sites. Nonetheless, environmental metabolomics is poised to improve our fundamental understanding of earthworm responses and toxicity to contaminants in soil.

Short-term effects of copper, cadmium and cypermethrin on dehydrogenase activity and microbial functional diversity in soils after long-term mineral or organic fertilization

A long-term field experiment was employed to evaluate the short-term effects of Cu, Cd, cypermethrin (C) and their combinations (C + Cu and C + Cd) on soil dehydrogenase activity (DHA) and microbial functional diversity (average well color development, substrate utilization, Shannon index and evenness), as well as their differences in different fertilized soils. Three fertilization modes are arranged: wheat straw compost (OM), fertilizer NPK (NPK) and no fertilization (CK). The soil microbial activities were impacted greatly by long-term fertilization. The highest DHA and the lowest functional diversity (average well color development, Shannon index and substrate utilization with exception of carbohydrate) appeared in OM soil. The functional diversity was highest in NPK soil. DHA in Cu treatment and functional diversities in Cd, Cu + C and Cd + C treatments were significantly decreased to the greatest extent in NPK soil. The order of the influence of contaminants on soil microbes was NPK > CK > OM. Despite the slight effect of cypermethrin on functional diversity, when applied together with heavy metals, especially with Cd, the negative effect was more pronounced. In sum, long-term compost application has benefits to promote DHA and decrease bioavailability of contaminants in soil. At the same time, with the microbial community shifting, the microbial functional diversity reduces greatly. Our findings suggest that more attentions should be paid to the microbial community shifts in organic farming system.

Porous biocarrier-enhanced biodegradation of crude oil contaminated soil

Soil contamination with crude oil from petrochemicals and oil exploitation is an important worldwide issue. Comparing available remediation techniques, bioremediation is widely considered to be a cost-effective choice; however, slow degradation of crude oil is a common problem due to the low numbers of bacteria capable of degrading petroleum hydrocarbons and the low bioavailability of contaminants in soil. To promote crude oil removal, biocarrier for immobilization of indigenous hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria was developed using porous materials such as activated carbon and zeolite. Microbial biomass reached 10 10 cells g −1 on activated carbon and 10 6 cells g −1 on zeolite. Total microbial and dehydrogenase activities were approximately 12 times and 3 times higher, respectively, in activated carbon than in zeolite. High microbial colonization by spherical and rod shapes were observed for the 5–20 μm thick biofilm on the outer surface of both biocarriers using electronic microscopy. Based on batch-scale experiments containing free-living bacterial cultures and activated carbon biocarrier into crude oil contaminated soil, biocarrier enhanced the biodegradation of crude oil, with 48.89% removal, compared to natural attenuation with 13.0% removal, biostimulation (nutrient supplement only) with 26.3% removal, and bioaugmentation (free-living bacteria) with 37.4% removal. In addition, the biocarrier increased the bacterial population to 10 8 cells g −1 dry soil and total microbial activity to 3.5 A 490. A hypothesis model was proposed to explain the mechanism: the biocarrier improved the oxygen, nutrient mass transfer and water holding capacity of the soil, which were the limiting factors for biodegradation of non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) contaminants such as crude oil in soil. Scientific relevance This study explored the role of biocarrier in enhancing biodegradation of hydrophobic contaminants such as crude oil, and discussed the function of biocarrier in improving oxygen mass transfer and soil water holding capacity, etc.

Improving ecological risk assessment by including bioavailability into species sensitivity distributions: An example for plants exposed to nickel in soil

The variability of species sensitivity distribution (SSD) due to contaminant bioavailability in soil was explored by using nickel as metal of concern. SSDs of toxicity test results of Avena sativa L. originating from different soils and expressed as total content and available (0.01 M CaCl 2) extractable concentration were compared to SSDs for terrestrial plants derived from literature toxicity data. Also the ‘free’ nickel (Ni 2+) concentration was calculated and compared. The results demonstrated that SSDs based on total nickel content highly depend on the experimental conditions set up for toxicity testing (i.e. selected soil and pH value) and thus on metal bioavailability in soil, resulting in an unacceptable uncertainty for ecological risk estimation. The use in SSDs of plant toxicity data expressed as 0.01 M CaCl 2 extractable metal strongly reduced the uncertainty in the SSD curve and thus can improve the ERA procedure remarkably by taking bioavailability into account.

Health Canada Approaches and Activities With Respect to Bioavailability of Contaminants in Soil

MS1-06 Abstract: Under the Canadian Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP), Health Canada is responsible for the provision of guidance, training, and advice on human health risk assessment (and related topics) to federal departments with custodial responsibilities for contaminated sites. This presentation provides an overview of Health Canada-funded research into the relevance and applicability of in vitro simulated lung fluid solubility assays, in vitro dermal penetration of various soil-borne contaminants using viable human skin, and factors affecting oral bioavailability. One way to improve human health exposure estimates is to apply an increasingly realistic understanding of the fate of particulates and the substances they carry. A review of in vitro studies for the pulmonary tract indicated that given the complexity of particulate distribution, clearance, dissolution, and interaction with macrophages in the pulmonary tract, there is insufficient experimental evidence for other types of solubility assessments to allow for the confident use of in vitro assays as estimates of in vivo contaminant bioavailability. Based on the currently available studies, any arguments for decreased bioavailability of substances derived from inhaled particulates are necessarily accompanied by a very low level of confidence. Ongoing in vitro studies are being conducted at Health Canada to examine bioavailability through viable excised skin. It is anticipated that this will provide more relevant data for human exposures than studies with cadaver skin or animal studies. Contaminated soils are applied to the tissue for various durations as well as soils spiked with chemicals. A database of these results will be compiled for a variety of chemicals that are commonly found at contaminated sites. With regard to oral bioavailability, Health Canada has funded numerous studies to evaluate oral bioavailability of soil-borne contaminants. Health Canada is working toward having a standardized in vitro test that can be used to evaluate site-specific bioaccessibility of metals in soils because the soil characteristics and chemical speciation can have a significant impact on the bioavailability. Each of these pathways can have significant influence in the estimates of exposures in human health risk assessment, including childhood exposures to metals in soils and house dust in residential environments. This presentation provides information on these studies and recommendations toward regulatory approaches with respect to bioavailability of contaminants in soils and housedust.

Evaluating the bioavailability of explosive metabolites, hexahydro-1-nitroso-3,5-dinitro-1,3,5-triazine (MNX) and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitroso-1,3,5-triazine (TNX), in soils using passive sampling devices

The uptake kinetics of two major RDX (hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane) metabolites, hexahydro-1-nitroso-3,5-dinitro-1,3,5-triazine (MNX) and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitroso-1,3,5-triazine (TNX), into passive sampling devices (PSDs), and the ability of PSDs to serve as surrogates for evaluating bioavailability of MNX and TNX were investigated in laboratory sand and two soil types. The results indicate that MNX and TNX absorption into PSDs was best fitted with a polynomial curve model: y = ax 2 + bx + c ( y: amount of MNX or TNX absorbed into PSD; x: incubation time of PSDs in soil), with an excellent correlation coefficient (>0.95) for each type of soil amended with 10 mg/kg MNX or TNX. TNX was more readily absorbed by PSDs than MNX. Soil conditions, especially organic matter content, affected MNX and TNX uptake into PSDs. A relatively good correlation between MNX and TNX uptake into PSDs and uptake into earthworms was obtained in two types of natural soils (a silt loam soil from Nebraska and a sandy loam soil from Texas) and laboratory sand. A linear relationship between PSD uptake and earthworm uptake was observed. The correlation coefficients ( r 2) were ≥0.82 for all test soils spiked with MNX or TNX. Organic matter content is one soil factor that affected the ratio of MNX or TNX uptake into earthworms versus uptake into PSDs. These data indicate that C 18 PSDs may be used as a surrogate for soil organisms such as earthworms and provide a simple and easy chemical test for assessing the bioavailability of contaminants in soils.

Defining bioavailability and bioaccessibility of contaminated soil and sediment is complicated.

Laura Ehlers and Richard Luthy recently published an important A-page feature in ES&T in which they persuasively make the case that improving risk assessment and remediation rests on better understanding of bioavailability (1). Their article provided a concise summary of a major U.S. National Research Council (NRC) report called Bioavailability of Contaminants in Soils and Sediments: Processes, Tools and Applications (2). Despite consensus by scientists that bioavailability is indeed critical to the risk assessment process, Ehlers and Luthy note that the NRC report contains no explicit definition of bioavailability. Rather, the report defines bioavailability processes as the individual physical, chemical, and biological interactions that determine the exposure of organisms to chemicals associated with soils and sediments.

Dissolution of hydroxide minerals in the 1�M sodium acetate, ph�5, extracting solution in sequential extraction schemes

Used extensively in exploration geology to simulate the natural weathering of mineral deposits, sequential extractions have found new use in environmental studies determining the processes governing metal transport in the environment as well as estimating the bioavailability of contaminants in soils, sediments and waste materials. Many extracting solutions and extraction sequences can be found in the literature and the abilities of any given extracting solution to solubilise a target component of a soil/sediment system is much debated. A study into the mechanisms of aqueous metal uptake by bauxite refinery residues (red mud) revealed the need to establish the selectivity of the sodium acetate solution used to extract metals from ‘carbonates’, an extracting solution common to most sequential extraction schemes. The phase extractability of copper and lead removed from solution by hydroxide and carbonate compounds was used to demonstrate and define the abilities of the sodium acetate extracting solution. The experiments in this study demonstrate that 1 M Na acetate, pH 5, also releases metals associated with hydroxide minerals. The impact of these findings will depend on the chemistry and mineralogy of the soil/sediment system or waste material studied.

Bioavailability of hydrophobic organic contaminants in soils: fundamental concepts and techniques for analysis

SummarySoils represent a major sink for organic xenobiotic contaminants in the environment. The degree to which organic chemicals are retained within the soil is controlled by soil properties, such as organic matter, and the physico‐chemical properties of the contaminant. Chemicals which display hydrophobic and lipophilic characteristics, as well as a recalcitrant chemical structure, will be retained within the soil, and depending on the ‘strength’ of the association may persist for long periods of time. This review describes the behaviour of hydrophobic organic contaminants in soils, focusing on the mechanisms controlling interactions between soil and contaminants. The bioavailability of contaminants in soil is also discussed, particularly in relation to contact time with the soil. It considers the degradation of organic contaminants in soil and the mechanisms microbes use to access contaminants. Finally, the review discusses the ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ of chemical and biological techniques available for assessing bioavailability of hydrophobic organic chemicals in soils, highlighting the need to quantify bioavailability by chemical techniques. It concludes by highlighting the need for understanding the interactions between the soil, contaminants and biota which is crucial to understanding the bioavailability of contaminants in soils.

Peer Reviewed: Contaminant Bioavailability in Soil and Sediment

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVFeaturesNEXTPeer Reviewed: Contaminant Bioavailability in Soil and SedimentImproving risk assessment and remediation rests on better understanding bioavailability.Laura J. Ehlers and Richard G. LuthyCite this: Environ. Sci. Technol. 2003, 37, 15, 295A–302APublication Date (Web):August 1, 2003Publication History Published online1 August 2003Published inissue 1 August 2003https://doi.org/10.1021/es032524fRIGHTS & PERMISSIONSArticle Views3715Altmetric-Citations208LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InReddit PDF (179 KB) Get e-AlertsSUBJECTS:Bioavailability,Geological materials,Impurities,Soils Get e-Alerts

Contaminant bioavailability in soils, sediments, and aquatic environments.

The aqueous concentrations of heavy metals in soils, sediments, and aquatic environments frequently are controlled by the dissolution and precipitation of discrete mineral phases. Contaminant uptake by organisms as well as contaminant transport in natural systems typically occurs through the solution phase. Thus, the thermodynamic solubility of contaminant-containing minerals in these environments can directly influence the chemical reactivity, transport, and ecotoxicity of their constituent ions. In many cases, Pb-contaminated soils and sediments contain the minerals anglesite (PbSO4), cerussite (PbCO3), and various lead oxides (e.g., litharge, PbO) as well as Pb2+ adsorbed to Fe and Mn (hydr)oxides. Whereas adsorbed Pb can be comparatively inert, the lead oxides, sulfates, and carbonates are all highly soluble in acidic to circumneutral environments, and soil Pb in these forms can pose a significant environmental risk. In contrast, the lead phosphates [e.g., pyromorphite, Pb5(PO4)3Cl] are much less soluble and geochemically stable over a wide pH range. Application of soluble or solid-phase phosphates (i.e., apatites) to contaminated soils and sediments induces the dissolution of the "native" Pb minerals, the desorption of Pb adsorbed by hydrous metal oxides, and the subsequent formation of pyromorphites in situ. This process results in decreases in the chemical lability and bioavailability of the Pb without its removal from the contaminated media. This and analogous approaches may be useful strategies for remediating contaminated soils and sediments.