Effects of alkaline and bioorganic amendments on cadmium,lead, zinc,and nutrient accumulation in brown rice and grain yield in acidic paddy fields contaminated with a mixture of heavy metals

Paddy soils and rice (Oryza sativa L.) contaminated by mixed heavy metals have given rise to great concern. Field experiments were conducted over two cultivation seasons to study the effects of steel slag (SS), fly ash (FA), limestone (LS), bioorganic fertilizer (BF), and the combination of SS and BF (SSBF) on rice grain yield, Cd, Pb, and Zn and nutrient accumulation in brown rice, bioavailability of Cd, Pb, and Zn in soil as well as soil properties (pH and catalase), at two acidic paddy fields contaminated with mixed heavy metals (Cd, Pb, and Zn). Compared to the controls, SS, LS, and SSBF at both low and high additions significantly elevated soil pH over both cultivation seasons. The high treatments of SS and SSBF markedly increased grain yields, the accumulation of P and Ca in brown rice and soil catalase activities in the first cultivation season. The most striking result was from SS application (4.0 t ha^?1) that consistently and significantly reduced the soil bioavailability of Cd, Pb, and Zn by 38.5–91.2 % and the concentrations of Cd and Pb in brown rice by 20.9–50.9 % in the two soils over both cultivation seasons. LS addition (4.0 t ha^?1) also markedly reduced the bioavailable Cd, Pb, and Zn in soil and the Cd concentrations in brown rice. BF remobilized soil Cd and Pb leading to more accumulation of these metals in brown rice. The results showed that steel slag was most effective in the remediation of acidic paddy soils contaminated with mixed heavy metals.     

EDTA强化电动力学修复重金属复合污染土壤

在自制的电动力学装置中,研究多种重金属复合污染土壤的电动力学修复,通过在阴极添加络合剂EDTA来提高修复效率。实验结果表明,EDTA的引入提高了修复过程中的电流值,且EDTA与重金属的络合提高了污染物向电极液的迁移效率,从而强化了电动力学修复效果。在设定的浓度(0、0.01、0.02、0.05和0.1 mol/L)中,0.1 mol/L的EDTA具有最佳的修复效率。在此实验条件下,污染土壤中的总铜、总铅和总镉的去除率分别为90.2%、68.1%和95.1%。电动力学修复后,对土壤重金属进行化学形态分析,发现电动力学修复显著改变了土壤重金属存在形态,修复后土壤中的铜、铅、镉主要以较稳定的有机态和残余态形式存在,显著降低了对周边生物和环境的毒害。     

Heavy metal immobilization by chemical amendments in a polluted soil and influence on white lupin growth

The effects of chemical amendments (zeolite, compost and calcium hydroxide) on the solubility of Pb, Cd and Zn in a contaminated soil were determined. The polluted soil was from the Southwest Sardinia, Italy. It showed very high total concentrations of Pb (19663 mgkg(-1) d.m.), Cd (196 mgkg(-1) d.m.) and Zn (14667 mgkg(-1) d.m.). The growth and uptake of heavy metals by white lupin (Lupinus albus L., cv. Multitalia) in amended soils were also studied in a pot experiment under greenhouse conditions. Results showed that the amendments increased the residual fraction of heavy metals in the soils, and decreased the heavy metals uptake by white lupin compared with the unamended control. Among the three amendments, compost and Ca(OH)2 were the most efficient at reducing Pb and Zn uptake, while zeolite was the most efficient at reducing Cd uptake by the plants. White lupin growth was better in amended soils than in unamended control. The above ground biomass increased with a factor 1.8 (soil amended with zeolite), 3.6 (soil amended with compost) and 3.1 (soil amended with Ca(OH)2) with respect to unamended soil. The roots biomass increased with a factor 1.4 (soil amended with zeolite), 5.6 (soil amended with compost) and 4.8 (soil amended with Ca(OH)2). Results obtained suggest that the soil chemical treatment improved the performance of crops by reducing bioavailability of metals in the soils. However it would be therefore interesting to find a suitable mixture of these amendments to contemporarily immobilize the three main pollutants in the polluted soils.     

Biosurfactant technology for remediation of cadmium and lead contaminated soils

This research focuses on column experiments conducted to evaluate the potential of environmentally compatible rhamnolipid biosurfactant produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain BS2 to remove heavy metals (Cd and Pb) from artificially contaminated soil. Results have shown that di-rhamnolipid removes not only the leachable or available fraction of Cd and Pb but also the bound metals as compared to tap water which removed the mobile fraction only. Washing of contaminated soil with tap water revealed that approximately 2.7% of Cd and 9.8% of Pb in contaminated soil was in freely available or weakly bound forms whereas washing with rhamnolipid removed 92% of Cd and 88% of Pb after 36 h of leaching. This indicated that di-rhamnolipid selectively favours mobilization of metals in the order of Cd>Pb. Biosurfactant specificity observed towards specific metal will help in preferential elution of specific contaminant using di-rhamnolipid. It was further observed that pH of the leachates collected from heavy metal contaminated soil column treated with di-rhamnolipid solution was low (6.60-6.78) as compared to that of leachates from heavy metal contaminated soil column treated with tap water (pH 6.90-7.25), which showed high dissolution of metal species from the contaminated soil and effective leaching of metals with treatment with biosurfactant. The microbial population of the contaminated soil was increased after removal of metals by biosurfactant indicating the decrease of toxicity of metals to soil microflora. This study shows that biosurfactant technology can be an effective and nondestructive method for bioremediation of cadmium and lead contaminated soil.     

Genotypic and environmental variation in chromium, cadmium and lead concentrations in rice

Genotypic and environmental variation in Cr, Cd and Pb concentrations of rice grains and the interaction between these metals were investigated by using 138 rice genotypes grown in three contaminated soils. There were significant genotypic differences in the three heavy metal concentrations of rice grains, with the absolute difference among 138 genotypes in grain Cr, Cd and Pb concentrations being 24.5-, 9.1- and 23.8-folds, respectively, under the slightly contaminated soil (containing 4.61mgkg(-1) Cr, 1.09mgkg(-1) Cd and Pb 28.28mgkg(-1), respectively). A highly significant interaction occurred between genotype and environment (soil type) in the heavy metal concentrations of rice grains. Cr concentration in rice grains was not correlated with Cd and Pb concentration. However, there was a significant correlation between Cd and Pb in slightly and highly contaminated soils. The results suggest the possibility to develop the rice cultivars with low Cd and Pb concentrations in grain.     

The exposition of a calcareous Mediterranean soil to toxic concentrations of Cr, Cd and Pb produces changes in the microbiota mainly related to differential metal bioavailability

The involvement of the bacterial community of an agricultural Mediterranean calcareous soil in relation to several heavy metals has been studied in microcosms under controlled laboratory conditions. Soil samples were artificially polluted with Cr(VI), Cd(II) and Pb(II) at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 5000 mg kg⁻¹ and incubated along 28 d. The lowest concentrations with significant effects in soil respirometry were 10 mg kg⁻¹ Cr and 1000 mg kg⁻¹ Cd and Pb. However, only treatments showing more than 40% inhibition of respirometric activity led to significant changes in bacterial composition, as indicated by PCR-DGGE analyses. Presumable Cr- and Cd-resistant bacteria were detected in polluted microcosms, but development of the microbiota was severely impaired at the highest amendments of both metals. Results also showed that bioavailability is an important factor determining the impact of the heavy metals assayed, and even an inverted potential toxicity ranking could be achieved if their soluble fraction is considered instead of the total concentration. Moreover, multiresistant bacteria were isolated from Cr-polluted soil microcosms, some of them showing the capacity to reduce Cr(VI) concentrations between 26% and 84% of the initial value. Potentially useful strains for bioremediation were related to Arthrobacter crystallopoietes, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and several species of Bacillus.     

The effects of soil amendments on heavy metal bioavailability in two contaminated Mediterranean soils

Two heavy metal contaminated calcareous soils from the Mediterranean region of Spain were studied. One soil, from the province of Murcia, was characterised by very high total levels of Pb (1572 mg kg(-1)) and Zn (2602 mg kg(-1)), whilst the second, from Valencia, had elevated concentrations of Cu (72 mg kg(-1)) and Pb (190 mg kg(-1)). The effects of two contrasting organic amendments (fresh manure and mature compost) and the chelate ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on soil fractionation of Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn, their uptake by plants and plant growth were determined. For Murcia soil, Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. was grown first, followed by radish (Raphanus sativus L.). For Valencia soil, Beta maritima L. was followed by radish. Bioavailability of metals was expressed in terms of concentrations extractable with 0.1 M CaCl2 or diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA). In the Murcia soil, heavy metal bioavailability was decreased more greatly by manure than by the highly-humified compost. EDTA (2 mmol kg(-1) soil) had only a limited effect on metal uptake by plants. The metal-solubilising effect of EDTA was shorter-lived in the less contaminated, more highly calcareous Valencia soil. When correlation coefficients were calculated for plant tissue and bioavailable metals, the clearest relationships were for Beta maritima and radish.     

Recombinant luminescent bacterial sensors for the measurement of bioavailability of cadmium and lead in soils polluted by metal smelters

Environmental hazard of heavy metals in soils depends to a large extent on their bioavailability. The approach used in this study enables the determination of bioavailable metals in solid-phase samples. Two recombinant bacterial sensors, one responding specifically to cadmium and the other to lead and cadmium by increase of luminescence (firefly luciferase was used as a reporter) were used to determine the bioavailability of these metals in soil-water suspensions (a contact assay) and respective particle-free extracts. Fifty agricultural soils sampled near zinc and lead smelters in the Northern France containing up to (mg/kg) 20.1 of Cd, 1050 of Pb and 1390 of Zn were analysed. As the soil matrix interferes with the assay, recombinant luminescent control bacteria lacking the metal recognizing protein and corresponding promoter (thus, being not metal-inducible) but otherwise comparable to the sensor bacteria (the same host bacterium and plasmid encoding luciferase) were used in parallel to take into account the possible quenching and/or stimulating effects of the sample on the luminescence of the sensor bacteria. Both, chemical and sensor analysis showed that only microg/l levels of metals were extracted from the soil into the water phase (0.1% of the total Cd, 0.07% of Pb and 0.5% of Zn). However, 115-fold more Cd and 40-fold more Pb proved bioavailable if the sensor bacteria were incubated in soil suspensions (i.e., in the contact assay). The bioavailability of metals in different soils varied (depending probably on soil type) ranging from 0.5% to 56% for cadmium and from 0.2% to 8.6% for lead.     

The effect of earthworms on the fractionation, mobility and bioavailability of Pb, Zn and Cd before and after soil leaching with EDTA

The effect of two ecologically contrasting earthworm species Eisenia fetida (epigeic) and Octolasion tyrtaeum (endogeic) on the fractionation (accessed using sequential extractions), mobility (toxicity characteristic leaching procedure, TCLP) and oral bioavailability (Ruby's physiologically based extraction test, PBET) of Pb, Zn and Cd was studied before and after soil remediation with soil leaching. Twenty-step leaching, with 2.5 mmol kg(-1) EDTA used in each step, removed 58.4%, 25.0% and 68.0% of initial soil Pb, Zn and Cd, respectively, shifted the fractionation of residual heavy metals toward less labile forms, and decreased their mobility by 83.7%, 80.3%, and 90.9%. Pb oral bioavailability was reduced by 3.1-times (in each stomach and intestinal phase). After soil leaching, both earthworm species enriched the carbonate soil fraction in their casts with residual Pb, and increased the Pb bioavailability in the simulated intestinal phase by a factor of 2.4 (E. fetida) and 2.8 (O. tyrtaeum). The concentration of Pb in TCLP leachate from E. fetida casts was 6.2-times higher than in the bulk of the remediated soil. These results indicate that the effect of biotic factors on the availability of heavy metals residual in soil after soil leaching requires consideration.     

某矿区土壤和地下水重金属污染调查与评价

为了解湘南某矿区土壤和地下水重金属污染状况，对该矿区东河流域附近重金属污染源进行了调查，同时，对地下水和土壤样品进行了采样分析，结果表明：（1）该矿区东河流域附近的主要污染源有18个，其中有色金属选厂、尾矿库、采矿场和冶炼厂是排放重金属较多的污染源；（2）20个采样点中土壤重金属Pb、Cd、Zn、As和Hg大部分超过国家土壤环境质量标准（GB15618-1995），综合污染指数P综〉1，该矿区主要的重金属污染元素为Cd、As和Hg，且土壤中Cd、Zn和As的含量两两之间存在着极显著的正线性相关关系；（3）重金属元素在土壤中的纵向迁移不明显，该矿区附近20个采样点的地下水并未受到污染，综合污染指数P综〈1。20个采样点地下水Pb、Cd、Zn、As、Hg浓度均能达到地下水质量标准（GB／T14848．9）中的Ⅲ类标准。     

Evaluation of chemical immobilization treatments for reducing heavy metal transport in a smelter-contaminated soil

Three chemical immobilization materials, agricultural limestone (AL), mineral rock phosphate (RP), and diammonium phosphate (DAP), were evaluated using solute transport experiments to determine their ability to reduce subsurface heavy metal transport in a smelter contaminated soil. Percent reductions in metals transported were based on comparison with cumulative totals of metal species eluted through 60 pore volumes from an untreated soil. Reductions of metal eluted from the AL treatment were 55% for Cd, 45.2% for Pb, and 21.9% for Zn. Rock phosphate mixed with soil at 60 and 180 g kg(-1) was generally ineffective for reducing Cd, Pb, and Zn elution with <27% reduction for Cd, Pb, and Zn. Rock phosphate placed under contaminated soil as a reactive barrier (i.e. layered RP) at 180 g kg(-1) reduced Cd 53% and Zn 24%, and was the most efficient treatment for reducing Pb (99.9%) transport. DAP treatments were superior to all other materials for reducing Cd and Zn elution with reduction >77% for Zn and >91% for Cd from the 90 g DAP kg(-1) treatment. Increasing DAP from 10 to 90 g kg(-1) increased total arsenic released from 0.13 to 29.5 mg kg(-1) and total P eluted from 2.31 to 335 mg. DAP at 10 g kg(-1) was the most effective treatment for immobilizing the combination of Cd, Pb, and Zn, with reductions of 94.6, 98.9, and 95.8%, respectively.     

Wild fire impact on copper, zinc, lead and cadmium distribution in soil and relation with abundance in selected plants of Lamiaceae family from Vidlic Mountain (Serbia)

Fire has been considered as an improving factor in soil quality, but only if it is controlled. Severe wild fire occurred in the summer 2007 on the Vidlic Mountain (Serbia) overspreading a huge area of meadows and forests.Main soil characteristics and content of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn) in different fractions obtained after sequential extraction of soil from post-fire areas and from fire non disturbed areas were studied. In four plant species of Lamiaceae family (Ajuga genevensis L., Lamium galeobdolon (L.) L., Teucrium chamaedrys L., Acinos alpinus (L.) Moench.), that grow in typical habitats of the mountain, distribution of heavy metals in aerial parts and roots was investigated too.For all samples from post-fire area cation exchange capacity and soil organic matter content are increased while rH is decreased. Fire caused slightly increased bioavailability of the observed metals but more significant rise happened in metal amounts bound to oxides and organics. The plants showed variable behavior. T. chamaedrys collected on the post-fire area contained elevated concentrations of all analyzed metals. A. alpinus showed higher phytoaccumulation for Zn and Cd, while the other two plant species for Pb and Cd in the post-fire areas.     

The two-phase leaching of Pb, Zn and Cd contaminated soil using EDTA and electrochemical treatment of the washing solution

The feasibility of a novel two-phase method for remediation of Pb (1374 mg kg(-1)), Zn (1007 mg kg(-1)), and Cd (9.1 mg kg(-1)) contaminated soil was evaluated. In the first phase we used EDTA for leaching heavy metals from the soil. In the second phase we used an electrochemical advanced oxidation process (EAOP) for the treatment and reuse of washing solution for soil rinsing (removal of the soil-retained, chelant-mobilized metallic species). In EAOP, a boron-doped diamond anode was used for the generation of hydroxyl radicals and oxidative decomposition of EDTA-metal complexes at a constant current density (15 mA cm(-2)). The released metals were removed from the solution by filtration as insoluble participate and by electro-deposition on the cathode. Four consecutive additions of 5.0 mm ol kg(-1) EDTA (total 20 mmol kg(-1)) removed 44% Pb, 14% Zn and 35% Cd from the soil. The mobility of the Pb, Zn and Cd (Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure) left in the soil after remediation was reduced by 1.6, 3.4 and 1.5 times, respectively. The Pb oral availability (Physiologically Based Extraction Test) in the simulated stomach phase was reduced by 2.4 and in the intestinal phase by 1.7 times. The discharge solution was clear, almost colorless, with pH 7.73 and 0.47 mg L(-1) Pb, 1.03 mg L(-1) Zn, bellow the limits of quantification of Cd and 0.023 mM EDTA. The novel method enables soil leaching with small water requirements and no wastewater generation or other emissions into the environment.     

Potential availability of heavy metals to phytoextraction from contaminated soils induced by exogenous humic substances

Effective phytoremediation of soils contaminated by heavy metals depends on their availability to plant uptake that, in turn, may be influenced by either the existing soil humus or an exogenous humic matter. We amended an organic and a mineral soil with an exogenous humic acid (HA) in order to enhance the soil organic carbon (SOC) content by 1% and 2%. The treated soils were further enriched with heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, Ni) to a concentration of 0, 10, 20, and 40 microg/g for each metal and allowed to age at room temperature for 1 and 2 months. After each period, they were extracted for readily soluble and exchangeable (2.5% acetic acid), plant-available (DTPA, Diethylentriaminepentaacetic acid), and occluded (1 N HNO(3)) metal species. Addition of HA generally reduced the extractability of the soluble and exchangeable forms of metals. This effect was directly related to the amount of added HA and increased with ageing time. Conversely, the potentially plant-available metals extracted with DTPA were generally larger with increasing additions of exogenous HA solutions. This was attributed to the formation of metal-humic complexes, which ensured a temporary bioavailability of metals and prevented their rapid transformation into insoluble species. Extractions with 1 N HNO(3) further indicated that the added metals were present in complexes with HA. The observed effects appeared to also depend on the amount of native SOC and its structural changes with ageing. The results suggest that soil amendments with exogenous humic matter may accelerate the phytoremediation of heavy metals from contaminated soil, while concomitantly prevent their environmental mobility.     

Cadmium in soil solutions from a transect of soils away from a fertiliser bin

The effects of high inputs of phosphate fertiliser on Cd concentrations were studied in soil solutions extracted from topsoils. Soils were sampled along a transect at distances of 1-100 m away from a fertiliser bin. The transect was sampled four times during 1 year. Soil solutions were analysed for Cd, pH, major cations and anions, and other heavy metals (As, Cr, Cu, Pb). For one of the transect samplings, soil total Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and P were also measured. Cd speciation in the soil solutions was calculated by the GEO-CHEM-PC computer program. Chemical composition varied substantially along the transect, and also between samplings, indicative of seasonal effects and the influence of a fresh application of superphosphate fertiliser during the year. Application of fertiliser decreased soil solution pH and increased the levels of heavy metals in soil solution. Generally, soil total Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and P decreased with increasing distance from the fertiliser bin. Correlations between P and the four heavy metals were: P and Cd (R2 = 0.978), P and Cr (R2 = 0.712), P and Pb (R2 = 0.538), P and Cu (R2 = 0.267). Less than 1% of the total Cd in the soil samples was found in the soil solution. The free metal ion Cd2+ accounted for 55-90% of solution Cd. Of the complexed species of Cd, the chloride and sulphate complexes were usually the most important, even when nitrate and phosphate concentrations were relatively high. The presence of As, Cr, Cu and Pb had no effect on Cd speciation.     

Bioaccumulation in Porcellio scaber (Crustacea, Isopoda) as a measure of the EDTA remediation efficiency of metal-polluted soil

Leaching using EDTA applied to a Pb, Zn and Cd polluted soil significantly reduced soil metal concentrations and the pool of metals in labile soil fractions. Metal mobility (Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure), phytoavailability (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid extraction) and human oral-bioavailability (Physiologically Based Extraction Test) were reduced by 85-92%, 68-91% and 88-95%, respectively. The metal accumulation capacity of the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber (Crustacea) was used as in vivo assay of metal bioavailability, before and after soil remediation. After feeding on metal contaminated soil for two weeks, P. scaber accumulated Pb, Zn and Cd in a concentration dependent manner. The amounts of accumulated metals were, however, higher than expected on the basis of extraction (in vitro) tests. The combined results of chemical extractions and the in vivo test with P. scaber provide a more relevant picture of the availability stripping of metals after soil remediation.     

Uptake and accumulation of cadmium, lead and zinc by Siam weed [Chromolaena odorata (L.) King & Robinson

The Siam weed, Chromolaena odorata (L.) King & Robinson, Family Asteraceae, was found to be a new Pb hyperaccumulator by means of field surveys on Pb soil and hydroponic studies. Plants from field collection accumulated 1377 and 4236mgkg(-1) Pb in their shoots and roots, respectively, and could tolerate soil Pb concentrations up to 100000 mgkg(-1) with a translocation factor of 7.62. Very low concentrations of Cd and Zn were found in plants collected from the field. Under nutrient solution culture condition, C. odorata from the contaminated site (CS) and from non-contaminated site (NCS) grew normally with all three metals (Pb, Cd, Zn) supplied. However, the relative growth rates of all treated plants decreased with increased metal concentrations. The percentage uptakes of Pb, Cd, and Zn by C. odorata increased with increasing metal concentrations. Pb concentration in shoots and roots reached its highest values (1772.3 and 60655.7mgkg(-1), respectively) at a Pb supply level of 10mgl(-1). While the maximum concentrations of Cd (0.5mgl(-1)) in shoots and roots of C. odorata were 102.3 and 1440.9mgkg(-1), and the highest concentrations of Zn (20mgl(-1)) were 1876.0 and 7011.8mgkg(-1), respectively. The bioaccumulation coefficients of Pb and Cd were greater than 1000. These results confirm that C. odorata is a hyperaccumulator which grows rapidly, has substantial biomass, wide distribution and has a potential for the phytoremediation of metal contaminated soils.     

4种茄科植物对矿区污染土壤重金属的吸收和富集

采集了湖南及江苏8个矿区或冶炼厂周边4种茄科(Solanaceae)植物及其根际土壤,分析了植物及土壤样品中Cd、Cu、Pb、Mn和Zn 5种重金属浓度.结果表明:番茄(Lycopersicon esculentum)对5种重金属可能有着较强的耐性,但不具有超积累的潜力;刺天茄(Solanum indicum)对Mn、...     

煤矿复垦区土壤重金属分布特征与质量评价

为保证煤矿复垦区种植农作物的充填复垦土壤的生态安全,以淮南矿区煤矸石充填复垦地为研究对象,通过对研究区内Cd、Cr、Ni、Pb、Cu、Zn和Hg 7种重金属不同深度含量分析,总结其纵向分布特征,并将研究区土壤重金属含量与淮南市土壤背景值、《土壤环境质量标准》(GB 15618-1995)作比较,分析这7种重金属的污染程度.结果表明,这7种重金属都有不同程度的污染,其中土壤受Cd污染最严重,土壤中重金属垂直方向上无确定分布规律.总体而言,土壤重金属潜在生态风险属于强生态危害.从垂直方向来看,重金属潜在生态风险指数(RD随着深度的增加出现先下降后升高的趋势,其中40～60 cm深度的RI最大.重金属生态危害程度依次为Cd＞ Hg＞ Ni＞ Cu＞ Cr＞ Pb＞ Zn,其中Cd为矿区土壤中最主要的重金属污染生态风险因子.     

Accumulation of heavy metals in the mole in Finland

Metal concentrations (Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb and Mo) were analysed from the liver and kidneys of moles, Talpa europaea L. (Insectivora), trapped in southern Finland on both contaminated and rural areas. In rural areas the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb and Mo were lower in juveniles (individuals in their first summer), except for Zn in the liver, which was lower in adults. When the animals were divided into annual classes (0-6 years), Cd and Mo concentrations in the liver increased significantly with age, while concentrations of Cu, Zn and Cr tended to decrease. Female moles had higher Pb concentrations than males, especially adult females, which also had lower levels of Cu in the liver than adult males. Moles in the metropolitan area of Helsinki clearly differed from those in rural areas in that the concentrations of heavy metals in these moles were higher (especially for the most toxic metals: Cd, Pb and Hg), and their body weight was lower. The renal concentrations of Cd in most of the moles in Helsinki exceeded the threshold that has been shown to have a nephrotoxic effect in mammals. In one subsample from Helsinki, Pb and Zn concentrations in the mole liver decreased as the distance from the highway increased. Concentrations of Pb in earthworms and several heavy metals in soil also decreased similarly in the same area. Our data indicate that Pb accumulates in moles through their diet of earthworms.