Effect of Pseudomonas fluorescens on metal phytoextraction from contaminated soil by Brassica juncea

The present study deals with metal uptake by Brassica juncea in the presence of Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf 27 for Zn, Cu and Cd removal from brass and electroplating-industry effluent-contaminated soil. Inoculation of P. fluorescens significantly (p<0.05) increased water soluble (Ws) and exchangeable (Ex) metal content in contaminated soil in laboratory conditions and also enhanced plant biomass by 99% and chlorophyll content by 91% as compared to uninoculated plants in the greenhouse. The metal uptake by B. juncea followed the pattern Zn>Cu>Cd and increased with increasing plant growth duration. P. fluorescens inoculation increased root and shoot uptake of Zn by 3.05 and 2.69, Cu by 3.19 and 2.82 and Cd by 3.11- and 2.75-fold, respectively. BCF value for each metal was>1 and increased by 44%, 42% and 38% for Zn, Cu and Cd, respectively, in inoculated conditions, whereas TF remained unaffected and followed the order Zn>Cd>Cu. P. fluorescens inoculation also enhanced Ws fraction of Zn, Cu and Cd by 99%, 77% and 90% and Ex by 107%, 70% and 93%, respectively. Results depicted that association of B. juncea with P. fluorescens could be a promising strategy for enhancing soil metal bioavailability and plant growth for successful phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soils.     

Is there a relationship between soil and groundwater toxicity?

Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 requires environmental regulators to assess the risk of contaminants leaching from soils into groundwater (DETR, 1999). This newly introduced legislation assumes a link between soil and groundwater chemistry, in which rainwater leaches contaminants from soil into the saturated zone. As the toxicity of both groundwater and overlying soils is dependent upon the chemicals present, their partitioning and their bioavailability, similar patterns of soil, leachates and groundwater toxicity should be observed at contaminated sites. Soil and groundwater samples were collected from different contaminated land sites in an urban area, and used to determine relationships between soil chemistry and toxicity, mobility of contaminants, and groundwater chemistry and toxicity. Soils were leached using water to mimic rainfall, and both the soils and leachates tested using bioassays. Soil bioassays were carried out using Eisenia fetida, whilst groundwater and leachates were tested using the Microtox test system and Daphnia magna 48 h acute tests. Analysis of the bioassay responses demonstrated that a number of the samples were toxic to test organisms, however, there were no significant statistical relationships between soil, groundwater and leachate toxicity. Nor were there significant correlations between soil, leachates and groundwater chemistry.     

Indoor air pollution: A review∗

Relationships between toxicities of substituted aromatic hydrocarbons to Daphnia magna and to Fathead minnows or Photobacterium phosphoreum were studied based on structure‐activity equations we established. Good relationships between toxicities of chemicals to Daphnia magna and to Fathead minnows, Photobacterium phosphoreum were found for a wide range of chemicals. The toxicity data of fish can be predicted by the toxicity data of Daphnia magna or Photobacterium phosphoreum. It is probable that the toxicities of chemicals to the three organisms are similar.     

Predictions of Cu toxicity in three aquatic species using bioavailability tools in four Swedish soft freshwaters

Background

The EU member countries are currently implementing the Water Framework Directive to promote better water quality and overview of their waters. The directive recommends the usage of bioavailability tools, such as biotic ligand models (BLM), for setting environmental quality standards (EQS) for metals. These models are mainly calibrated towards a water chemistry found in the south central parts of Europe. However, freshwater chemistry in Scandinavia often has higher levels of DOC (dissolved organic carbon), Fe and Al combined with low pH compared to the central parts of Europe. In this study, copper (Cu) toxicities derived by two different BLM software were compared to bioassay-derived toxicity for Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, Daphnia magna and D. pulex in four Swedish soft water lakes.

Results

A significant under- and over prediction between measured and BLM calculated toxicity was found; for P. subcapitata in three of the four lakes and for the daphnids in two of the four lakes. The bioassay toxicity showed the strongest relationship with Fe concentrations and DOC. Furthermore, DOC was the best predictor of BLM results, manifested as positive relationships with calculated LC₅₀ and NOEC for P. subcapitata and D. magna, respectively.

Conclusion

Results from this study indicate that the two investigated BLM softwares have difficulties calculating Cu toxicity, foremost concerning the algae. The analyses made suggest that there are different chemical properties affecting the calculated toxicity as compared to the measured toxicity. We recommend that tests including Al, Fe and DOC properties as BLM input parameters should be conducted. This to observe if a better consensus between calculated and measured toxicity can be established.

     

Accumulation of some metals in Morinda lucida from Nigeria

Transfer coefficients of the four metals As, Cd, Hg, and Pb were determined in the leaves and barks of Morinda lucida collected in Nigeria, with the view to quantify relative differences in the bioavailability of the metals to these parts of the plant. Samples were acid digested and the levels of the metals in the digestates were determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Certain properties of the soils, i.e., pH, clay fraction, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, and organic matter, were also determined. The latter influence the bioavailability of the metals. All parameters correlated with the concentrations of the metals in soils. Transfer coefficient values recorded for Cd and Pb in various tissues of M. lucida Benth were within the expected ranges, while those of As and Hg showed elevated topsoil concentrations of metals. The order of bioavailability of the metals and their bioaccumulation in the tissues of M. lucida Benth was Hg > Cd > As > Pb. Stem barks of the plant showed the least bioaccumulation of all four metals and hence are most suitable for therapeutic purposes. Vegetative parts of M. lucida Benth used for therapeutic purposes should be sourced at sites that will give low transfer coefficient in order to reduce human exposure to toxicity associated with ingestion of heavy metals.     

Toxicity of substituted benzaldehydes to photobacterium phosphoreum and quantitative structure‐activity relationship

Acute toxicities (15min‐EC₅₀) of 21 substituted benzaldehydes to Photobacterium phosphoreum were determined. A quantitative structure‐activity relationship (QSAR) was developed using molecular connectivity indices and quantum chemical parameters, which show that the toxicity is influenced mainly by the difference of the simple and valence‐corrected fourth path molecular connectivity, polarizability, dipole moment, and the most negative net atomic charge on an atom. This study further shows that benzaldehydes are reactive chemicals, which exhibit bioreactive toxicity.     

3种新型污染物对发光菌的毒性作用研究

分析了3种常见的代表性新型污染物对发光菌的单一毒性和等毒性比例下的联合毒性,基于毒性单位法(TU)、相加指数法(AI)和混合毒性指数法(MTI)评价混合体系联合毒性作用类型。三氯生、五氯酚、双酚A对发光菌的半数效应浓度(EC_(50))分别为:0.045、0.035、0.74 mg·L~(-1)。不同的评价方法对3种新型污染物的联合效应评价结果具有较好的一致性,多元混合体系呈现为不同程度的拮抗作用,结合分子结构特征和不同取代基的相互作用,初步分析了联合毒性机理,进一步毒性作用机制还需要通过对生物生理生化响应等进行深入研究。新型污染物混合体系对发光菌的联合作用呈现以拮抗作用为主,表明此类污染物环境残留可导致相关化学品功效降低,引发微生物耐药性的产生和传播的风险。     

Fortpflanzungsbiologie,Entwicklungszyklen und vergleichende Frühentwicklung acoeler Turbellarien

Copulation and egg-laying of 3 species of marine Convolutidae are compared and analysed in relation to internal structure, settlement behaviour, and habitat. Convoluta convoluta (Abildgaard) inhabits the sea-weed belt, Archaphanostoma agile (Jensen) the uppermost layer of sediments rich in detritus, and Pseudaphanostoma psammophilum Dörjes the mesopsammal. The structure of sexual organs and the mechanisms of sperm transfer are discussed in regard to phylogenetic lines of development. The complete set of hermaphroditic sexual organs and the mutual copulation in c. convoluta are considered to be primitive. The reduction of the female organs, as well as the pronounced differentiation of the male copulatory organs, and the hypodermal sperm injection in A. agile and P. psammophilum are more advanced. In regard to structure and function of its sexual organs, P. psammophilum is extremely well adapted to its habitat. C. convoluta probably deposits the eggs through its pharynx. In A. agile and P. psammophilum egg-laying is associated with a rupture of the body wall. In general, C. convoluta lays 20 to 30 eggs. A. agile 1 to 7 eggs, in a single mass, a few days after copulation, P. psammophilum produces up to 15 single eggs over a period of up to 20 days after the preceding copulation. Among other features, this fact characterizes P. psammophilum as a typical inhabitant of the mesopsammal. While A. agile and P. psammophilum are capable of producing eggs continously, C. convoluta requires more than 14 days before it is again able to release another egg-mass. If kept isolated, A. agile lays eggs extremely rarely; individuals hatched from such eggs do not survive. Three species of acoelous turbellarians could be cultivated successfully at 16° to 18°C; A. agile and P. psam-mophilum were fed with datoms of the genus Nitzschia; Pseudohaplogonaria vacua Dörjes (Haploposthiidae) fed only on A. agile. In order to prevent bacterial infection, 0.25 g/l p-Aminobenzolsulfonacetamide were added to the sea water used as cultivation medium. Embryogenesis of A. agile and P. psammophilum lasts 2 to 5 days, that of P. vacua, 9 to 15 days. On an average, freshly hatched A. agile require 23 days for attaining sexual maturity, P. psammophilum 33 days, and P. vacua 70 days. Normally, A. agile lays 11 to 12 eggs, P. psammophilum 7 to 8 eggs, within 10 days, while P. vacua lays only sporadically (one specimen produces only about 10 eggs within 200 days). These differences in rates of reproduction correspond to respective differences in rates of loss through predation and population densities in the natural environment. A. agile is especially well suited for laboratory experiments; it can be cultured easily, and is characterized by constant production of eggs, and considerable longevity; even after 19 months, cultured A. agile exhibited undiminished vitality. In A. agile, duration of embryogenesis and postlarval development, as well as egg production, were examined at different constant temperatures. The upper lethal temperature of A. agile is 25° to 26°C; egg production is markedly lower at 22°C than at 16° to 18°C; at 16° to 18°C and at 5° to 6°C, rate of propagation is nearly the same, provided that A. agile has been adapted to a constant temperature of 5° to 6°C for a sufficient period of time. Egg production is considerably diminished at 3° to 4°C; it ceases at-1° to +1°C. A. agile is extremely resistant to starvation. Specimens kept without food first resorb their oocytes, then their sexual organs, and finally the greater part of their somatic cells. Of 15 A. agile, 12 survived after 50 days of starvation; the survivors became reduced to the size of newly-hatched young; they attained their normal size again after a feeding period of 30 days. In 13 species of oviparous acoelous turbellarians, development of living embryos was observed until gastrulation (16-cell stage). These observations, on a wide variety of forms, demonstrated that the “Spiral-Duett-Furchung” represents the typical cleavage modus in the Acoela. Examples are provided of the embryogenesis of A. agile and Archocelis macrorhabditis Dörjes. In the two very small species Diopithoporus brachypharyngeus Dörjes and Acoela gen. spec. 2 (200 to 300 μm) which live in sublittoral fine sand, embryonic development occurs inside the parents. In these species, cleavage could be followed clearly only to the 4-cell stage. Particular attention was paid to embryos which developed atypically; the pertinent results allow a re-interpretation of the reports by Bogomolov (1960) and Steinböck (1966) on the embryogenesis of acoelous turbellarians.     

“生物有效性测量”与“全沉积物毒性识别评估(TIE)”联用有效识别出沉积物中主要致毒污染物

沉积物中污染物种类繁多,准确判断其中产生生物毒性的主要来源是个难点,本文作者先采用TIE法初步判断出主要致毒污染物为有机物和重金属(毒性描述阶段(相I)),传统的毒性单位分析结果显示Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb和Zn主要致毒重金属,而为氯氰菊酯、氯氟氰菊酯、溴氰菊酯和氟虫腈为主要致毒有机物中(毒性鉴定阶段(相II))。采用4步分级提取法和Tenax提取法分析了重金属和有机物的生物有效性。生物有效性毒性单位分析更加准确地锁定了毒性主要贡献重金属为Zn、Ni和Pb,毒性主要贡献有机物为氯氰菊酯、氯氟氰菊酯和氟虫腈。沉积物的稀释降低了重金属的毒性并使其毒性贡献鉴定变得复杂,生物有效性测量可以有效地提高TIE结果的准确性。
精选自Xiaoyi Yi, Huizhen Li, Ping Ma and Jing You. Identifying the causes of sediment-associated toxicity in urban waterways in South China: Incorporating bioavailabillity-based measurements into whole-sediment toxicity identification evaluation. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry: Volume 34, Issue 8, pages 1744–1750, August 2015. DOI: 10.1002/etc.2970
详情请见http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/etc.2970/full     

Comparative analysis of metal translocation in red maple (Acer rubrum) and trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) populations from stressed ecosystems contaminated with metals

Uptake of contaminants by plants and their mechanisms have been the subjects of several studies, but reports on the analysis of metal translocation in hardwood trees are limited. The main objective of this study is to compare metal accumulation and translocation in red maple (Acer rubrum) and trembling aspen (Poplar tremuloides) growing in Northern Ontario. Results show that P. tremuloides leaf tissues accumulate more nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) than roots. The concentrations of these elements in A. rubrum were low in leaf, branch, and roots tissues compared to the bioavailable levels of these metals in soil. The translocation factors (TFs) of metals from roots to leaves were low for copper (Cu) and high for iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), Ni, and Zn in P. tremuloides. They varied from 0.52 to 3.26 for Fe, 3.39 to 5.47 for Mg, 2.6 to 16.4 for Ni, and 1.41 to 4.1 for Zn. For A. rubrum the TF was low for all the elements except Mg. For this species, the TF values from roots to leaves varied from 0.08 to 0.17 for Fe, 2.62 to 4.13 for Mg, 0.26 to 0.81 for Ni, and 0.71 to 0.90 for Zn. Overall, Cu does not accumulate in P. tremuloides and A. rubrum tissues, and the two species have different mechanisms in dealing with the other main contaminants in the region, specifically Ni and Zn. P. tremuloides is an accumulator for Ni and Zn while A. rubrum is an excluder for Zn and it uses the avoidance strategy to deal with soil Ni contamination.     

“生物有效性测量”与“全沉积物毒性识别评估(TIE)”联用有效识别出沉积物中主要致毒污染物

沉积物中污染物种类繁多,准确判断其中产生生物毒性的主要来源是个难点,本文作者先采用TIE法初步判断出主要致毒污染物为有机物和重金属(毒性描述阶段(相I)),传统的毒性单位分析结果显示Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb和Zn主要致毒重金属,而为氯氰菊酯、氯氟氰菊酯、溴氰菊酯和氟虫腈为主要致毒有机物中(毒性鉴定阶段(相II))。采用4步分级提取法和Tenax提取法分析了重金属和有机物的生物有效性。生物有效性毒性单位分析更加准确地锁定了毒性主要贡献重金属为Zn、Ni和Pb,毒性主要贡献有机物为氯氰菊酯、氯氟氰菊酯和氟虫腈。沉积物的稀释降低了重金属的毒性并使其毒性贡献鉴定变得复杂,生物有效性测量可以有效地提高TIE结果的准确性。
精选自Xiaoyi Yi, Huizhen Li, Ping Ma and Jing You. Identifying the causes of sediment-associated toxicity in urban waterways in South China: Incorporating bioavailabillity-based measurements into whole-sediment toxicity identification evaluation. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry: Volume 34, Issue 8, pages 1744–1750, August 2015. DOI: 10.1002/etc.2970
详情请见http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/etc.2970/full     

3种不同功效医药品活性成分对发光菌的毒性作用

因药物活性成分的环境残留引发的风险和健康问题成为公众关注的焦点。本文以海洋发光细菌为受试生物,研究了布洛芬、阿奇霉素、三氯生3种医药品的单一和联合毒性作用。结果表明,3种医药品对发光菌的EC_(50)值分别为:36.5×10~(-5)、30.26×10~(-5)和0.0155×10~(-5)mol·L~(-1);二元及多元混合体系对发光菌的EC_(50)值高于单一体系的毒性作用,进一步采用相加指数法(AI)、毒性单位法(TU)、混合毒性指数法(MTI)评价3种医药品多元体系的联合毒性的作用类型,取得了一致的评价结果。3种医药品的二元混合体系及多元混合体系的作用类型均属于拮抗作用,但拮抗作用的强弱不同,这与医药品不同药效官能团结构可影响其对微生物生理生化反应过程有关。研究3种医药品对发光菌急性毒性作用可为该类新型污染物的环境风险评价提供基础数据。     

The uptake and translocation of selected elements by cole (Brassica) grown using oasis soils in pot experiments

Pot experiments were conducted on cole (Brassica) grown in soils jointly treated with traces of two heavy metals cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn). As the concentration of heavy metals in the soil increased, the uptake of these metals by the plants rose. However, the ratio of heavy metal concentration in soil to uptake by plants increased at a slower rate. Bioavailability of heavy metals considered between the roots and soil using non-linear regressions was shown to be statistically significant. Similarly, the bioavailability of these two heavy metals between leaves and roots using a linear regression was also statistically significant. The bioconcentration factors (BCFs) for Cd and Zn were 0.282 and 4.289, respectively. Significant variation of BCF with the heavy metal bioavailability in soil was noted from non-linear models. The transfer factors (TFs) were 4.49 for Cd and 1.39 for Zn. The Zn concentration in leaves under all treatments did not exceed threshold set standards, but Cd levels exceeded these standards when the concentration of Cd in the soil was more than 1.92 mg kg^?1 dry weight (dw). Data indicate that cole (Brassica) is not a suitable crop for oasis soils because of plant contamination with heavy metals, especially Cd.     

A comparative study of three different methods for the sequential extraction of heavy metals in soil

Three different methods for the sequential extraction of heavy metals from soil (viz those of Tessier et al. (A. Tessier, P.G. Campbell and N. Bisson (1979). Anal. Chem., 51, 844.), Sposito et al. (G. Sposito, L.J. Lund and A.C. Chang (1989). Soil. Sci. Soc. Am. J., 46, 260.) and Mann and Ritchie (S.S. Mann and G.S.P. Ritchie (1993). Aust. J. Soil Res., 31, 255.)) were examined in terms of the distribution of Cu, Zn and Pb in the soil phases and the bioavailability of these elements in soil. To this end, several samples of soils polluted with metals from a copper mine were fractionated by using the three studied methods and analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The results revealed differences in extraction efficiency among the methods due to the extractant used, or its concentration, and to the soil/solution ratio. The three methods were found to provide accurate heavy metal background contents. However, the method of Tessier et al. is to be preferred for quantifying increased levels of heavy metals on account of its high extraction power.     

The effects of application of agricultural wastes to firing range soil on metal accumulation in Ipomoea aquatica and soil metal bioavailability

The immobilisation of heavy metals in the soil of a 25-year-old active firing range using durian (Durio zibethinus L.) tree sawdust (DTS), coconut coir (CC) and oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) was investigated. The immobilisation effects were evaluated in terms of metal accumulation in water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) and soil metal bioavailability. A pot experiment was conducted by amending the firing range soil with DTS, CC and EFB at application rates of 0%, 1% and 3% (w/w), respectively. All amendments increased the biomass yield and reduced the uptake of heavy metals in the plant tissue. Zn had the highest values of Bioconcentration Factor (BCF: 0.301–0.865) and Translocation Factor (TF: 1.056–1.883). Pb was the least-accumulated and transported metal in the plant tissues, with the BCF and TF values of 0.019–0.048 and 0.038–0.116, respectively. The bioavailable fraction of heavy metals in the firing range soil decreased following the application of the three agricultural wastes studied. DTS, CC and EFB did not cause toxicity symptoms in the water spinach over the pot experiment. Therefore, DTS, CC and EFB are considered promising immobilising agents for the remediation of metal-contaminated land.     

Bioavailability of metals and As from acidified multicontaminated soils: Use of white lupin to validate several extraction methods

White lupin is an annual crop that has been used for phytostabilization of acidified multicontaminated (heavy metals and As) soils from the Aznalcóllar spill-affected area, Southern Spain. One of the most important factors for successful phytostabilization is monitoring the pollutant bioavailability in the soil. The aim of this work was to determine the best-suited method for assessing the bioavailability of heavy metals together with As in the Aznalcóllar spill-affected area, by means of a systematic comparison between different extraction methods (Ammonium bicarbonate-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (AB-DTPA), CaCl₂, NaNO₃, BCR, (NH₄)₂SO₄ and rhizo). Both AB-DTPA and the first step of the BCR method were found to be unsuitable for assessing the bioavailability of heavy metals and As to plants growing in acidic soils. However, CaCl₂-extractable As, Cu, and Zn and NaNO₃-extractable As and Zn were well correlated with their concentrations in plant organs. Rhizo and (NH₄)₂SO₄, with the highest determination coefficients, were the most recommended simple extraction methods to assess the bioavailability of As, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn in acidified multicontaminated soils using white lupin as an excluder model plant.     

Temperature effects on the toxicity of four trace metals to adult spotted Babylonia snails (Babylonia areolata)

A study was conducted to determine the median lethal toxicity of four heavy metals on the marine gastropod Babylonia areolata. Median lethal toxicity tests were conducted to observe the sensitivity of this gastropod to metals and how variations in temperature might affect toxicity of test elements. Four heavy metals were used in the study. It was observed that the 96-hr LC₅₀ (in mg/L) for the different metals was found to be nickel (Ni) 33.53 (35.22–28.43), copper (Cu) 44.59 (46.43–41.53), cadmium (Cd) 21.53 (23.43–18.37), and zinc (Zn) 27.34 (28.81–24.24) at room temperature 24 °C. With temperature as a variable, median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) values were observed to increase from 22.41 mg/L at 10 °C to 27.34 mg/L at 28 °C and reduce to 18.43 mg/L at 30 °C and a further rise in toxicity was observed at 35 °C where LC₅₀ value was 12.7 mg/L as seen in the case of Zn. It was also observed that at 40 °C thermal and chemical toxicity overlapped as 100% mortality was observed in controls. This trend was noted in all metals for Babylonia areolata indicating that temperature played an important role in determining LC₅₀ values of toxicants.     

Carboxymethyl‐β‐cyclodextrin influence on the solubility and toxicity of substituted indole compounds

The solubilization of eight selected substituted indole compounds (SICs) by carboxymethyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (CMCD) in water is reported. The results show that their solubility was well improved in CMCD aqueous solution, and the stoichiometry of inclusion complex of the studied SICs with CMCD was 1: 1. The acute toxicity to Photobacterium phosphoreum of the investigated SICs in CMCD aqueous solutions was also investigated and was compared with that in water. The results show that the toxicity of five studied SICs decreased while the toxicity of the rest three SICs increased in CMCD aqueous solutions, but neither the increase nor the decrease was significant.     

污染水体中河蚬的生物毒性响应研究进展

河蚬作为广泛分布于世界各国的典型底栖生物,由于其活动性低、滤食性等特征被广泛用作指示生物研究多种水体污染物的生物有效性。但迄今为止,尚没有系统论述污染水体中河蚬生物毒性响应的研究进展。为此,本文从污染物种类、测试指标、试验参数等角度探讨了过去30多年间河蚬在氨、重金属、有机污染物生物富集及生物毒性效应等方面的研究过程及主要成果。以往研究主要以河蚬生物体内累积、形态学及行为学观察、生化指标、代谢组学、基因完整性等指标表征污染水体的生物毒性效应,并随着分子生物学的发展已逐步由多指标全面表征代替单一指标测试。此外,现有研究多偏重于重金属和持久性有机污染物,对氨、新型污染物及纳米材料的河蚬生物毒性效应探讨尚处于起步阶段。河蚬在自然水体污染状况评估、污染水体的生物修复、水体毒性预测等方面具有较高适用性,但河蚬在沉积物毒性鉴定评估(TIE,Toxicity Identification and Evaluation)中的应用研究依然较为缺乏,有待进一步开展。     

Distribution of contaminant trace metals inadvertently provided by phosphorus fertilisers: movement,chemical fractions and mass balances in contrasting acidic soils

The frequent use of phosphorus (P) fertilisers accompanied by nitrogen and potassium sources may lead to a serious long-term environmental issue because of the presence of potentially hazardous trace metals (TM) in P fertilisers and unknown effects on the TM chemical fractions in agricultural soils. A 16-month-long column experiment was conducted to investigate the mobility and chemical forms of Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, and Zn introduced into a Mollisol and an Andisol through surface incorporation (0–2 cm) of triple superphosphate (TSP) fertiliser. The effects of urea and potassium chloride (KCl) applications were investigated as well. After 15 cycles of 300-mm irrigation, TSP addition increased the 4 M HNO₃ extractable TM concentration in the upper (0–5 cm) section of soils. Beyond this depth, metals showed no significant mobility, with minimal leaching losses (<?1.9%, 25-cm depth). The TM chemical forms in the 0–5 cm section were significantly (p?<?0.01) affected by the soil type and fertilisers addition. Cadmium, Ni, and Zn were the elements which appeared in a larger proportion (up to 30%) in the most labile fraction (KNO₃ extractable) in fertilised soils. The impact of urea depended on the nitrification-related changes in soil pH, while fertilisation with KCl tended to increase the KNO₃ fraction of most metals probably due to K⁺ exchange reactions. Chromium remained minimally affected by the urea and KCl applications since this contaminant is strongly bound to the less labile solid phases. The low mobility of TM was governed mainly by their interaction with the solid phases rather than by their speciation at soil pH. The mass balance showed that the geochemical processes underwent in time by the P fertiliser increased the amount of TM extracted by the chemical fractionation scheme, therefore the reaction period of TSP with soil particles should be taken into account for evaluating TM availability. Long-term soil fertilisation could inadvertently contribute to an increased concentration and availability of these P fertilisers-born contaminants in the cultivated layer of acidic soils.