Sorption and transport of trichloroethylene in caliche soil

Sorption of TCE to the caliche soil exhibited linear isotherm at the high TCE concentrations (Co = 122-1300 mg L⁻¹) but Freundlich isotherm at the low concentration range (1-122 mg L⁻¹). Sorption strength of the carbonate fraction of the soil was about 100-fold lower than the sorption strength of soil organic matter (SOM) in the caliche soil, indicating weak affinity of TCE for the carbonate fraction of the soil. Desorption of TCE from the caliche soil was initially rapid (7.6 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹), then continued at a 100-fold slower rate (7.7 × 10⁻⁶ s⁻¹). Predominant calcium carbonate fraction of the soil (96%) was responsible for the fast desorption of TCE while the SOM fraction (0.97%) controlled the rate-limited desorption of TCE. Transport of TCE in the caliche soil was moderately retarded with respect to the water (R = 1.75-2.95). Flow interruption tests in the column experiments indicated that the rate-limited desorption of TCE controlled the non-ideal transport of TCE in the soil. Modeling studies showed that both linear and non-linear nonequilibrium transport models provided reasonably good match to the TCE breakthrough curves (r² = 0.95-0.98). Non-linear sorption had a negligible impact on both the breakthrough curve shape and the values of sorption kinetics parameters at the high TCE concentration (Co = 1300 mg L⁻¹). However, rate-limited sorption/desorption processes dominated at this concentration. For the low TCE concentration case (110 mg L⁻¹), in addition to the rate-limited sorption/desorption, contribution of the non-linear sorption to the values of sorption kinetics became fairly noticeable.     

Enhancing p-cresol extraction from soil

Soil washing is a potential technology for rapid removal of organic hydrocarbons sorbed to soils. In this work, p-cresol desorption with different non-ionic surfactants (Tween 80, Brij 30 and Triton X-100) was compared to cyclodextrine and citrate as solubilizer. A series of batch extraction experiments were conducted at 20 °C using the field soil with different extracting solutions at various concentrations to investigate the removal efficiency and to optimize the concentration of the extractant. The use of the different extracting agents was very selective to p-cresol extraction, minimizing soil organic matter releasing and maintaining the natural pH of the soil. The highest asymptotic values of desorption percentages were obtained for Tween 80 and Brij 30 at 48 h. However, Brij 30 ecotoxicity (EC₅₀ = 0.5 mg L⁻¹) is in the same order of that obtained for p-cresol, being this surfactant clearly ruled out. Liquid to solid ratio of 2.5 mL g⁻¹ presented the best extraction results, while concentrations higher than 1 g L⁻¹ for Tween 80 and Citrate did not produce any significant effect on the desorption efficiency. p-Cresol extraction efficiencies higher than 70% and 60% for Tween 80 and Citrate, respectively.     

Sorption and desorption of glyphosate,MCPA and tetracycline and their mixtures in soil as influenced by phosphate

Phosphate fertilizers and herbicides such as glyphosate and MCPA are commonly applied to agricultural land, and antibiotics such as tetracycline have been detected in soils following the application of livestock manures and biosolids to agricultural land. Utilizing a range of batch equilibrium experiments, this research examined the competitive sorption interactions of these chemicals in soil. Soil samples (0-15 cm) collected from long-term experimental plots contained Olsen P concentrations in the typical (13 to 20 mg kg^?1) and elevated (81 to 99 mg kg^?1) range of build-up phosphate in agricultural soils. The elevated Olsen P concentrations in field soils significantly reduced glyphosate sorption up to 50%, but had no significant impact on MCPA and tetracycline sorption. Fresh phosphate additions in the laboratory, introduced to soil prior to, or at the same time with the other chemical applications, had a greater impact on reducing glyphosate sorption (up to 45%) than on reducing tetracycline (up to 13%) and MCPA (up to 8%) sorption. The impact of fresh phosphate additions on the desorption of these three chemicals was also statistically significant, but numerically very small namely < 1% for glyphosate and tetracycline and 3% for MCPA. The presence of MCPA significantly reduced sorption and increased desorption of glyphosate, but only when MCPA was present at concentrations much greater than environmentally relevant and there was no phosphate added to the MCPA solution. Tetracycline addition had no significant effect on glyphosate sorption and desorption in soil. For the four chemicals studied, we conclude that when mixtures of phosphate, herbicides and antibiotics are present in soil, the greatest influence of their competitive interactions is phosphate decreasing glyphosate sorption and the presence of phosphate in solution lessens the potential impact of MCPA on glyphosate sorption. The presence of chemical mixtures in soil solution has an overall greater impact on the sorption than desorption of individual organic chemicals in soil.     

Factors Influencing 2,4-D Sorption and Mineralization in Soil

Abstract

This study quantified 2,4-D [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid] sorption and mineralization rates in five soils as influenced by soil characteristics and nutrient contents. Results indicated that 2,4-D was weakly sorbed by soil, with Freundlich distribution coefficients ranging from 0.81 to 2.89 µg^1?1/n  g^?1 mL^{1/ n} . First-order mineralization rate constants varied from 0.03 to 0.26, corresponding to calculated mineralization half-lives of 3 and 22 days, respectively. Herbicide sorption generally increased with increasing soil organic carbon content, but the extent of 2,4-D sorption per unit organic carbon varied among the soils due to differences in soil pH, clay content and/or organic matter quality. Herbicide mineralization rates were greater in soils that sorbed more 2,4-D per unit organic carbon, and that had greater soil nitrogen contents. We conclude that the effect of sorption on herbicide degradation cannot be generalized without a better understanding of the effects of soil characteristics and nutrient content on herbicide behavior in soil.     

Sorption and desorption kinetics of diuron,fluometuron, prometryn and pyrithiobac sodium in soils

Abstract

The sorption and desorption characteristics of four herbicides (diuron, fluometuron, prometryn and pyrithiobac‐sodium) in three different cotton growing soils of Australia was investigated. Kinetics and equilibrium sorption and desorption isotherms were determined using the batch equilibrium technique. Sorption was rapid (> 80% in 2 h) and sorption equilibrium was achieved within a short period of time (ca 4 h) for all herbicides. Sorption isotherms of the four herbicides were described by Freundlich equation with an r² value > 0.98. The herbicide sorption as measured by the distribution coefficient (K_d) values ranged from 3.24 to 5.71 L/kg for diuron, 0.44 to 1.13 L/kg for fluometuron, 1.78 to 6.04 L/kg for prometryn and 0.22 to 0.59 L/kg for pyrithiobac‐sodium. Sorption of herbicides was higher in the Moree soil than in Narrabri and Wee Waa soils. When the K_d values were normalised to organic carbon content of the soils (K_oC), it suggested that the affinity of the herbicides to the organic carbon increased in the order: pyrithiobac‐sodium < fluometuron < prometryn < diuron. The desorption isotherms were also adequately described by the Freundlich equation. For desorption, all herbicides exhibited hysteresis and the hysteresis was stronger for highly sorbed herbicides (diuron and prometryn) than the weakly sorbed herbicides (fluometuron and pyrithiobac‐sodium). Hysteresis was also quantified as the percentage of sorbed herbicides which is not released during the desorption step ω = [n_ad / n_de ‐1] x 100). Soil type and initial concentration had significant effect on ω. The effect of sorption and desorption properties of these four herbicides on the off‐site transport to contaminate surface and groundwater are also discussed in this paper.     

Effectiveness of urea in enhancing the extractability of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene from chemically variant soils

One of the major challenges in developing an effective phytoremediation technology for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) contaminated soils is limited plant uptake resulting from low solubility of TNT. The effectiveness of urea as a solubilizing agent in increasing plant uptake of TNT in hydroponic systems has been documented. Our preliminary greenhouse experiments using urea were also very promising, but further characterization of the performance of urea in highly-complex soil-solution was necessary. The present study investigated the natural retention capacity of four chemically variant soils and optimized the factors influencing the effectiveness of urea in enhancing TNT solubility in the soil solutions. Results show that the extent of TNT sorption and desorption varies with the soil properties, and is mainly dependent on soil organic matter (SOM) content. Hysteretic desorption of TNT in all tested soils suggests irreversible sorption of TNT and indicates the need of using an extractant to increase the release of TNT in soil solutions. Urea significantly (p < 0.0001) enhanced TNT extraction from all soils, by increasing its solubility at the solid/liquid interface. Soil organic matter content and urea application rates showed significant effects, whereas pH did not exert any significant effect on urea catalysis of TNT extraction from soil. The optimum urea application rates (125 or 350 mg kg⁻¹) for maximizing TNT extraction were within the limits set by the agronomic fertilizer-N rates used for major agricultural crops. The data obtained from this batch study will facilitate the optimization of a chemically-catalyzed phytoremediation model for cleaning up TNT-contaminated soils.     

Aluminum water treatment residuals as permeable reactive barrier sorbents to reduce phosphorus losses

Two aluminum water treatment residuals (Al-WTRs) from water treatment plants in Manatee County, FL and Punta Gorda, FL were evaluated as potential permeable reactive barrier (PRB) media to reduce groundwater phosphorus (P) losses. Short-term (<24 h) P sorption kinetics and long-term P sorption capacity were determined using batch equilibration studies. Phosphorus desorption was characterized following P loadings of 10, 20, 30, 40 and >70 g kg⁻¹. Sorption and desorption studies were conducted on the <2.0 mm material and three size fractions within the <2.0 mm material. The effect of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) on P retention was determined by reacting Al-WTRs with P-spiked groundwater samples of varying initial DOC concentrations. Phosphorus sorption kinetics were rapid for all size fractions of both Al-WTRs (>98% P sorption effectiveness at shaking times ?2 h). The effect of DOC was minimal at <150 mg DOC L⁻¹, but modest reductions (<22%) in P sorption effectiveness occurred at 587 mg DOC L⁻¹. The P sorption capacities of the Manatee and Punta Gorda Al-WTRs (<2.0 mm) are ∼44 g kg⁻¹ and >75 g kg⁻¹, respectively, and the lifespan of an Al-WTR PRB is likely many decades. Desorption was minimal (<2% of the P sorbed) for cumulative P loadings <40 g kg^-l, but increased (<9% of the P sorbed) at cumulative P loads >70 g kg⁻¹. The <2.0 mm Manatee and Punta Gorda Al-WTRs are regarded as ideal PRB media for P remediation.     

Characteristics of oxytetracycline sorption and potential bioavailability in soils with various physical-chemical properties

Veterinary antibiotics are widely used for disease treatment, prevention and animal growth promoting. Frequent detection of veterinary antibiotics in environments, caused by land application of untreated or even treated antibiotics-containing animal wastes, has posed the growing concern of their adverse effect on natural ecosystems. Oxytetracycline (OTC) is one of the most widely-used veterinary antibiotics in livestock industry. OTC present as a cation, zwitterions, or net negatively charged ion in soils complicates predicting its sorption characteristics and potential bioavailability and toxicity. This study was to identify soil properties influencing OTC sorption and its subsequent bioavailability in five soils with various physical-chemical properties. A solution used to determine bioavailable analytes in soils and sediments, 1 M MgCl₂ (pH 8.5), was chosen to desorb the potentially bioavailable fraction of OTC sorbed onto soils. Our results demonstrated that soils with higher illite content and permanent cation exchange capacity have higher OTC sorption capacity, but increase the availability of sorbed OTC indicated by higher release of sorbed OTC from soils into aqueous phase in 1 M MgCl₂ (pH 8.5). Reversely, soil organic matter (SOM), clay, kaolinite, variable cation exchange capacity, DCB-Fe and -Al have lower OTC sorption capacity, but decrease the release of sorbed OTC from soils into 1 M MgCl₂. These findings indicate that SOM and clay greatly influence OTC adsorption and potential availability. This study contributes significantly to our understanding of the potential bioavailability of sorbed OTC and the effects of soil properties on OTC sorption behaviors in soils.     

Sorption of chlorinated solvents and degradation products on natural clayey tills

The sorption of chlorinated solvents and degradation products on seven natural clayey till samples from three contaminated sites was investigated by laboratory batch experiments in order to obtain reliable sorption coefficients (K_d values). The sorption isotherms for all compounds were nearly linear, but fitted by Freundlich isotherms slightly better over the entire concentration range. For chloroethylenes, tetrachloroethylene (PCE) was most strongly sorbed to the clayey till samples (K_d = 0.84-2.45 L kg⁻¹), followed by trichloroethylene (TCE, K_d = 0.62-0.96 L kg⁻¹), cis-dichloroethylene (cis-DCE, K_d = 0.17-0.82 L kg⁻¹) and vinyl chloride (VC, K_d = 0.12-0.36 L kg⁻¹). For chloroethanes, 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA) was most strongly sorbed (K_d = 0.2-0.45 L kg⁻¹), followed by 1,1-dichloroethane (1,1-DCA, K_d = 0.16-0.24 L kg⁻¹) and chloroethane (CA, K_d = 0.12-0.18 L kg⁻¹). This is consistent with the order of hydrophobicity of the compounds. The octanol-water coefficient (log K_ow) correlated slightly better with log K_d values than log K_oc values indicating that the K_d values may be independent of the actual organic carbon content (f_oc). The estimated log K_oc or log K_d for chlorinated solvents and degradation products determined by regression of data in this study were significantly higher than values determined by previously published empirical relationships. The site specific K_d values as well as the new empirical relationship compared well with calculations on water and soil core concentration for cis-DCE and VC from the Rugårdsvej site. In conclusion, this study with a wide range of chlorinated ethenes and ethanes - in line with previous studies on PCE and TCE - suggest that sorption in clayey tills could be higher than typically expected.     

Transport modes and pathways of the strongly sorbing pesticides glyphosate and pendimethalin through structured drained soils

Leaching of the strongly sorbing pesticides glyphosate and pendimethalin was evaluated in an 8-month field study focussing on preferential flow and particle-facilitated transport, both of which may enhance the leaching of such pesticides in structured soils. Glyphosate mainly sorbs to mineral sorption sites, while pendimethalin mainly sorbs to organic sorption sites. The two pesticides were applied in equal dosage to a structured, tile-drained soil, and the concentration of the pesticides was then measured in drainage water sampled flow-proportionally.The leaching pattern of glyphosate resembled that of pendimethalin, suggesting that the leaching potential of pesticides sorbed to either the inorganic or organic soil fractions is high in structured soils. Both glyphosate and pendimethalin leached from the root zone, with the average concentration in the drainage water being 3.5 and 2.7 μg L⁻¹, respectively. Particle-facilitated transport (particles >0.24 μm) accounted for only a small proportion of the observed leaching (13-16% for glyphosate and 16-31% for pendimethalin). Drain-connected macropores located above or in the vicinity of the drains facilitated very rapid transport of pesticide to the drains. That the concentration of glyphosate and pendimethalin in the drainage water remained high (>0.1 μg L⁻¹) for up to 7 d after a precipitation event indicates that macropores between the drains connected to underlying fractures were able to transport strongly sorbing pesticides in the dissolved phase. Lateral transport of dissolved pesticide via such discontinuities implies that strongly sorbing pesticides such as glyphosate and pendimethalin could potentially be present in high concentrations (>0.1 μg L⁻¹) in both water originating from the drainage system and the shallow groundwater located at the depth of the drainage system.     

Sorption of atrazine and metolachlor by earthworm surface castings and soil

Abstract

Atrazine and metolachlor were more strongly retained on earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris L.) castings than on soil, suggesting that earthworm castings at the surface or at depth can reduce herbicide movement in soil. Herbicide sorption by castings was related to the food source available to the earthworms. Both atrazine and metolachlor sorption increased with increasing organic carbon (C) content in castings, and Freundlich constants (K_f values) generally decreased in the order: soybean‐fed > corn‐fed > not‐fed‐earthworm‐castings. The amount of atrazine or metolachlor sorbed per unit organic carbon (K_oc values) was significantly greater for corn‐castings compared with other castings, or soil, suggesting that the composition of organic matter in castings is also an important factor in determining the retention of herbicides in soils. Herbicide desorption was dependent on both the initial herbicide concentration, and the type of absorbent. At small equilibrium herbicide concentrations, atrazine desorption was significantly greater from soil than from any of the three casting treatments. At large equilibrium herbicide concentrations, however, the greater organic C content in castings had no significant effect on atrazine desorption, relative to soil. For metolachlor, regardless of the equilibrium herbicide concentration, desorption from soybean‐ and corn‐castings treatments was always less than desorption from soil and not‐fed earthworm castings treatments. The results of this study indicate that, under field conditions, the extent of herbicide retention on earthworm castings will tend to be related to crop and crop residue management practices.     

Influence of humified organic matter on copper behavior in acid polluted soils

The main purpose of this work was to identify the role of soil humic acids (HAs) in controlling the behavior of Cu(II) in vineyard soils by exploring the relationship between the chemical and binding properties of HA fractions and those of soil as a whole. The study was conducted on soils with a sandy loam texture, pH 4.3-5.0, a carbon content of 12.4-41.0 g kg⁻¹ and Cu concentrations from 11 to 666 mg kg⁻¹. The metal complexing capacity of HA extracts obtained from the soils ranged from 0.69 to 1.02 mol kg⁻¹, and the stability constants for the metal ion-HA complexes formed, log K, from 5.07 to 5.36. Organic matter-quality related characteristics had little influence on Cu adsorption in acid soils, especially if compared with pH, the degree of Cu saturation and the amount of soil organic matter.     

Variation of MCPA, metribuzine, methyltriazine-amine and glyphosate degradation, sorption, mineralization and leaching in different soil horizons

Pesticide mineralization and sorption were determined in 75 soil samples from 15 individually drilled holes through the vadose zone along a 28 km long transect of the Danish outwash plain. Mineralization of the phenoxyacetic acid herbicide MCPA was high both in topsoils and in most subsoils, while metribuzine and methyltriazine-amine was always low. Organic matter and soil pH was shown to be responsible for sorption of MCPA and metribuzine in the topsoils. The sorption of methyltriazine-amine in topsoil was positively correlated with clay and negatively correlated with the pH of the soil. Sorption of glyphosate was tested also high in the subsoils. One-dimensional MACRO modeling of the concentration of MCPA, metribuzine and methyltriazine-amine at 2 m depth calculated that the average concentration of MCPA and methyltriazine-amine in the groundwater was below the administrative limit of 0.1 μg/l in all tested profiles while metribuzine always exceeded the 0.1 μg/l threshold value.     

Assessment of phenylurea herbicides sorption on various Mediterranean soils affected by irrigation with wastewater

The retention values of two herbicides, chlorotoluron and isoproturon, in five Mediterranean soils were assessed by two different approaches, a dynamic method, using a batch technique (BT) and a static method, using a soil saturated paste (SP). The SP method led in all cases to lower herbicide sorption when compared with BT, although pesticide distribution constants from both methods were linearly related for the set of used soils (R² ? 0.99) showing that both methods similarly reflected the behaviour of the different soils. Low-quality water, evaluated by employing recycled urban wastewater, did not modify herbicide sorption when compared with high quality water, in any soil and with any method.     

Oxygen-containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OPAHs) in urban soils of Bratislava, Slovakia: patterns, relation to PAHs and vertical distribution

We determined concentrations, sources, and vertical distribution of OPAHs and PAHs in soils of Bratislava. The ∑14 OPAHs concentrations in surface soil horizons ranged 88-2692 ng g⁻¹ and those of ∑34 PAHs 842-244,870 ng g⁻¹. The concentrations of the ∑9 carbonyl-OPAHs (r = 0.92, p = 0.0001) and the ∑5 hydroxyl-OPAHs (r = 0.73, p = 0.01) correlated significantly with ∑34 PAHs concentrations indicating the close association of OPAHs with parent-PAHs. OPAHs were quantitatively dominated by 9-fluorenone, 9,10-anthraquinone, 1-indanone and benzo[a]anthracene-7,12-dione. At several sites, individual carbonyl-OPAHs had higher concentrations than parent PAHs. The concentration ratios of several OPAHs to their parent-PAHs and contribution of the more soluble OPAHs (1-indanone and 9-fluorenone) to ∑14 OPAHs concentrations increased with soil depth suggesting that OPAHs were faster vertically transported in the study soils by leaching than PAHs which was supported by the correlation of subsoil:surface soil ratios of OPAH concentrations at several sites with K_OW.     

Factors influencing 2,4-D sorption and mineralization in soil

This study quantified 2,4-D [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid] sorption and mineralization rates in five soils as influenced by soil characteristics and nutrient contents. Results indicated that 2.4-D was weakly sorbed by soil, with Freundlich distribution coefficients ranging from 0.81 to 2.89 microg(1 - 1/n) g(-1) mL(1/n). First-order mineralization rate constants varied from 0.03 to 0.26, corresponding to calculated mineralization half-lives of 3 and 22 days, respectively. Herbicide sorption generally increased with increasing soil organic carbon content, but the extent of 2,4-D sorption per unit organic carbon varied among the soils due to differences in soil pH, clay content and/or organic matter quality. Herbicide mineralization rates were greater in soils that sorbed more 2,4-D per unit organic carbon, and that had greater soil nitrogen contents. We conclude that the effect of sorption on herbicide degradation cannot be generalized without a better understanding of the effects of soil characteristics and nutrient content on herbicide behavior in soil.     

Critical Limits for Hg(II) in soils, derived from chronic toxicity data

Published chronic toxicity data for Hg(II) added to soils were assembled and evaluated to produce a data set comprising 52 chronic end-points, five each for plants and invertebrates and 42 for microbes. With end-points expressed in terms of added soil Hg(II) contents, Critical Limits were derived from the 5th percentiles of species sensitivity distributions, values of 0.13 μg (g soil)⁻¹ and 3.3 μg (g soil organic matter)⁻¹ being obtained. The latter value exceeds the currently recommended Critical Limit, used to determine Hg(II) Critical Loads in Europe, of 0.5 μg (g soil organic matter)⁻¹. We also applied the WHAM/Model VI chemical speciation model to estimate concentrations of Hg²⁺ in soil solution, and derived an approximate Critical Limit Function (CLF) that includes pH; log [Hg²⁺]_crit = −2.15 pH −17.10. Because they take soil properties into account, the soil organic matter-based limit and the CLF provide the best assessment of toxic threat for different soils. For differing representative soils, each predicts a range of up to 100-fold in the dry weight-based content of mercury that corresponds to the Critical Limit.     

Effects of petroleum contamination on soil microbial numbers, metabolic activity and urease activity

The influence of petroleum contamination on soil microbial activities was investigated in 13 soil samples from sites around an injection water well (Iw-1, 2, 3, 4) (total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH): 7.5-78 mg kg⁻¹), an oil production well (Op-1, 2, 3, 4, 5) (TPH: 149-1110 mg kg⁻¹), and an oil spill accident well (Os-1, 2, 3, 4) (TPH: 4500-34 600 mg kg⁻¹). The growth rate constant (μ) of glucose stimulated organisms, determined by microcalorimetry, was higher in Iw soil samples than in Op and Os samples. Total cultivable bacteria and fungi and urease activity also decreased with increasing concentration of TPH. Total heat produced demonstrated that TPH at concentrations less than about 1 g kg⁻¹ soil stimulated anaerobic respiration. A positive correlation between TPH and soil organic matter (OM) and stimulation of fungi-bacteria-urease at low TPH doses suggested that TPH is bound to soil OM and slowly metabolized in Iw soils during OM consumption. These methods can be used to evaluate the potential of polluted soils to carry out self-bioremediation by metabolizing TPH.     

Migration and leaching risk of extraneous antimony in three representative soils of China: Lysimeter and batch experiments

Antimony (Sb) distribution, solubility and mobility onto natural soils of China were studied in lysimeter and batch experiments as a function of physicochemical properties of the soil. An outdoor lysimeter experiment investigated the leaching and migration of Sb in the soils with Sb-polluted topsoil and unpolluted subsoil over a 5 month period. Soil solutions were collected by suction cups installed at different depth of lysimeters, and leachates were regularly collected and analyzed for Sb concentrations. The majority of the added Sb was retained in the topsoil layers, but small portions were moved to the sub-layers. Sb concentrations in the soil solutions and leachates ranged from 0–755.5 (6.38 ± 54 on average) μg l⁻¹ and 0–0.45 (smaller than the detection limit) μg l⁻¹ respectively, indicating the low solubility of Sb in the soils. Batch experiments were performed in order to determine the sorption capacity and the partition coefficient (K_d). Freundlich isotherm described properly the equilibrium experimental data and results show that the K_d values for Primosol, Isohumosol, Ferrosol equal to 22.5, 87.8, 704 L kg⁻¹, respectively. These results showed the strong capacity of the soils to retain Sb, and prevent it being leached down the profile. The mobilizable Sb was in the order: Primosol > Isohumosol > Ferrosol. Sb migration in the soils was mainly associated with the exchangeable, carbonate-bound, and metal–organic complex-bound fractions. Health risk assessment indicates that Sb leaching from Ferrosol will not harm to human health through groundwater under the test conditions, while it has certain health risks from the Isohumosol and Primosol.     

Method optimization to measure polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) concentrations in soils of Bratislava, Slovakia

We modified an analytical method to determine polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in urban soils of Bratislava (Slovakia). Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) introduced as a clean-up step for soil extracts substantially reduced matrix enhancements when PBDEs were measured with gas chromatography-negative chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (GC-NCI-MS). The resulting method proved to be accurate, precise, and showed low detection limits. The sum of 15 PBDE concentrations in surface horizons of Bratislava soils ranged from 87 to 627 pg g⁻¹. PBDE concentrations were mostly higher in surface than deeper horizons probably because of atmospheric deposition and lack of substantial vertical transport. Lower brominated PBDEs undergo more soil-atmosphere exchanges or are more scavenged and transferred with litter fall to the soil organic matter than higher brominated ones as suggested by the correlation between lower brominated PBDEs and soil organic C (C_org) concentrations.