秸秆生物炭修复电镀厂污染土壤的效果和作用机理初探

以某电镀厂污染场地重污染区域土壤为研究对象,利用秸秆生物炭对污染土壤进行稳定化试验,研究不同生物炭添加量(0、10、30、50、70和100 g.kg-1)条件下土壤中重金属全量和形态变化。结果表明,秸秆生物炭能够改变污染土壤中重金属的形态分布,对该污染土壤有明显的稳定化作用。其中对铬的作用效果最明显,随生物炭添加量的增加,残渣态铬含量明显上升,100 g.kg-1生物炭添加量处理残渣态铬含量较对照(1 098.75 mg.kg-1)增幅最大,增加59.51 mg.kg-1;对铜和镍的稳定化效果受添加量的影响,当生物炭添加量分别在70和30g.kg-1以上时,对铜和镍有一定稳定化作用;对该污染土壤中锌则无明显稳定化作用。当生物炭添加量为50 g.kg-1时,4种重金属残渣态总量较对照(1 745 mg.kg-1)明显增加,为1 805.95 mg.kg-1,添加量也较为合理。     

Enrichment and solubility of trace metals associated with magnetic extracts in industrially derived contaminated soils

Magnetic fractions (MFs) in industrially derived contaminated soils were extracted with a magnetic separation procedure. Total, soluble, and bioaccessible Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn in the MFs and non-magnetic fractions (NMFs) were analyzed using aqua regia and extraction tests, such as deionized water, toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP), and gastric juice simulation (GJST) test. Compared with the non-magnetic fractions, soil MFs were enriched with Fe, Mn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, and Ni. Extraction tests indicated that soil MFs contained higher water, TCLP, and GJST-extractable Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations than the soil NMFs. The TCLP-extractable Pb concentration in the MFs exceeded the USEPA hazardous waste criteria, suggesting that soil MFs have a potentially environmental pollution risk. Solubility of trace metals was variable in the different extraction tests, which has the order of GJST?>?TCLP?>?water. TCLP test showed Cu and Zn were more mobile than Cr and Pb while bioaccessibility of trace metal defined by GJST test showed the order of Cu?≈?Cr?≈?Zn?>?Pb. These findings suggested that the MFs in the industrially derived contaminated soils had higher possibility of polluting water bodies, and careful environmental impact assessment was necessary.     

废弃铅锌冶炼厂重金属污染场地的健康风险评价

通过对广西某废弃铅锌冶炼厂区进行布点采样、监测分析,选取Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd、Cr、As六种重金属元素作为评价因子,对污染场地进行健康风险评价.结果显示,指数评价法表明厂区污染状况为废渣＞＞建筑垃圾＞土壤,Cd ＞Zn ＞As ＞Pb ＞Cu＞ Cr,土壤受到中度污染,废渣和建筑垃圾受到重度污染.健康风险评价法表明土壤、废渣和建筑垃圾的危害商分别为2.032、13.891、2.975,非致癌危害废渣＞＞建筑垃圾＞土壤;Cu、Zn、Cr、Cd、As的危害商分别为0.053、0.118、0.184、7.001、11.542,非致癌危害As ＞Cd ＞Cr＞Zn ＞Cu.土壤、废渣和建筑垃圾的致癌风险分别为5.387E-04、7.954E-04、2.455E-04,致癌危害废渣＞土壤＞建筑垃圾;As、Cd、Cr的致癌风险分别为5233E-04、2.400E-05、1.032E-03,致癌危害Cr＞As ＞Cd.综上,人体健康危害废渣＞建筑垃圾＞土壤,主要危害元素为As、Cd、Cr.     

Stabilization of the As-contaminated soil from the metal mining areas in Korea

The stabilization efficiencies of arsenic (As) in contaminated soil were evaluated using various additives such as limestone, steel mill slag, granular ferric hydroxide (GFH), and mine sludge collected from an acid mine drainage treatment system. The soil samples were collected from the Chungyang area, where abandoned Au-Ag mines are located. Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure, synthetic precipitation leaching procedure, sequential extraction analysis, aqua regia digestion, cation exchange capacity, loss on ignition, and particle size distribution were conducted to assess the physical and chemical characteristics of highly arsenic-contaminated soils. The total concentrations of arsenic in the Chungyang area soil ranged up to 145 mg/kg. After the stabilization tests, the removal percentages of dissolved As(III) and As(V) were found to differ from the additives employed. Approximately 80 and 40% of the As(V) and As(III), respectively, were removed with the use of steel mill slag. The addition of limestone had a lesser effect on the removal of arsenic from solution. However, more than 99% of arsenic was removed from solution within 24 h when using GFH and mine sludge, with similar results observed when the contaminated soils were stabilized using GFH and mine sludge. These results suggested that GFH and mine sludge may play a significant role on the arsenic stabilization. Moreover, this result showed that mine sludge can be used as a suitable additive for the stabilization of arsenic.     

Stabilization of the As-contaminated soil from the metal mining areas in Korea

The stabilization efficiencies of arsenic (As) in contaminated soil were evaluated using various additives such as limestone, steel mill slag, granular ferric hydroxide (GFH), and mine sludge collected from an acid mine drainage treatment system. The soil samples were collected from the Chungyang area, where abandoned Au–Ag mines are located. Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure, synthetic precipitation leaching procedure, sequential extraction analysis, aqua regia digestion, cation exchange capacity, loss on ignition, and particle size distribution were conducted to assess the physical and chemical characteristics of highly arsenic-contaminated soils. The total concentrations of arsenic in the Chungyang area soil ranged up to 145 mg/kg. After the stabilization tests, the removal percentages of dissolved As(III) and As(V) were found to differ from the additives employed. Approximately 80 and 40% of the As(V) and As(III), respectively, were removed with the use of steel mill slag. The addition of limestone had a lesser effect on the removal of arsenic from solution. However, more than 99% of arsenic was removed from solution within 24 h when using GFH and mine sludge, with similar results observed when the contaminated soils were stabilized using GFH and mine sludge. These results suggested that GFH and mine sludge may play a significant role on the arsenic stabilization. Moreover, this result showed that mine sludge can be used as a suitable additive for the stabilization of arsenic.     

粉煤灰钝化污泥人工土壤上高麦草生长发育及营养状况研究

通过温室盆栽试验研究不同比例粉煤灰钝化污泥人工土壤上高麦草的生长发育及营养状况，试验结果表明：土壤中加入粉煤灰钝化污泥显著增加了高麦草的干物重．脱水污泥加入其鲜重的10％粉煤灰钝化后再按1∶1和1∶5体积比与土壤混合配成的人工土处理和加入其鲜重的35％粉煤灰钝化后再按1∶1体积比与土壤混合配成的人工土处理高麦草的产量都显著高于自然土壤施用化肥的处理，高麦草的发芽率也不受影响．随着粉煤灰加入量的增加，高麦草地上部Ca，Mg和B的浓度（w／％或w／mg．kg－1）增加而K，Fe，Mn和Zn的浓度下降，高麦草根中Fe，Mn，Cu和Zn的浓度显著高于其地上部中的浓度．所有粉煤灰钝化后污泥人工土壤高麦草都没有出现N和P的缺乏和重金属毒害，说明合适比例的粉煤灰钝化污泥人工土壤是高麦草的良好生长介质．     

红枫湖水源地附近粉煤灰堆积场重金属存在形态及静态淋溶规律

酸雨对露天粉煤灰堆积场的淋滤作用导致周围环境产生重金属污染是一种广泛现象.为研究酸雨对贵阳市水源地红枫湖周边一大型粉煤灰堆积场的重金属迁移影响,本文以这一粉煤灰堆积场为研究对象,通过静态淋溶实验探讨了粉煤灰中Cr、Ni、CU、Zn、AS、Cd、Pb等7种重金属元素的含量、存在形态、淋溶时间、堆积时间、粒度对重金属溶出规律的影响.结果表明,粉煤灰中Ni、Cu、Zn、Pb、As和Cd等6种重金属的含量随堆积时间增加而增大,Cr含量变化与上述反之;在淋溶实验中,堆积时间的增加使Cr、Ni、Cu和Zn重金属元素的可溶态减小;在淋溶第28—48天期间,Cr、Ni和Cu元素溶出浓度降低的粒度顺序为细粒度>中粒度和粗粒度、Cd元素溶出浓度降低的粒度顺序为中粒度>粗粒度>细粒度.本研究对红枫湖水源地和周边地下水的重金属防控提供一定的参考依据.     

Arsenic contamination in the Kanker district of central-east India: geology and health effects

This paper identifies newer areas of arsenic contamination in the District Kanker, which adjoins the District Rajnandgaon where high contamination has been reported earlier. A correlation with the mobile phase episodes of arsenic contamination has been identified, which further hinges on the complex geology of the area. Arsenic concentrations in both surface and groundwater, aquatic organisms (snail and water weeds) soil and vegetation of Kanker district and its adjoining area have been reported here. The region has been found to contain an elevated level of arsenic. All segments of the ecoysystem are contaminated with arsenic at varying degrees. The levels of arsenic vary constantly depending on the season and location. An analysis of groundwater from 89 locations in the Kanker district has shown high values of arsenic, iron and manganese (mean: 144, 914 and 371 μg L⁻¹, respectively). The surface water of the region shows elevated levels of arsenic, which is influenced by the geological mineralised zonation. The most prevalent species in the groundwater is As(III), whereas the surface water of the rivers shows a significant contamination with the As(V) species. The analysis shows a bio-concentration of the toxic metals arsenic, nickel, copper and chromium. Higher arsenic concentrations (groundwater concentrations greater than 50 μg L⁻¹) are associated with sedimentary deposits derived from volcanic rocks, hence mineral leaching appears to be the source of arsenic contamination. Higher levels of arsenic and manganese in the Kanker district have been found to cause impacts on the flora and fauna. A case study of episodic arsenical diarrhoea is presented.     

Natural attenuation of arsenic in the wetland system around abandoned mining area

Mechanisms of natural attenuation of arsenic (As) by wetland plants may be classified by plant uptake and adsorption and/or co-precipitation by iron (oxy)hydroxide formed on the root surface of plants or in rhizosediment. A natural Cattail (Typha spp.) wetland impacted by tailings containing high levels of As from the Myungbong abandoned Au Mine, South Korea was selected, and the practical capability of this wetland to attenuate As was evaluated. The As concentrations in the plant tissues from the study wetland were several-fold higher than those from control wetland. SEM-EDX analyses demonstrated that iron plaques exist on the rhizome surface. Moreover, relatively high As contents bonded with hydrous iron oxides were found in the rhizosediments rather than in the bulk sediments. It was revealed through the leaching and sequential extraction analyses that As existed as more stable forms in the wetland sediment compared with adjacent paddy soil, which is also contaminated with As due to input of mine tailings. The As concentration ratios of extracted solution to sediment/soil represented that the wetland sediment showed significant lower values (10-fold) rather than the paddy soil with indicating high As stability. Also, As in the wetland sediment was predominantly bonded with residual phases on the basis of results from sequential extraction analysis. From these results, it is concluded that transformation of As contaminated agricultural field to wetland environment may be helpful for natural attenuation until active remediation action.     

Distributions of heavy metals in the sediments of South Korean harbors

Mechanisms of natural attenuation of arsenic (As) by wetland plants may be classified by plant uptake and adsorption and/or co-precipitation by iron (oxy)hydroxide formed on the root surface of plants or in rhizosediment. A natural Cattail (Typha spp.) wetland impacted by tailings containing high levels of As from the Myungbong abandoned Au Mine, South Korea was selected, and the practical capability of this wetland to attenuate As was evaluated. The As concentrations in the plant tissues from the study wetland were several-fold higher than those from control wetland. SEM-EDX analyses demonstrated that iron plaques exist on the rhizome surface. Moreover, relatively high As contents bonded with hydrous iron oxides were found in the rhizosediments rather than in the bulk sediments. It was revealed through the leaching and sequential extraction analyses that As existed as more stable forms in the wetland sediment compared with adjacent paddy soil, which is also contaminated with As due to input of mine tailings. The As concentration ratios of extracted solution to sediment/soil represented that the wetland sediment showed significant lower values (10-fold) rather than the paddy soil with indicating high As stability. Also, As in the wetland sediment was predominantly bonded with residual phases on the basis of results from sequential extraction analysis. From these results, it is concluded that transformation of As contaminated agricultural field to wetland environment may be helpful for natural attenuation until active remediation action.     

Cd(Ⅱ)与As(Ⅴ)在土壤铁氧化物和细菌表面上的共吸附研究

中国南方土壤常常受到镉砷复合污染,镉砷的化学特性截然不同,因此在土壤不同组分表面的化学行为存在显著区别。在南方偏酸性土壤中铁氧化物占固相比例很大,基于此,选取两种典型土壤组分,即铁氧化物(针铁矿)和微生物(蜡状芽孢杆菌Bacillus cereus),通过批吸附实验结合X-射线光电子能谱探究Cd(Ⅱ)与As(Ⅴ)的共吸附特点和潜在机制,得到如下结果:在单一体系中,针铁矿对As(V)的亲和力较强,Langmuir模型拟合得到最大吸附量为1259.82 mmol·kg^-1,而蜡状芽孢杆菌对Cd(Ⅱ)的亲和力较强,最大吸附量可达1291.64 mmol·kg^-1。XPS结果表明,针铁矿表面铁羟基和细菌表面羧基和酰胺/胺基在Cd(Ⅱ)、As(Ⅴ)吸附过程中发挥主导作用;在Cd(Ⅱ)-As(Ⅴ)复合体系中,可能形成吸附剂-Cd-As或吸附剂-As-Cd三元络合物。该研究证实,镉砷在典型土壤铁氧矿物体系中的吸附存在普遍的促进效应,在微生物体系中存在不同程度的抑制,Cd(Ⅱ)与As(Ⅴ)的共吸附规律在土壤矿物和微生物上存在区别,这也意味着在土壤根际土壤与非根际土壤中有较大差异。因此在预测土壤Cd(Ⅱ)、As(Ⅴ)共存规律时也要考虑土壤组成,特别是有机物的含量等因素。该研究结果可为预测镉、砷在土壤组分上的迁移转化行为提供参考,为调控镉砷形态,对预测镉、砷在土壤中的生物地球化学循环有一定的参考价值。     

Remediation of arsenic contaminated soil by sulfidated zero-valent iron

• Sulfidation significantly enhanced As(V) immobilization in soil by zerovalent iron. • S-ZVI promoted the conversion of exchangeable As to less mobile Fe-Mn bound As. • Column test further confirmed the feasibility of sulfidated ZVI on As retention. • S-ZVI amendment and magnetic separation markedly reduced TCLP leachability of As. In this study, the influences of sulfidation on zero-valent iron (ZVI) performance toward As(V) immobilization in soil were systemically investigated. It was found that, compared to unamended ZVI, sulfidated ZVI (S-ZVI) is more favorable to immobilize As(V) in soil and promote the conversion of water soluble As to less mobile Fe-Mn bound As. Specifically, under the optimal S/Fe molar ratio of 0.05, almost all of the leached As could be sequestrated by>0.5 wt.% S-ZVI within 3 h. Although the presence of HA could decrease the desorption of As from soil, HA inhibited the reactivity of S-ZVI to a greater extent. Column experiments further proved the feasibility of applying S-ZVI on soil As(V) immobilization. More importantly, to achieve a good As retention performance, S-ZVI should be fully mixed with soil or located on the downstream side of As migration. The test simulating the flooding conditions in rice culture revealed there was also a good long-term stability of soil As(V) after S-ZVI remediation, where only 0.7% of As was desorbed after 30 days of incubation. Magnetic separation was employed to separate the immobilized As(V) from soil after S-ZVI amendment, where the separation efficiency was found to be dependent of the iron dosage, liquid to soil ratio, and reaction time. Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) tests revealed that the leachability of As from soil was significantly reduced after the S-ZVI amendment and magnetic separation treatment. All these findings provided some insights into the remediation of As(V)-polluted soil by ZVI.     

Stabilization treatment of contaminated soil: a field-scale application in Shanghai,China

Stabilization is one of the best demonstrated available technologies for treating toxic pollutants in soils and has been used worldwide but is rarely used for treatment of contaminated sites in China despite many bench-scale studies. Here, a field-scale application of stabilization treatment in Shanghai, China was summarized to demonstrate the whole engineering process and the key technical issues regarding stabilization of contaminated soil. A site contaminated with arsenic (As) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), formerly used as a lighting plant in Shanghai, was chosen as the demonstration site. Stabilizing measures were taken to treat the contaminated soil to reuse the site for residential purposes. The whole engineering remediation process consisted of phase I environmental site assessment (ESA) and phase II ESA, quantitative human health risk assessment, remediation alternatives evaluation, bench-scale testing, remedial design, engineering implementation, and post-remediation assessment. A third party conducted evaluation monitoring indicated desirable results were achieved via the stabilization treatment. In addition, some technical obstacles related to soil stabilization treatment were discussed, including soil quality evaluation, stabilization effectiveness validation, and soil reuse assessment.     

淋洗脱盐对滨海滩涂不同植被演替带土壤重金属的影响

为研究围垦对滨海滩涂土壤重金属的影响,采用土柱实验模拟淋洗脱盐过程,分析了滨海滩涂不同植被演替带(光滩、互花米草滩、碱蓬滩、芦苇滩)土壤在淋洗脱盐前后重金属(As、Hg、Cd、Cr、Pb、Cu、Zn)含量的变化,评估了围垦可能导致的滩涂重金属流失量。研究表明,淋洗脱盐后,各植被演替带土壤重金属均显著降低,相比而言,Hg、Cr更易淋洗(淋洗率分别为57.2%、49.9%),而Zn不易淋洗(淋洗率18.5%);不同植被演替带土壤重金属淋洗率表现为:光滩互花米草滩碱蓬滩芦苇滩,光滩土壤重金属更易淋洗,而芦苇滩重金属不易淋洗;根据土壤容重、含水率、淋洗率及重金属含量计算重金属流失量发现,不同植被演替带重金属流失量同样表现为:光滩互花米草滩碱蓬滩芦苇滩;除互花米草滩As流失量较高外(19.26 kg·ha-1),其他重金属流失量均表现为光滩最高,光滩围垦可能会造成更多的重金属流失;在仅考虑淋洗脱盐情况下,以江苏省2010~2020年围垦规划270万亩计,仅表层20 cm滩涂土壤,通过围垦即可能导致As、Hg、Cd、Cr、Pb、Cu、Zn流失2 102.5、7.4、421.3、8 587.9、4 376.3、2 404.3 t,由围垦导致的滩涂重金属流失风险值得关注。     

Effects of carbon nanotube and biochar on bioavailability of Pb,Cu and Sb in multi-metal contaminated soil

This study examined the effects of carbon nanotube and biochar on the bioavailability of Pb, Cu and Sb in the shooting range soils for developing low-cost remediation technology. Commercially available multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and biochar pyrolyzed from soybean stover at 300 °C (BC) at 0.5, 1 and 2.5% (w w^?1) were used to remediate the contaminated soil in an incubation experiment. Both DTPA (bioavailable) and TCLP (leaching) extraction procedures were used to compare the metal/loid availability and leaching by the amendments in soil. The addition of BC was more effective in immobilizing mobile Pb and Cu in the soil than that in MWCNT. The BC reduced the concentrations of Pb and Cu in the soil by 17.6 and 16.2%, respectively. However, both MWCNTs and BC increased Sb bioavailability by 1.4-fold and 1.6-fold, respectively, in DTPA extraction, compared to the control. The toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) test showed that the leachability of Pb in the soil amended with 2.5% MWCNT was 1.3-fold higher than that the unamended soil, whereas the BC at 2.5% decreased the TCLP-extractable Pb by 19.2%. Precipitation and adsorption via electrostatic and π–π electron donor–acceptor interactions were postulated to be involved in the interactions of Pb and Cu with surfaces of the BC in the amended soils, whereas ion exchange mechanisms might be involved in the immobilization of Cu in the MWCNT-amended soils. The application of BC derived from soybean stover can be a low-cost technology for simultaneously immobilizing bioavailable Pb and Cu in the shooting range soils; however, neither of amendments was effective in Sb immobilization.     

Arsenic mobility in the amended mine tailings and its impact on soil enzyme activity

The objectives of this study were to elucidate the effects of soil amendments [Ferrous sulfate (Fe^II), red mud, Fe^II with calcium carbonate (Fe^II/L) or red mud (RM/F), zero-valent iron (ZVI), furnace slag, spent mushroom waste and by-product fertilizer] on arsenic (As) stabilization and to establish relationships between soil properties, As fractions and soil enzyme activities in amended As-rich gold mine tailings (Kangwon and Keumkey). Following the application of amendments, a sequential extraction test and evaluation of the soil enzyme activities (dehydrogenase and β-glucosidase) were conducted. Weak and negative relationships were observed between water-soluble As fractions (As_WS) and oxalate extractable iron, while As_WS was mainly affected by dissolved organic carbon in alkaline tailings sample (Kangwon) and by soil pH in acidic tailings sample (Keumkey). The soil enzyme activities in both tailings were mainly associated with As_WS. Principal component and multiple regression analyses confirmed that As_WS was the most important factor to soil enzyme activities. However, with some of the treatments in Keumkey, contrary results were observed due to increased water-soluble heavy metals and carbon sources. In conclusion, our results suggest that to simultaneously achieve decreased As_WS and increased soil enzyme activities, Kangwon tailings should be amended with Fe^II, Fe^II/L or ZVI, while only ZVI or RM/F would be suitable for Keumkey tailings. Despite the limitations of specific soil samples, this result can be expected to provide useful information on developing a successful remediation strategy of As-contaminated soils.     

Trace elements in wild grasses: a phytoavailability study on a remediated field

There have been significant efforts to establish a widely usable method for the prediction of trace element bioavailability in soil. In this work, we used extraction with 0.01 M CaCl₂ and 0.05 M ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to estimate bioavailable concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in a soil moderately contaminated with trace elements 1 and 2 years after the application of three amendments. The experiment took place in a field plot of a soil affected by the toxic spill of the Aznalcóllar mine. Four treatments were established: three with amendments (biosolid compost, sugar beet lime, and a combination of leonardite plus sugar beet lime) and a control without amendment. Trace element concentrations of two representative species in each year (Lamarckia aurea and Poa annua in 2004 and Lamarckia aurea and Bromus rubens in 2005) were analyzed. The results showed a positive effect of the amendments both on soil and vegetation. Trace element concentrations in plants growing in the amended subplots were lower than those in plants from nonamended subplots. As a rule, concentrations of CaCl₂-soluble Cd, Cu, and Zn in soil were positively correlated with trace elements in plants, whereas EDTA extraction was scarcely correlated with plant concentration. For species of grasses, especially L. aurea, CaCl₂ seems to be a more suitable extractant to predict trace element bioavailability in this contaminated soil.     

神木煤矿区土壤重金属污染特征研究

通过对神府煤田开采区3个煤矿区周围土壤Cu、Cd、Cr、Mn、Ni质量分数进行测定及分析,评价了煤田开采对周围土壤的污染程度。结果表明,长期的煤炭资源开发、运输等活动,已导致周围土壤受到重金属不同程度的累积性污染,土壤中Cd、Ni质量分数高于陕西省土壤背景值,且Cd污染程度较高,Ni污染程度较低,而Cu、Cr、Mn基本不受污染。3个煤矿表层土壤各重金属元素质量分数均表现出污染区大于对照区,但这种变化幅度存在一定差异;Cu、Cr、Mn 3种重金属元素虽没有超出背景值,但已表现出一定程度的累积;煤矿周围土壤重金属污染受到开采年限、土壤质地、风向等因素的影响。3个煤矿污染区土壤剖面样品中,5种重金属元素质量分数基本上随着土壤深度的增加呈现降低的趋势,且这种趋势具有波动性。     

Formation of Soluble Complexes of Metals with Humic Acid and Its Environmental Significance

In order to investigate the role of functional groups present in humic acid(s) (HA) during complex formation, water soluble complexes between HA isolated from soil and metals (Pb, Ca, As, Ni, Cr, Co, Cu, Cd, Fe, Mn, Mg and Zn) were prepared and subjected to infrared (IR) spectroscopy. the IR data revealed the involvement of the - OH group of humic acid in complex formation with all metals except copper and arsenic, whereas the - COOH group of HA was found to be the preferred site of binding for all the metals. the significance of findings in relation to detoxification of environmental pollutants is discussed in this paper.     

In-Vitro Determination of Arsenic Bioavailability in Contaminated Soil and Mineral Beneficiation Waste from Ron Phibun, Southern Thailand: A Basis for Improved Human Risk Assessment

The post-ingestion bioavailability of arsenic (As) in alluvial soil and mineral beneficiation waste from Ron Phibun, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand has been investigated using a physiologically-based extraction test (PBET). The method utilises synthetic leaching fluids closely analogous to those of the human stomach and small intestine, upon which the leaching duration and ambient temperature of the experimental procedure are also directly based. Replicate analyses of Ron Phibun alluvium samples holding 1406 and 2123 g As g-1 respectively indicated an average stomach absorption of 11.2% (of total soil As). Gross absorption increased to 18.9% following translocation through a simulated small-intenstine regime. Higher gross absorption (35.7%) was recorded during PBET analysis of a flotation waste sample holding c. 2% total As. Within- and between-site variations of As bioavailability can principally be ascribed to mineralogical factors, notably the relative abundances of sulphide, arsenide, arsenate and oxide hosts within the soil/flotation waste matrix. The PBET provides a potentially valuable mechanism for refining risk assessments of sites subject to natural or anthropogenic As contamination. Through the substitution of total soil As values with input data which relate specifically to bioavailable As, risk calculations derived using established models such as the US-EPA package Risk Assistant may prove more realistic, thus facilitating improved cost-benefit analysis of site remediation options. Assessment of the relative human risks associated with potable water consumption and contaminated soil ingestion at Ron Phibun has signified that the latter could constitute a more significant As exposure pathway than recognised previously. Further evaluation of the precise soil ingestion levels of inhabitants residing on the As-rich alluvium which covers much of the district is, therefore, warranted.