某铀尾矿库周围农田土壤重金属污染潜在生态风险评价

为能够定量评价铀尾矿库周围农田土壤重金属污染程度及其潜在生态危害性,采用Hakanson潜在生态风险指数法对土壤中重金属进行综合污染评价。结果表明,铀尾矿库周围部分农田土壤中重金属Cd、Ni、As、Cu、Hg、Zn含量存在积累和超标情况,尤以Cd的污染最严重,Ni、As次之;Pb、Cr含量能够满足标准限值要求。潜在生态风险评价结果显示,铀尾矿库周围农田土壤重金属潜在生态风险较高,主要潜在生态风险因子为Cd,其次是Hg、As,Cr、Pb、Ni、Cu、Zn并不构成潜在生态风险。铀尾矿库周围农田土壤中较高水平的Cd在构成环境污染的同时,也构成了较严重的生态危害,应加强对重金属Cd、Hg的生态风险防治。     

河北曹妃甸农田土壤重金属污染及潜在生态风险评价

以河北曹妃甸项目区农田土壤为研究对象,分析测定土壤基本性质和Zn、Cu、Pb、Cd含量,并依据有关标准和模型对土壤环境质量和潜在生态风险进行评价。结果表明:农田土壤总体偏碱性,属壤质和黏壤质水稻土,有机质含量低;土壤中Cu的污染指数最大,Zn、Pb次之,Cd虽没超过国家标准但已出现污染累积现象。在单因子评价中,有76%的土样中Cd元素呈中等或强潜在生态风险,其余元素均无潜在生态风险;在多因子评价中,有95%的土样属于无生态危害或一般生态危害,只有5%是强生态危害。项目区农田土壤质量虽总体良好,但个别区域存在严重生态危害问题,尤其是Cd元素的潜在生态风险十分突出。在今后的土地整理和污染修复工程中,应注意保护清洁农田,防止污染交叉转移,促进农业可持续发展。     

粤北某离子吸附型稀土矿山土壤和地表水重金属分布及风险评价

对粤北某离子吸附型稀土矿24个土壤样品中的As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Mn、Ni、Pb、Zn和Hg,以及15个地表水样品中的As、Cd、Cu、Hg、Mn、Pb和Zn进行了检测,并以多元统计分析与土壤潜在生态风险指数法、地表水健康风险评价模型相结合的方式,研究了重金属的分布特征及风险水平。结果表明:在土壤中,Mn、Zn、Cd和Pb的平均含量均超过了背景值;Mn、Cr、Ni、Cu、Cd和Zn在采区有较明显集聚,As、Pb和Hg的高含量分布相对均匀;Cr、Ni、Cu和Pb含量主要受区域背景影响,Zn、As、Cd和Hg含量与矿区人类活动关系密切,Mn含量受自然和人为因素共同控制;重金属造成的土壤潜在生态风险整体处于轻微水平,Ⅱ采区和Ⅶ采区生态风险较高;Cd和Hg是造成土壤生态危害的主要重金属元素。在地表水中,Mn的平均浓度超过了《地表水环境质量标准》(GB 3838-2002)规定的限值,其余重金属的含量均满足该标准中的Ⅲ类水质要求;重金属浓度在靠近采区及位于河流中下游的位置偏高;Mn、Cd、Pb、Zn和Cu浓度受稀土开采影响较大,As、Hg浓度主要受自然因素影响;重金属产生的健康总风险(9.39×10^-7~1.01×10^-6 a^-1)低于国际辐射防护委员会推荐的参考标准(5×10^-5 a^-1),但儿童通过饮水途径受到的健康风险(1.01×10^-6 a^-1)略超过部分机构的推荐限值;Cd和As是地表水中产生健康风险的主要重金属元素。综上,研究区重金属污染风险管理的主要对象是Cd和Mn。     

湖南省某冶炼厂周边农田土壤重金属污染及生态风险评价

利用野外采样与实验室分析相结合的方法,以湖南省某冶炼厂周边农田土壤(0~20 cm)为研究对象,监测了Cd、As、Pb、Cr、Cu、Zn、Hg等7种重金属的含量,并对重金属污染程度与潜在生态风险进行了评价。结果表明,7种重金属都存在不同程度的超标或污染,其中Cd、As、Pb等的污染较为严重。统计学分析结果表明,Pb、As、Hg、Zn、Cd等来源相同,可能主要都来自于人为污染,即冶炼作业造成的污染。7种重金属化学形态不尽相同:在重金属有效态中,Cd的水溶态和可提取态较高;Pb、Cu、Zn可还原态、可氧化态这两部分含量较高。而Hg、As、Cr的残渣态含量较高。风险评价代码评价结果表明,Cd的生态风险较高,4.5%的样点Cd为极高生态风险,52.8%的样点Cd为高生态风险,42.7%的样点Cd为中度生态风险;100%的样点Zn为中度生态风险;Cu有60.1%的样点属于低生态风险,39.9%的样点属于中度生态风险;As、Pb主要以低生态风险为主(所占比例分别为77.2%、80%);Hg主要以无生态风险为主(所占94.3%)。Hakanson潜在生态风险指数法计算的综合潜在生态风险指数(RI)的范围为46.4~1 627.5,表明研究区域农田土壤存在很高的生态风险。上述各项结果综合表明,研究区农田土壤受到了严重的重金属污染,由此引起的重金属生态风险应引起高度关注。     

西南涌流域底泥重金属污染特征及潜在生态危害评价

西南涌流域近年来受到比较严重的污染,为了解受重金属污染状况,对该流域底泥重金属污染水平与特征进行了调查与分析,并在此基础上采用地累积指数法和潜在生态危害指数法对西南涌流域底泥重金属污染程度与生态危害进行了评价。结果表明,西南涌流域底泥已不同程度受到重金属Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、Cr的污染,与珠三角土壤背景值相比,西南涌流域底泥重金属Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、Cr分别超标11.38、3.32、1.81、19.45、3.20倍;底泥中的Cu、Zn、Cr、Cd之间呈极显著正相关(r=0.615~0.964)。通过地累积指数法评价表明,西南涌流域底泥中的Cd为偏重污染,Cu、Zn为偏中度污染,Pb为轻度污染,Cr为无污染;潜在生态危害指数法评价结果表明,西南涌流域底泥重金属的潜在生态危害程度总体属中等,主要是由Cd的含量过高引起。     

濮阳工业园区土壤重金属背景值及质量评价

为了研究濮阳工业园区土壤重金属背景值,采集了该园区及周边土壤46个样品,测定了土壤中重金属Cu、Zn、Pb、Cr、Cd和Ni的含量,并采用污染负荷指数法和潜在生态危害指数法对土壤质量进行了评价。结果表明:工业园区土壤中Cu、Zn、Pb、Cr、Cd、Ni的背景值分别为36.2、118、49.2、40.6、0.125、15.3 mg/kg;Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd的含量高于河南省土壤重金属背景值;Pb为极强污染,Cu、Zn、Cd为中等污染,重金属污染程度从重到轻的排序为PbZnCuCd,表明濮阳工业园区土壤重金属具有轻微的潜在生态危害。     

德宏州耕作土壤表层重金属含量特征及潜在生态风险评价

利用Hakanson潜在生态危害指数法,对云南省德宏州耕作土壤表层重金属Pb、Cd、Hg、As、Cr和Cu进行分析评价。结果表明,德宏州耕地土壤中Pb、Cd、Hg、As、Cr、Cu含量分别为ND~249、ND~0.68、0.01~0.55、0.04~52.18、ND~195、0.79~64.3 mg/kg。6种重金属元素富集系数Cif均小于1,平均值从大到小依次为CuCdCrPbHgAs,属于轻微污染;单因子潜在生态风险指数Eir均小于40,平均值从大到小依次为CdHgCuAsPbCr,属于轻微生态风险危害;7种土壤利用方式潜在生态危害指数RI均小于150,平均值从大到小依次为菜园胶园蔗园玉米地茶园稻田果园。研究区潜在生态危害水平为轻微危害,不同利用方式重金属元素富集存在差异,局部表现出中度污染现象。总体上,德宏州耕地土壤清洁安全,潜在生态危害以Cd、Hg为主,Pb、Cr危害较小,菜园土壤重金属生态危害风险最高。     

天津近郊农田土壤重金属含量特征及潜在生态风险评价

以天津近郊西青区主要农产品生产基地农田表层土壤(0~20cm)作为调查对象,分析了土壤中重金属As、Hg、Zn、Pb、Cu、Cr和Cd的含量,通过数据统计分析,各项重金属平均含量均低于土壤环境质量标准(GB15618-1995)二级标准,但高于天津土壤背景值和全国土壤背景值,Cd、Cu、Hg在个别点位出现超标现象。多数点位土壤内梅罗综合污染指数处于清洁水平。潜在生态风险评价表明,各点位土壤重金属潜在生态风险指数(RI)范围值为12.96~104.49,均处于轻微生态风险水平。各村庄潜在生态风险指数由大到小排序依次为邓店上辛口边村小南河王台大南河当城大沙窝无公害基地水高庄第六埠,各调查区域潜在生态风险指数由大到小排序依次为李七庄街南河镇辛口镇。     

贵州开阳磷矿开采对洋水河水体重金属污染与评价

开阳磷矿大规模采选矿活动对洋水河造成一定程度的重金属污染,为了解其污染状况,分析了洋水河水体中重金属Cd、U、Cu、Pb、Cr、Zn和类金属As等7种元素的含量,探讨其分布特征,并用地累积指数法和潜在生态危害指数法对沉积物中重金属污染程度及潜在生态危害进行了综合评价。结果表明,洋水河河水中重金属的浓度均低于中国地表水环境质量V类水质标准,沉积物中Cd、As和Zn的平均含量为1.27、50.28、151μg/g,分别高于贵州省土壤背景值6.05、3.14、2.26倍,高于中国水系沉积物背景值约9.07、5.53、2.89倍,其余元素均低于或接近贵州省土壤背景值和中国水系沉积物背景值,洋水河沉积物已不同程度受到Cd、As和Zn的污染;地累积指数评价结果表明,沉积物中Cd为中度污染,As属于轻度污染,其余元素均为无污染或轻度污染;潜在生态危害指数评价结果表明,单个重金属元素Cd的生态危害指数最大,其次是As,其余4种重金属均属于轻微生态风险,危害性小,综合潜在生态风险指数表明沉积物中重金属达到中等以上风险水平。     

鄱阳湖沉积物重金属空间分布及潜在生态风险评价

通过分析鄱阳湖沉积物重金属空间分布特征,评价其潜在生态风险,并探讨了主要重金属污染来源。结果表明:鄱阳湖沉积物7种重金属元素Cd、Hg、As、Cu、Pb、Cr、Zn含量平均值分别为0.67、0.078、17、51、72、42.9、117 mg/kg,除Cd外,其余6种元素均明显高于相应的背景值。从空间分布来看,Cd、Cr含量总体呈现东南、西北部偏高的现象,而Hg、Cu、Pb含量总体呈现东南部偏高的现象,As、Zn的含量分布相对平均。Hg、Cu、Pb、Zn 4种金属元素之间存在极显著相关性,表明这些元素污染具有同源性。潜在生态风险评价结果显示,单个重金属潜在生态风险顺序为CuHgPbCdAsCrZn;从综合潜在生态风险分析来看,整个湖区的RI值为46.4~476.3,平均值为165.4,属于中等潜在生态危害,其中湖区东南部综合潜在生态风险最高。Cu、Hg、Pb等重金属主要来自乐安河流域工业排放。     

A New Mathematical Approach in Environmental and Life Sciences: Gene–Environment Networks and Their Dynamics

An important research area in life sciences is devoted to modeling, prediction, and dynamics of gene-expression patterns. As clearly understood in these days, this enterprise cannot become satisfactory without acknowledging the role of the environment. To a representation of past, present, and most likely future states, we also encounter measurement errors and uncertainties. This paper surveys and improves recent advances in understanding the foundations and interdisciplinary implications of the newly introduced gene–environment networks, and it integrates the important theme of carbon dioxide emission reduction into the networks and dynamics. We also introduce some operational and managerial issues of practical working and decision making, expressed in terms of sliding windows, quadrants (modules) of parametric effects, and navigating (controlling) between such effects and directing them. Given data from DNA microarray experiments and environmental records, we extract nonlinear ordinary differential equations that contain parameters that have to be determined. For this, we employ modern (Chebychevian) approximation and (generalized semi-infinite) optimization. After this is provided, time- discretized dynamical systems are studied. A combinatorial algorithm with polyhedra sequences allows to detect the region of parametric stability. Finally, we analyze the topological landscape of gene–environment networks with its structural (in)stability. By embedding as a module and investigating CO₂ emission control and figuring out game theoretical aspects, we conclude. This pioneering work is theoretically elaborated, practically devoted to health care, medicine, education, living conditions, and environmental protection, and it invites the readers to future research.      

An investigation on biological stability of product water generated by lab-scale and pilot-scale distillation systems

Material Disposal Area G is the primary low-levelradioactive waste disposal site at Los Alamos NationalLaboratory, New Mexico, and is adjacent to Pueblo of SanIldefonso lands. Pueblo residents and Los Alamos scientists areconcerned about radiological doses resulting from uptake of AreaG radionuclides by mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) andRocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus), then consumption ofdeer and elk meat by humans. Tissue samples were collected fromdeer and elk accidentally killed near Area G and were analyzedfor ³H, ⁹⁰Sr, total U, ²³⁸Pu, ^{239, 240}Pu,²⁴¹Am, and ¹³⁷Cs. These data were used to estimatehuman doses based on meat consumption of 23 kg y^-1. Humandoses were also modeled using RESRAD, and dose rates to deer andelk were estimated with a screening model. Dose estimates tohumans from tissue consumption were 2.9 × 10^-3 mSv y^-1and 1.6 × 10^-3 mSv y^-1 from deer and elk, respectively,and RESRAD dose estimates were of the same order of magnitude. Estimated dose rates to deer and elk were 2.1 × 10^-4 mGyd^-1 and 4.7 × 10^-4 mGy d^-1, respectively. Allestimated doses were significantly less than established exposurelimits or guidelines.     

Assessing health consequences in an environmental impact assessment: The case of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

In this article a comprehensive approach for the evaluation of possible health effects in an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is described, illustrated with the example of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Unlike many EIAs, we estimated quantitatively the impact of aircraft-related pollution in terms of the number of affected people for aircraft noise annoyance, odour annoyance and hypertension. In addition, an analysis of health registry data on cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and a short survey on annoyance and risk perception were carried out. The scope of a health impact assessment depends on the situation, available knowledge and data, concern in the population about the impact and the number of people concerned. It is important to pay attention to the perception of risks and concerns from all parties involved. Moreover, the results demonstrate that far more people outside the area for which standards apply were affected than inside.     

Contaminant Profiles of Two Species of Shorebirds Foraging Together at Two Neighboring Sites in South San Francisco Bay, California

The San Francisco Bay estuary isused by over one million shorebirds during springmigration and is home to several hundred thousandduring the winter. Most shorebird use occurs in thesouthern reach of the estuary (South Bay). Thereduced water circulation and discharge fromindustrial sources in the South Bay are responsiblefor the highest levels of some trace elements in theestuary. Wintering shorebirds have been found to havestrong site fidelity to areas as small as a fewkilometers in the South Bay, which may increase theirexposure to contaminants near local point sources. Inaddition, different shorebird species foraging at thesame site have been shown to have differentcontaminant burdens. Thus, our objectives were totest whether contaminant burdens differed by species,or whether contaminant burdens differed in shorebirdscollected at adjacent sites. We examined thecontaminant profiles of two species of shorebirds,long-billed dowitchers (Limnodromus scolopaceus)and western sandpipers (Calidris mauri) thatforage together at two sites, Hayward and Newark,separated by 8 km in the South Bay. We usedmultivariate analysis of variance tests to compare thecomposition of 14 elemental analytes in their livertissues and estimated their molar ratios of Hg and Se. Composite samples were used for contaminant analysesbecause of the small body size of the shorebirds. Seven elemental analytes (Ag, Ba, Be, Cr, Ni, Pb, V)were below detection limits in a majority of thesamples so statistical analyses were precluded. Inthe measurable analytes (As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Mn, Se, Zn),we found no significant intra-site differences ofcontaminant profiles for the two species. We pooledthe samples to examine inter-site differences andfound significant differences in contaminant profilesbetween shorebirds at the neighboring sites (P = 0.03). Shorebirds at Newark had higher (P < 0.05) concentrations of As, Cd, and Se than those at Hayward. Dowitchers at Newark had concentrations of Hg and Se which were highly correlated (P < 0.003) in a mean molar ratio of 1:19, similar tothat reported in other birds. In the larger dowitcherspecies, we also examined exposure to 20organochlorine compounds. Organic analyses showedthat the dowitchers had been exposed to DDE, PCBs,dieldrin and trans-nonachlor, but with no significantdifferences in concentrations between Hayward andNewark (P > 0.05).     

土壤和底泥中砷、铬、锰测定的前处理技术

试验了土壤和底泥中砷的前处理技术，其目的是能对土壤、底泥中砷、铬、锰在一次前处理中制备成试液，比色法分析。试验表明，用Ｈ２ＳＯ４－Ｈ３ＰＯ４－Ｈ２Ｏ２进行前处理是可行的。方法简单、挥发酸雾少，用标准参考物质检验证明，分解完全，数据准确，有粒较好一致性。     

Metal concentrations in deciduous tree leaves from urban areas in Poland

Accumulation of metals in deciduous tree foliage fromurban areas in western-south Poland was monitored duringthe vegetation season of 2000 year. Concentrations of Al,Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, Ti and Znwere measured in birch, willow, linden and maple leavesusing the ICP-AES method. Seasonal variations of metalconcentrations and their relations with sampling sitewere investigated. The most dynamic accumulation of Al,Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb was observed for examined species. Thehighest differences in element concentrations forinvestigated sites were found for Ba, Cd, Mn and Ni.Interelement correlations were investigated. In allfoliar samples synergistic relationships between Al–Crand Ca-Sr were found. Statistically significant negativecorrelations were observed only for Cd and Ti in birch leaves.     

Varying Stable Nitrogen Isotope Ratios of Different Coastal Marsh Plants and Their Relationships with Wastewater Nitrogen and Land Use in New England, USA

The stable nitrogen isotope ratios of some biota have been used as indicators of sources of anthropogenic nitrogen. In this study the relationships of the stable nitrogen isotope ratios of marsh plants, Iva frutescens (L.), Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin ex Steud, Spartina patens (Ait.) Muhl, Spartina alterniflora Loisel, Ulva lactuca (L.), and Enteromorpha intestinalis (L.) with wastewater nitrogen and land development in New England are described. Five of the six plant species (all but U. lactuca) showed significant relationships of increasing δ ¹⁵N values with increasing wastewater nitrogen. There was a significant (P < 0.0001) downward shift in the δ ¹⁵N of S. patens (6.0 ± 0.48‰) which is mycorrhizal compared with S. alterniflora (8.5 ± 0.41‰). The downward shift in δ ¹⁵N may be caused by the assimilation of fixed nitrogen in the roots of S. patens. P. australis within sites had wide ranges of δ ¹⁵N values, evidently influenced by the type of shoreline development or buffer at the upland border. In residential areas, the presence of a vegetated buffer (n = 24 locations) significantly (P < 0.001) reduced the δ ¹⁵N (mean = 7.4 ± 0.43‰) of the P. australis compared to stands where there was no buffer (mean = 10.9 ± 1.0‰; n = 15). Among the plant species, I. frutescens located near the upland border showed the most significant (R ² = 0.64; P = 0.006) inverse relationship with the percent agricultural land in the watershed. The δ ¹⁵N of P. australis and I. frustescens is apparently an indicator of local inputs near the upland border, while the δ ¹⁵N of Spartina relates with the integrated, watershed-sea nitrogen inputs.     

Geochemical assessment of metal transport in glacial till during electrokinetic remediation

This paper presents the chemical speciation and retention behavior of chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and cadmium (Cd) prior to and after the electrokinetic remediation in glacial till soil. The speciation of the metals was predicted using the chemical speciation program MINEQL⁺. The simulations were performed for single-contaminant with only Cr(VI) or Ni, and multi-contaminants consisting of: (1) Cr(VI), Ni, and Cd; (2) Cr(III), Ni and Cd; (3) Cr(VI), Cr(III), Ni and Cd; (4) Cr(VI), Ni, and Cd with reducing agents; and (5) Cr(III), Ni, and Cd with oxidizing agent (Mn). The results showed that the speciation and distribution of cationic metals [Ni, Cd, and Cr(III)] in glacial till soil remain unaffected or slightly affected during electrokinetics. This is attributed to the high pH buffering capacity of the glacial till, leading the metals to precipitate in the soil prior to and after electrokinetics. This study showed that during electrokinetics, Cr(VI) existed as anionic complex and migrated towards the anode and the migration is maximum in case of a single-contaminant system. The study also showed that near the anode in the absence of any reducing and oxidizing agent, Cr(VI) mostly adsorbed, and some of Cr(VI) reduced to Cr(III) and migrated towards the cathode and finally precipitated due to high pH conditions. Ni and Cd remain adsorbed or precipitated due to the high pH conditions throughout the soil. Among the reducing agents, the sulfide had significant effect on the migration of metals compared to ferrous ions. While in the presence of oxidizing agent (Mn), no noticeable Cr(VI) was found in the soil sample indicating the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) and the predominance of reducing conditions due to the presence of naturally occurring iron in the glacial till soil. Overall, this study provides a reasonable explanation of the speciation and distribution of chromium, nickel and cadmium during the electrokinetic remediation of glacial till soil.     

Biomonitoring of Lead, Zinc, and Cadmium in Streams Draining Lead-Mining and Non-Mining Areas, Southeast Missouri, USA

We evaluated exposure of aquatic biota to lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) in streams draining a Pb-mining district in southeast Missouri. Samples of plant biomass (detritus, periphyton, and filamentous algae), invertebrates (snails, crayfish, and riffle benthos), and two taxa of fish were collected from seven sites closest to mining areas (mining sites), four sites further downstream from mining (downstream sites), and eight reference sites in fall 2001. Samples of plant biomass from mining sites had highest metal concentrations, with means 10- to 60-times greater than those for reference sites. Mean metal concentrations in over 90% of samples of plant biomass from mining sites were significantly greater than those from reference sites. Mean concentrations of Pb, Zn, and Cd in most invertebrate samples from mining sites, and mean Pb concentrations in most fish samples from mining sites, were also significantly greater than those from reference sites. Concentrations of all three metals were lower in samples from downstream sites, but several samples of plant biomass from downstream sites had metal concentrations significantly greater than those from reference sites. Analysis of supplemental samples collected in the fall of 2002, a year of above-average stream discharge, had lower Pb concentrations and higher Cd concentrations than samples collected in 2001, near the end of a multi-year drought. Concentrations of Pb measured in fish and invertebrates collected from mining sites during 2001 and 2002 were similar to those measured at nearby sites in the 1970s, during the early years of mining in the Viburnum Trend. Results of this study demonstrate that long-term Pb mining activity in southeast Missouri has resulted in significantly elevated concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Zn in biota of receiving streams, compared to biota of similar streams without direct influence of mining. Our results also demonstrate that metal exposure in the study area differed significantly among sample types, habitats, and years, and that these factors should be carefully considered in the design of biomonitoring studies.     

Effect of heavy metal contaminated shooting range soils on mycorrhizal colonization of roots and metal uptake by leek

We grew leek (Allium porrum) in soils of two shooting ranges heavily contaminated with heavy metals in the towns of Zuchwil and Oberuzwil in Switzerland as a bioassay to test theactivity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in these soils.Soil samples were taken from (1) front of the shooting house(HOUSE), (2) the area between house and target (FIELD) and (3) the berm (BACKSTOP). Samples of Ribwort plantain (Plantagolanceolata) growing naturally within the shooting ranges werealso collected and the colonization of its roots by mycorrhizalfungi was measured. The number of AM spores in the soils wassignificantly reduced concomitant with the increase in thedegree of soil contamination with metals. In Zuchwil,mycorrhizal fungi equally colonized roots of Ribwort plantainsampled from BACKSTOP and HOUSE. In Oberuzwil, however, plantsfrom BACKSTOP had lower colonization when compared with thosesampled from HOUSE. Colonization of leek was strongly reducedin the BACKSTOP soil of Zuchwil and slightly reduced in theBACKSTOP soil of Oberuzwil when compared with plants grown inrespective HOUSE soil. Concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb andZn in the leaves of leek grown in the BACKSTOP soil was withinthe range considered toxic for human consumption. This pointsto the high degree of bio-availability of these metal in thesesoils. Significant decrease in the number of mycorrhizal sporesin the BACKSTOP soils in Zuchwil and the low colonization ofleek roots grown in these soils point to possible changes inthe species diversity of mycorrhizal fungi in these soils.