Mobilization of arsenic from technosols in a short-term dynamic column experiment

The release of arsenic from technosols was monitored using short-term dynamic leaching of homogeneous soil columns with native solution. Large amounts of readily available arsenic (16 mg kg^?1) were extracted from arsenic-rich ashy samples while representing less than 4 wt % of their total contents. In the first hour of leaching, the observed concentrations of water-soluble arsenic ranged from 650 to 830 μg L^?1, further increasing in the following leachates. The results showed that the concentrations of water-soluble arsenic were several times higher than the recommended limits for drinking water. Yet, most of arsenic is strongly bound to amorphous aluminosilicate phases. The contents of arsenic in the studied plant samples, including calculated transfer factors, confirmed that increased concentrations of arsenic in the soil of geological environment affected by dam failure of a coal ash pond may have a negative effect on crops since arsenic becomes part of the food chain.