TROPHIC LEVEL ACCUMULATION OF HEAVY METALS IN A COAL ASH BASIN DRAINAGE SYSTEM1

ABSTRACT: The uptake of ten chemical elements was measured in water, sediment, fly ash, and the major biotic components of an ash basin drainage system. The biota tested represent several trophic levels observed in the settling basin and receiving swamp of the system. Concentrations were measured by neutron activation (NAA) in the major biotic groups including aquatic bacteria, algae, macrophytes, midges, dragonflies, crayfish, tadpoles, and fish. Only three elements (Cu, Zn, Cd) were more highly concentrated in water from a nearby unpolluted stream than in the fly ash effluent. Sediment concentrations of all elements were highest in the ash drainage system with Al and Fe being consistently highest. Among the biota, Hydrodictyon sp. and Lemna perpusilla had the highest concentrations of Al and Fe while other macrophytes were the major accumulators of Mn and Ba. Invertebrates generally concentrated high amounts of Cu and Zn although Cd and Hg were accumulated most by crayfish. Selenium was selectively concentrated by bacteria, crayfish (Procambarus sp.) and mosquitofish (Gambusia afflnis). Consequences of elemental concentrations in sediment and in specific trophic level groups are discussed.     

湿法预处理对垃圾焚烧飞灰中重金属的形态及风险影响研究

以某典型城市生活垃圾焚烧飞灰为研究对象,采用X射线荧光光谱仪（XRF）、X射线衍射仪（XRD）和电感耦合等离子体光谱仪（ICP）测定了焚烧飞灰的主要成分、矿物学组成和重金属含量,探讨了湿法预处理工艺对飞灰的化学组成、矿物学形态、化学形态及风险水平的影响.结果表明,飞灰的主要化学组成为O、Ca、Cl、Na、K等,占飞灰总质量的93.54％,其次含有0.04％ ～0.68％的Zn、Pb、Cu、Cr等微量重金属元素;经过湿法预处理,飞灰中可溶性氯盐具有较好的去除效果,且几乎所有重金属元素的不稳定形态（弱酸提取态和可还原态）比例都有一定程度的减少,有效降低了重金属的毒性、生物有效性及环境风险水平.本研究有助于降低焚烧飞灰的环境风险和探寻其资源化的有效途径.     

Reclamation and revegetation of fly ash disposal sites - Challenges and research needs

Coal-fired power generation is a principal energy source throughout the world. Approximately, 70-75% of coal combustion residues are fly ash and its utilization worldwide is only slightly above 30%. The remainder is disposed of in landfills and fly ash basins. It is desirable to revegetate these sites for aesthetic purposes, to stabilize the surface ash against wind and water erosion and to reduce the quantity of water leaching through the deposit. Limitations to plant establishment and growth in fly ash can include a high pH (and consequent deficiencies of Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and P), high soluble salts, toxic levels of elements such as B, pozzalanic properties of ash resulting in cemented/compacted layers and lack of microbial activity. An integrated organic/biotechnological approach to revegetation seems appropriate and should be investigated further. This would include incorporation of organic matter into the surface layer of ash, mycorrhizal inoculation of establishing vegetation and use of inoculated legumes to add N. Leaching losses from ash disposal sites are likely to be site-specific but a sparse number of studies have revealed enriched concentrations of elements such as Ca, Fe, Cd, Pb, and Sb in surrounding groundwater. This aspect deserves further study particularly in the longer-term. In addition, during weathering of the ash and deposition of organic matter during plant growth, a soil will form with properties vastly different to that of the parent ash. In turn, this will influence the effect that the disposal site has on the surrounding environment. Nevertheless, the effects of ash weathering and organic matter accumulation over time on the chemical, physical and biological properties of the developing ash-derived soil are not well understood and require further study.     

Chemical analysis of soil and leachate from experimental wetland mesocosms lined with coal combustion products

Small-scale (1 m2) wetland mesocosm experiments were conducted over two consecutive growing seasons to investigate the effects on soil and leachate chemistry of using a recycled coal combustion product as a liner. The coal combustion product used as a liner consisted of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) by-products and fly ash. This paper provides the chemical characteristics of mesocosm soil and leachate after 2 yr of experimentation. Arsenic, Ca, and pH were higher in FGD-lined mesocosm surface soil relative to unlined mesocosms. Aluminum was higher in the soils of unlined mesocosms relative to FGD-lined mesocosms. No significant difference of potentially phytotoxic B was observed between lined and unlined mesocosms in the soil. Higher pH, conductivity, and concentrations of Al, B, Ca, K, and S (SO4-S) were observed in leachate from lined mesocosms compared with unlined controls while Fe, Mg, and Mn were higher in leachate from unlined mesocosms. Concentrations of most elements analyzed in the leachate were below national primary and secondary drinking water standards after 2 yr of experimentation. Initially high pH and soluble salt concentrations measured in the leachate from the lined mesocosms may indicate the reason for early effects noted on the development of wetland vegetation in the mesocosms.     

Fly ash and lime-stabilized biosolid mixtures in mine spoil reclamation: simulated weathering

The use of large quantities of neutral coal fly ash (NFA) may be facilitated by co-application with a lime-stabilized biosolid (LSB) for the reclamation of acid mine spoil (AMS). Although NFA may not aid in the mitigation of acid drainage, questions concerning the leachability and mineralogy of native and NFA- and LSB-born metals must be addressed. In this study, the potential long-term influence of LSB and NFA on AMS leachate chemistry and trace element mineralogy was evaluated using laboratory weathering and selective dissolution techniques. The application of LSB at a rate sufficient to neutralize the potential acidity of the AMS increased leachate pH from approximately 3 to 7.5 for the duration of the study. Fly ash rates (1X, 1.5X, and 2X LSB rate) did not affect leachate pH. The dominant electrolytes in all leachates were Ca and SO4, the concentrations of which were mirrored by solution electrical conductivity (EC). Leachate concentrations of Al, Fe, Mn, K, Cu, Ni, and Zn were significantly reduced by LSB application, whereas concentrations of Ca, SO4, Mg, Cl, F, B, and P were increased. Nitrate concentrations were not affected by LSB. With the exception of leachate B, which increased with increasing NFA rate and was regenerated during the weathering study, NFA did not affect leachate composition. Sequential selective dissolution indicated a transformation of Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn into less labile mineral pools with weathering. The results of these evaluations suggest that the application of NFA during AMS reclamation would have little effect on leachate chemistry or the mineralogy of trace elements. Thus, the high-volume application of NFA to AMS during reclamation may offer an additional opportunity for the use of this combustion by-product.     

我国南方某城市垃圾焚烧飞灰特性及固化/稳定化处置实验

我国南方某城市主要采用焚烧法处理生活垃圾,已建7个焚烧厂日产生飞灰量为101.62 t/d。文章分析了各个垃圾焚烧厂飞灰的化学组成和重金属浸出毒性,其主要成分为CaO、SiO2、MgO、Al2O3、Fe2O3、Na2O、SO3和Cl,所有焚烧飞灰都有至少一种重金属浸出浓度超标,属于危险废物。在飞灰处置出路亟待解决的背景下,实验探讨了飞灰稳定化工艺,结果表明10%的水泥添加量可以使飞灰中超标重金属(Cd、Pb和Zn)的浸出浓度满足危险废物鉴别浓度限值和安全填埋场入场浓度限值。同时,通过人体健康风险评价分析了飞灰豁免管理的可行性,并对近期和远期该城市焚烧厂飞灰的处理处置及管理提出建议。     

Chemical and physical properties of dry flue gas desulfurization products

Beneficial and environmentally safe recycling of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) products requires detailed knowledge of their chemical and physical properties. We analyzed 59 dry FGD samples collected from 13 locations representing four major FGD scrubbing technologies. The chemistry of all samples was dominated by Ca, S, Al, Fe, and Si and strong preferential partitioning into the acid insoluble residue (i.e., coal ash residue) was observed for Al, Ba, Be, Cr, Fe, Li, K, Pb, Si, and V. Sulfur, Ca, and Mg occurred primarily in water- or acid-soluble forms associated with the sorbents or scrubber reaction products. Deionized water leachates (American Society for Testing and Materials [ASTM] method) and dilute acetic acid leachates (toxicity characteristic leaching procedure [TCLP] method) had mean pH values of >11.2 and high mean concentrations of S primarily as SO(2-)4 and Ca. Concentrations of Ag, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Hg, Pb, and Se (except for ASTM Se in two samples) were below drinking water standards in both ASTM and TCLP leachates. Total toxicity equivalents (TEQ) of dioxins, for two FGD products used for mine reclamation, were 0.48 and 0.53 ng kg(-1). This was similar to the background level of the mine spoil (0.57 ng kg(-1)). The FGD materials were mostly uniform in particle size. Specific surface area (m2 g(-1)) was related to particle size and varied from 1.3 for bed ash to 9.5 for spray dryer material. Many of the chemical and physical properties of these FGD samples were associated with the quality of the coal rather than the combustion and SO2 scrubbing processes used.     

Quantitative,chemical, and mineralogical characterization of flue gas desulfurization by-products

The objective of this study was to demonstrate that simple fractionation and selective dissolution techniques can be used to provide detailed chemical and mineralogical analyses of flue gas desulfurization by-products. The material studied was a mine grout prepared as a 1:1 mixture (wt./wt.) of fly ash (FA) and filter cake (FC) with hydrated lime (50 g kg(-1)) added to improve handling. The hydrated lime was composed mostly of calcite (CaCO3), portlandite [Ca(OH)2], lime (CaO), and brucite [Mg(OH)2] (515, 321, 55, and 35 g kg(-1), respectively) and had low (<6 g kg(-1)) concentrations of most trace elements. The FC contained hannebachite (CaSO3 x 0.5H2O) (786 g kg(-1)) with smaller quantities (<10 g kg(-1)) of calcite, quartz (SiO2), brucite, and gypsum (CaSO4 x 2H2O). Except for B and Cu, trace element concentrations were comparable to those in the hydrated lime. The FA contained both magnetic (222 g kg(-1)) and nonmagnetic (778 g kg(-1)) fractions. The former was composed mostly of hematite (Fe2O3), magnetite (Fe3O4), and glass (272, 293, and 287 g kg(-1), respectively), whereas the latter was enriched in glass, quartz, and mullite (Al6Si2O13) (515, 243, and 140 g kg(-1), respectively). Etching with 1% HF showed that 60 to 100% of trace elements were concentrated in the glass, although some metals (Co, Cr, and Mn) were clearly enriched in the magnetic phase. The aged grout contained 147 g kg(-1) ettringite [Ca6Al2(SO4)3(OH)12 x 26H2O] in addition to 314 g kg(-1) hannebachite and 537 g kg(-1) insoluble phases (mullite, quartz, hematite, magnetite, and glass).     

Prediction of trace element mobility in contaminated soils by sequential extraction

The modified three-step sequential extraction procedure proposed by the Community Bureau of Reference (or Bureau Communautaire de Reference, BCR) was used to predict trace element mobility in soils affected by an accidental spill comprising arsenopyrite- and heavy metal-enriched sludge particles and acid waste waters. The procedure was used to obtain the distribution of both the major (Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, and Mn) and trace elements (As, Bi, Cd, Cu, Pb, Tl, and Zn) in 13 soils of contrasting properties with various levels of contamination and in the sludge itself. The distributions of the major elements enabled us to confirm the main soil fractions solubilized in each of the three steps, and, in turn, to detect the presence of pyritic sludge particles by the high Fe extractability obtained in the third step. Cadmium was identified as being the most mobile of the elements, having the highest extractability in the first step, followed by Zn and Cu, Lead, Tl, Bi, and As were shown to be poorly mobile or nonmobile. In the case of some of the trace elements, the residual fractions decreased at higher levels of contamination, which was attributed to the anthropogenic contributions to the polluted samples. Comparison with soil-plant transfer factors, calculated in plants growing in the affected area, indicated that a relative sequence of trace element mobility was well predicted from data of the first step.     

Migration of trace elements from pyrite tailings in carbonate soils

In the carbonate soils contaminated by a toxic spill from a pyrite mine (Aznalcóllar, southern Spain), a study was made of a thin layer (thickness = 4 mm) of polluted soil located between the pyrite tailings and the underlying soil. This layer, reddish-yellow in color due to a high Fe content, formed when sulfates (from the oxidation of sulfides) infiltrated the soil, causing acidification (to pH 5.6 as opposed to 8.0 of unaffected soil) and pollution (in Zn, Cu, As, Pb, Co, Cd, Sb, Bi, Tl, and In). The less mobile elements (As, Bi, In, Pb, Sb, and Tl) concentrated in the uppermost part of the reddish-yellow layer, with concentration decreasing downward. The more mobile elements (Co, Cd, Zn, and Cu) tended to precipitate where the pH was basic, toward the bottom of the layer or in the upper part of the underlying soil. The greatest accumulations occurred within the first 6 mm in overall soil depth, and were negligible below 15 mm. In addition, the acidity of the solution from the tailings degraded the minerals of the clay fraction of the soils, both the phyllosilicates as well as the carbonates. Also, within the reddish-yellow layer, gypsum formed autigenically, together with complex salts of sulfates of Fe, Al, Zn, Ca, and Mn, jarosite, and oxihydroxides of Fe.     

Major and trace elements of selected pedons in the USA

Few studies of soil geochemistry over large geographic areas exist, especially studies encompassing data from major pedogenic horizons that evaluate both native concentrations of elements and anthropogenically contaminated soils. In this study, pedons (n = 486) were analyzed for trace (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) and major (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, P, Si, Ti, Zr) elements, as well as other soil properties. The objectives were to (i) determine the concentration range of selected elements in a variety of U.S. soils with and without known anthropogenic additions, (ii) illustrate the association of elemental source and content by assessing trace elemental content for several selected pedons, and (iii) evaluate relationships among and between elements and other soil properties. Trace element concentrations in the non-anthropogenic dataset (NAD) were in the order Mn > (Zn, Cr, Ni, Cu) > (Pb, Co) > (Cd, Hg), with greatest mean total concentrations for the Andisol order. Geometric means by horizon indicate that trace elements are concentrated in surface and/or B horizons over C horizons. Median values for trace elements are significantly higher in surface horizons of the anthropogenic dataset (AD) over the NAD. Total Al, Fe, cation exchange capacity (CEC), organic C, pH, and clay exhibit significant correlations (0.56, 0.74, 0.50, 0.31, 0.16, and 0.30, respectively) with total trace element concentrations of all horizons of the NAD. Manganese shows the best inter-element correlation (0.33) with these associated total concentrations. Total Fe has one of the strongest relationships, explaining 55 and 30% of the variation in total trace element concentrations for all horizons in the NAD and AD, respectively.     

Testing the Indicative Value of Magnetic Susceptibility Measurements for Concluding on Site Potentials and Risks Provoked by Fly Ash Deposition

The article presents results of testing the indicative value of magnetic susceptibility for fly ash deposition and its effects on forest site properties. Base saturation and concentrations of Ca and Mg were used as indicators for nutrient pools resulting from fly ash deposition. Concentrations of Fe, Al, Mn, Cd and Black Carbon were used as indicators for risks of leaching. The correlation of magnetic susceptibility with concentrations of nutrient, acidic cations, heavy metals, base saturation and Black Carbon was calculated. Additionally, we tested the suitability of magnetic susceptibility as a parameter in a linear regression based model to predict the concentrations of Ca, Mg, Fe, Al, Mn, Cd and Black Carbon. We were able to show a positive correlation between magnetic susceptibility and the selected indicators. In contrast to previous studies, we were also able to demonstrate the suitability of magnetic susceptibility to predict the size of fly ash deposition influenced nutrient pools mainly for humus layers, especially for Oa horizons. The spatial distribution of magnetic susceptibility showed also a positive correlation with regionalized base saturation. However, because of the data base and other factors impacting the measurement and modeling results, some shortcomings of using a linear regression model must be noted. From these results, we concluded that magnetic susceptibility might be a valuable parameter in a multiple regression based approach, but should not be used alone for predicting effects of fly ash deposition.     

Assessment of heavy metal pollutants accumulation in the Tisza river sediments

In this study we have worked on the evaluation of heavy metal contamination in the sediments taken from the Tisza River and its tributaries, and thereby used the sequential extraction method, geochemical normalization, the calculation of the enrichment factor (EF), and the methods of statistical analysis. The chemical fractionation of Ni, Cu, Zn, Cr, Pb, Fe, and Mn, carried out by using the modified Tessier method, points to different substrates and binding mechanisms of Cu, Zn and Pb in sediments of the tributaries and sediments of the Tisza River. The similarities in the distributions of Fe and Ni in all types of sediments are the result of geochemical similarity as well as of the fact that natural sources mainly affect the concentration levels of these elements. The calculated enrichment factors (EF, measured metal vs. background concentrations) indicated that metal contamination (Cu, Pb, Zn and Cr) was recorded in the sediments of the Tisza River, while no indications of pollution were detected in the tributaries of the Tisza River and the surrounding pools. The maximum values of the EF were close to 6 for Cu and Pb (moderately severe enrichment) and close to 4.5 for Zn (indicating moderate enrichment). It can be said that the Tisza River is slightly to moderately severely polluted with Cu, Zn, and Pb, and minorly polluted with Cr. It is concluded that sediments of the Tisza serve as a repository for heavy metal accumulation from adjacent urban and industrial areas.     

Multivariate statistics to investigate metal contamination in surface soil

The modification of soil composition in the urbanized area of Ankara due to wet-dry deposition and pollution-derived particles from the atmosphere is investigated by analyzing 120 surface soil samples, collected from the urbanized area and its un-urbanized surrounding, for major, minor and trace elements. Concentrations of elements from human activity (e.g. Cd, Pb, Cr, Zn, Cu and Ca) in the urbanized area were higher than their corresponding concentrations in global average soil and soil in un-urbanized areas outside the urbanized area. Metal contents in soil were very high in densely populated districts and around some industrial facilities. The only exception was Pb distribution, which was more dispersed, due to the nature of motor vehicle emissions. Alteration of the Cd, Zn, Cu and Cr content of soil was confined to the inhabited and industrial areas, whereas enrichment factors of these elements were close to unity in the remaining study area. Factor analysis identified two polluted soil factor associations. One factor includes elements, such as Zn and Cd, which had high factor scores in inhabited areas and the other factor (high loading of Pb) represents soil polluted by motor vehicle emissions.     

Slope and pig slurry rate may increase the transfer of chemical elements by surface water runoff

There is a need to evaluate the interference of pig slurry rate and the terrain slope in the chemical elements losses from the soil. This work aimed to quantify water and chemical element losses by surface runoff due to terrain slope and pig slurry rate (PS) in two soils with contrasting textures. Two trials were evaluated in 2018 and 2019 in Cambisol and Nitisol. Rates of 0, 22.5, 45, and 90 m³ ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ of PS were applied superficially in sites with slopes ranging from 10% to 35%. Perennial forage grass Tifton 85 (Cynodon dactylon) was grown as summer crop and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) was sown in the cold seasons in a field environment. Were determined the runoff, the volume of water, and chemical elements (Al, Ca, P, Mg, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Fe, Pb, and Zn) lost by the surface runoff after natural rainfall. Increasing land slope elevated water losses substantially, on average 23.4 times in Cambisol and 10.8 times in Nitisol. This increase resulted in average increases of 27.6 and 12.4 times in the losses of the chemical elements analyzed for Cambisol and Nitisol, respectively. There was a reduction in water losses by surface runoff due to increased PS rates applied in both sites. The increased PS rate affected the losses of Cr and Cu in Cambisol and P, Mg, Cd, and Cu in Nitisol. The clayey soil potentiated the water and chemical elements losses by surface runoff in relation to the soil with lower clay content. Regardless of the soil, water and chemical element losses are maximized at higher slopes.     

Understanding heavy metal and suspended solids relationships in urban stormwater using simulated rainfall

Urban stormwater from simulated rainfall on three different landuses in Queensland State, Australia (residential, industrial, commercial) was analysed for heavy metals and physico-chemical parameters such as Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS). Rainfall events were simulated using a specially designed rainfall simulator for paved surfaces. Event mean concentration samples were separated into five different particle sizes and analysed individually for eight metal elements (Zn, Fe, Cr, Cd, Cu, Al, Mn and Pb). Multivariate data analysis was carried out for the data thus generated. It was found that DOC and TSS influence the distribution of the metals in the different particle size classes. Zn was correlated with DOC at all three sites. Similarly, Pb, Fe and Al were correlated with TSS at all sites. The distribution of Cu was found to vary between the three sites, whilst Cd concentrations were too low to assess any relationships with other parameters. No correlation between Electrical Conductivity (EC), pH and heavy metals was found at the three sites. The identification of physico-chemical parameters influencing the distribution process kinetics of heavy metals in urban stormwater will significantly enhance the efficiency of urban stormwater management systems.     

In situ soil treatments to reduce the phyto- and bioavailability of lead, zinc, and cadmium

A study was established near a former Zn and Pb smelter to test the ability of soil amendments to reduce the availability of Pb, Zn, and Cd in situ. Soil collected from the field was amended in the lab with P added as 1% P-H3PO4, biosolids compost added at 10% (referred to hereafter as "compost"), and a high-Fe by-product (referred to hereafter as "Fe") + P-triple superphosphate (TSP) (2.5% Fe + 1% P-TSP) and incubated under laboratory conditions at a constant soil pH. Changes in Pb bioavailability were measured with an in vitro test and a feeding study with weanling rats. Field-amended and incubated soils using these plus additional treatments were evaluated using the in vitro extraction and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb. cv. Kentucky-31) metal concentration. Reductions were observed across all parameters but were not consistent. In the feeding study, the 1% P-H3PO4 and compost treatments resulted in a decrease of 26% in rat tissue Pb concentration compared with the control soil. The 2.5% Fe + 1% P-TSP showed a 39% decrease. The 1% P-H3PO4 treatment caused the greatest reduction in in vitro extractable Pb from field samples (pH 2.2) with a measured reduction of 66%, while the compost treatment had a 39% reduction and the 2.5% Fe + 1% P-TSP treatment a 50% reduction. The in vitro extraction (pH 1.5) run on field samples showed no reduction in the compost or Fe treatments. The 1% P-H3PO4 treatment was the most effective at reducing plant Pb, Zn, and Cd.     

粉煤灰对硫化钠烟气脱硫的影响研究

通过对烟气带入吸收系统的粉煤灰物理性质及化学组成的分析，研究了粉煤灰对硫化钠法烟气脱硫反应的可能影响，并对粉煤灰的去除工艺进行了探讨。     

不同浓度硒处理对彩叶草铅胁迫的EDXS和XRD分析

以彩叶草（ColeusblumeiBenth．）为材料,用营养液培养方法,研究了不同浓度硒（se）处理对浓度为1．0mmol·L-1Pb2＋胁迫下彩叶草根、叶的形貌变化及其组分形态等变化,从光谱学角度初步探讨了硒对重金属铅毒害的缓解机制。结果表明：铅胁迫下的彩叶草根系c、K、ca含量减少,O、Mg、Al、Si、Fe、Pb含量增加,叶片中的C、Mg、Al、si、K、Ca、Fe含量减少,O、Cl含量增加。铅胁迫下硒处理的彩叶草根元素种类及其元素含量均发生了明显变化;根中晶体情况及其晶相也发生了相应变化。     

Effect of organic matter oxidation on the fractionation of copper, zinc, lead, and arsenic in sewage sludge and amended soils

Long-term land application of sewage sludge (SS) has caused concern over the potential release of trace metals into the environment following the degradation of organic matter (OM). This study was performed to assess the impact of OM degradation on the relative distribution of Cu, Zn, Pb, and As in SS and SS-amended soils. Three SSs of different ages and two soils treated with SS were subjected to incubation and direct chemical oxidation using diluted HO, followed by a sequential extraction. The majority of Cu, Pb, and As were bound to OM, whereas the majority of Zn was bound with Fe/Mn oxides for all three SSs. Incubation of SS for 6 mo did not result in a substantial decrease in OM content or a change in the relative distribution of Cu, Zn, Pb, and As. Direct OM oxidation to 30 and 70% by diluted HO resulted in a significant decrease in organically bound Cu but increased its exchangeable, carbonate-bound, and Fe/Mn-bound fractions. Oxidation of OM slightly decreased organically bound Zn but significantly increased exchangeable Zn in all SSs. Oxide- and carbonate-bound Zn also decreased following OM oxidation. Exchangeable fractions of As and Pb were minute before and after OM degradation, indicating that release into the environment would be unlikely. The relative distribution of Cu, Zn, Pb, and As in SS-treated soils was similar to that of SS, suggesting a dominant role of SS properties in controlling metal distribution following OM oxidation. Overall, OM oxidation increased the mobility and bioavailability of Zn and Cu, whereas it had less impact on Pb and As.