Inventory and vertical migration of 90Sr fallout and 137Cs/90Sr ratio in Spanish mainland soils

In this paper the inventory of ⁹⁰Sr in 34 points distributed along the Spanish peninsular territory is presented. Obtained values range between 173 Bq/m² and 2047 Bq/m². From these data set and those ¹³⁷Cs data obtained in a previous work the ¹³⁷Cs/⁹⁰Sr activity ratio has been established, laying this value between 0.9 and 3.6. Also the migration depth of both radionuclides has been analysed obtaining for ¹³⁷Cs an average value 57% lower than that obtained for ⁹⁰Sr.Additionally, this paper presents the results obtained in 11 sampling points in which the activity vertical profile has been measured. These profiles have been analysed to state the behaviour of strontium in soils and after, by using a convective-diffusive model, the parameters of the model which governs the vertical migration of ⁹⁰Sr in the soil, v (apparent convection velocity) and D (apparent diffusion coefficient) have been evaluated. Mean values obtained are 0.20 cm/year and 3.67 cm²/year, respectively.     

Remediation of metal-contaminated soils with the addition of materials--part I: characterization and viability studies for the selection of non-hazardous waste materials and silicates

Contamination episodes in soils require interventions to attenuate their impact. These actions are often based on the addition of materials to increase contaminant retention in the soil and to dilute the contaminant concentration. Here, non-hazardous wastes (such as sugar foam, fly ash and a material produced by the zeolitization of fly ash) and silicates (including bentonites) were tested and fully characterized in the laboratory to select suitable materials for remediating metal-contaminated soils. Data from X-ray fluorescence (XRF), N₂ adsorption/desorption isotherms, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) analyses revealed the chemical composition, specific surface area and the phases appearing in the materials. A pH titration test allowed the calculation of their acid neutralization capacity (ANC). The metal sorption and desorption capacities of the waste materials and silicates were also estimated. Sugar foam, fly ash and the zeolitic material were the best candidate materials. Sugar foam was selected because of its high ANC (17 000 meq kg⁻¹), and the others were selected because of their larger distribution coefficients and lower sorption reversibilities than those predicted in the contaminated soils.     

Modelling the long-term soil response to atmospheric deposition at intensively monitored forest plots in Europe

The dynamic soil chemistry model SMART was applied to 121 intensive forest monitoring plots (mainly located in western and northern Europe) for which both element input (deposition) and element concentrations in the soil solution were available. After calibration of poorly known parameters, the model accurately simulated soil solution concentrations for most plots as indicated by goodness-of-fit measures, although some of the intra-annual variation especially in nitrate and aluminium concentrations could not be reproduced. Model evaluations of two emission-deposition scenarios (current legislation and maximum feasible reductions) for the period 1970-2030 show a strong reduction in sulphate concentrations between 1980 and 2000 in the soil due to the high reductions in sulphur emissions. However, current legislation hardly reduces future nitrogen concentrations, whereas maximum feasible reductions reduces them by more than half. Maximum feasible reductions are also more effective in increasing pH and reducing aluminium concentrations, mostly below ‘critical’ values.     

绵阳市代表性点位土壤多环芳烃剖面分布特征

通过挑选绵阳市有代表性的点位土壤柱,应用GC MS分析土壤柱垂直剖面中多环芳烃的含量水平,得出其垂直剖面分布特征。结果表明：5~20 cm深度中的PAHs含量最高,40 cm以下则含量锐减。由于表层（0～5 cm）土壤与大气之间的土气交换频繁,PAHs含量相对较低,而5~20 cm处土壤受到表层土壤的遮盖,PAHs富集较高,含量达到整个土壤柱最高值。多环芳烃总体垂直剖面分布特征表现出随深度增加含量减少的趋势。PAHs总含量以江油市点位(33024 ng/g)最高,其次是三台县点位(29989 ng/g),最低是游仙区点位(11274 ng/g)。研究区主要污染物为Nap、Phe和Chr/y。其中不同的土质、种植物都能影响PAHs的富集和迁移速率,导致含量在不同深度上产生变化。此外,参照有关环境质量标准,发现PAHs总量上江油市点位与三台县点位属于轻微污染、游仙区点位则属于无污染。     

Remediation of metal-contaminated soils with the addition of materials - part II: leaching tests to evaluate the efficiency of materials in the remediation of contaminated soils

The effect of the addition of materials on the leaching pattern of As and metals (Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, and Cd) in two contaminated soils was investigated. The examined materials included bentonites, silicates and industrial wastes, such as sugar foam, fly ashes and a material originated from the zeolitization of fly ash. Soil + material mixtures were prepared at 10% doses. Changes in the acid neutralization capacity, crystalline phases and contaminant leaching over a wide range of pHs were examined by using pH_stat leaching tests. Sugar foam, the zeolitic material and MX-80 bentonite produced the greatest decrease in the leaching of pollutants due to an increase in the pH and/or the sorption capacity in the resulting mixture. This finding suggests that soil remediation may be a feasible option for the reuse of non-hazardous wastes.     

Adsorption of glyphosate on Brazilian subtropical soils rich in iron and aluminum oxides

Abstract

We investigated the adsorption of glyphosate onto five subtropical soils of Paraná and São Paulo states, Brazil, a region of intense agricultural activities, aiming at the determination of kinetic and isotherm adsorption parameters which enable the evaluation of the potential leaching of the herbicide. The adsorption was fast, being described by the pseudo-second order and intraparticle diffusion models, thus suggesting that mixed mechanisms are involved. The Oxisol containing the highest concentrations of metal oxides (209.5?g kg^?1 Fe₂O₃ and 160.2?g kg^?1 Al₂O₃) was the sample with the highest rate constant, indicating the adsorption sites are readily available. All the soils are rich in aluminum and iron oxides, explaining the Freundlich coefficients (K_F) between 642 and 1360?mg^1-1/n kg^?1 L^1/n, which are higher than most of the coefficients described for other soils around the world. The maximum desorption (15% of the adsorbed amount) was observed for the Oxisol. For the other soils, desorption ranged from 2 to 7%. These results suggest that the leaching of free glyphosate to nearby surface and groundwaters is unlikely unless excessive doses are used. The adsorption parameters are useful for managing the right doses applied to the crops, thus avoiding contamination of adjacent areas.     

New bacterial strain of the genus Ochrobactrum with glyphosate-degrading activity

Thirty bacterial strains with various abilities to utilize glyphosate as the sole phosphorus source were isolated from farm soils using the glyphosate enrichment cultivation technique. Among them, a strain showing a remarkable glyphosate-degrading activity was identified by biochemical features and 16S rRNA sequence analysis as Ochrobactrum sp. (GDOS). Herbicide (3 mM) degradation was induced by phosphate starvation, and was completed within 60 h. Aminomethylphosphonic acid was detected in the exhausted medium, suggesting glyphosate oxidoreductase as the enzyme responsible for herbicide breakdown. As it grew even in the presence of glyphosate concentrations as high as 200 mM, Ochrobactrum sp. could be used for bioremediation purposes and treatment of heavily contaminated soils.     

Potentially toxic metal contamination of urban soils and roadside dust in Shanghai, China

A detailed investigation was conducted to understand the contamination characteristics of a selected set of potentially toxic metals in Shanghai. The amount of Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, Cd and Ni were determined from 273 soil/dust samples collected within urban area. The results indicated that concentration of all metals except Ni in soils was significant, and metal pollution was even severer in roadside dust. A series of metal spatial distribution maps were created through geostatistical analysis, and the pollution hotspots tended to associate with city core area, major road junctions, and the regions close to industrial zones. In attempt of identifying the source of metals through geostatistical and multivariate statistical analyses, it was concluded as follows: Pb, Zn and Cu mainly originated from traffic contaminants; soil Ni was associated with natural concentration; Cd largely came from point-sourced industrial pollution; and Cr, Ni in dust were mainly related to atmospheric deposition.     

压力板仪法测土-水特征曲线试验研究

非饱和土土-水特征曲线(SWCC)表示了土中含水量与吸力之间的关系。针对非饱和土干-湿循环过程中的吸力变化特征,开展试验研究。采用体积压力板仪实现非饱和土的脱湿和吸湿过程。试验成果显示:(1)土-水特征曲线是不稳定的,它与土体含水率的变化路径有关;(2)在干湿循环过程中,相同的基质吸力具有不同的含水量。     

4种农药对土壤脱氢酶活性的影响

通过天王星、功夫、久效磷、氧化乐果4种农药对土壤脱氢酶活性的抑制性进行试验,确认了实验条件的影响因素,同时分析了不同农药用量、不同土样用量及不同培养时间对脱氢酶活性的影响。试验结果表明,4种农药在不同情况下对脱氢酶活性均有不同程度的抑制作用,表明了在本地区特有的农业环境条件下,农用化学物质可能会影响和破坏农业生态环境。