Comparison of Heavy Metal Adsorptions by Thai Kaolin and Ballclay

The adsorption characteristics of heavy metals: cadmium(II), chromium(III), copper(II), nickel(II), lead(II), and zinc(II) ions by kaolin (kaolinite) and ballclay (illite) from Thailand were studied. This research was focussed on the pH, adsorption isotherms of single-metal solutions at 30–60 °C by batch experiments, and on ion selectivityin mixed and binary combination solutions. It was found that, except Ni, metal adsorption increased with increased pH of the solutions and their adsorption followed both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Adsorption of metals in the mixture solutions by kaolin was: Cr > Zn > Cu ≈ Cd ≈ Ni > Pb, and for ballclay was: Cr > Zn > Cu > Cd ≈ Pb > Ni. The adsorption of metals was endothermic, with the exception of Cd, Pb and Zn for kaolin, Cu and Zn for ballclay. Kaolin and ballclay exhibited relatively hard Lewis base adsorption site. The presence of other metals may reduce or promote the adsorption of heavy metals. The presence of Cr³⁺ induced the greatest reduction of metal adsorptiononto kaolin, as did the presence of Cu²⁺ for ballclay.     

Retention of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn by Wood Ash, Lime and Fume Dust

Heavy metals are of interest due to their deleterious impacts on both human and ecosystem health. This study investigated the effectiveness of wood ash in immobilizing the heavy metals Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn from aqueous solutions. The effects of initial metal concentrations, solution pH, ash dose and reaction time on metal sorption, as well as the metal sorption mechanisms were studied. To investigate the effect of initial metal concentrations, solutions containing Cd, Zn (25, 50, 75, 100 or 125 mg L^?1), Cu (25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150 or 175 mg L^?1) or Pb (250, 500, 750, 1000, 1250, or 1500 mg L^?1) were reacted with 10 g L^?1 ash for two hours. For the effect of pH, solutions containing 100 mg L^?1 of Cd, Cu or Zn or 1500 mg L^?1 of Pb were reacted with 15 g L^?1 ash over a pH range of 4 to 7. The wood ash was effective in immobilizing the four metals with a sorption range of 41–100 %. The amounts of metals retained by the ash followed the order of Pb > Cu > Cd > Zn. As expected, absolute metal retention increased with increasing initial metal concentrations, solution pH and ash dose. Metal retention by the ash exhibited a two-phase step: an initial rapid uptake of the metal followed by a period of relatively slow removal of metal from solution. Metal retention by the ash could be described by the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms, with the latter providing a better fit for the data. Dissolution of calcite /gypsum minerals and precipitation of metal carbonate/sulfate like minerals were probably responsible for metal immobilization by the ash in addition to adsorption.     

Metal accumulation by bermudagrass grown on four diverse soils amended with secondarily treated sewage effluent

Land treatment is increasingly being utilized as a method of waste disposal for both sewage effluent and sludges. While there has been considerable attention directed toward the fate of metallic constituents of sewage sludges, there have been fewer studies of the fate and mobility of metals appled to soils in sewage effluent. This study was undertaken utilizing secondarily treated sewage effluent amended to contain less than 1 mg l^?1 each of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn. The effluent was applied weekly for a period of 1 yr on large undisturbed monoliths of four diverse soils enclosed in lysimeters and sprigged to common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.). Soil samples were collected periodically and extracted with DTPA to measure plant available metals. Vegetation was harvested, weighed, subsampled and analyzed for total metal content. Total plant uptake of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Ni during the year was less than 1% of that applied. Vegetative uptake of Zn was as high as 2%. Metal uptake was greatest in the soil with the lowest initial pH. Heavy metal concentrations in plant tissue exhibited a cyclic trend. A similar increasing cyclic trend was evident in the DTPA extractable metals in the surface 0 to 12.5 cm of the treated soils. Decreases in plant and DTPA extractable metals occurred when the soils dried, allowing O₂ to enter. Vegetative concentrations of Cd, Cu, and Ni exceeded normal ranges of 0.2 to 0.8, 4 to 15, and 1.0 mg kg^?1, respectively, for vegetation while Pb and Zn were near normal. Only Cd concentration of vegetation posed a threat to grazing animals.     

Heavy Metals in Freshly Deposited Stream Sediments of Rivers Associated with Urbanisation of the Ganga Plain,India

Freshly deposited stream sediments from six urban centres of the Ganga Plain were collected and analysed for heavy metals to obtain a general scenery of sediment quality. The concentrations of heavy metals varied within a wide range for Cr (115–817), Mn (440–1 750), Fe (28 700–61 100), Co (11.7–29.0), Ni (35–538), Cu (33–1 204), Zn (90–1 974), Pb (14–856) and Cd (0.14–114.8) in mg kg^-1. Metal enrichment factors for the stream sediments were <1.5 for Mn, Fe and Co; 1.5–4.1 for Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb; and 34 for Cd. The anthropogenic source in metals concentrations contributes to 59% Cr, 49% Cu, 52% Zn, 51% Pb and 77% Cd. High positive correlation between concentrations of Cr/Ni, Cr/Cu, Cr/Zn, Ni/Zn, Ni/Cu, Cu/Zn, Cu/Cd, Cu/Pb, Fe/Co, Mn/Co, Zn/Cd, Zn/Pb and Cd/Pb indicate either their common urban origin or their common sink in the stream sediments. The binding capacity of selected metals to sediment carbon and sulphur decreases in order of Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni and Cu > Zn > Cr > Ni, respectively. Stream sediments from Lucknow, Kanpur, Delhi and Agra urban centres have been classified by the proposed Sediment Pollution Index as highly polluted to dangerous sediments. Heavy metal analysis in the <20-μm-fraction of stream sediments appears to be an adequate method for the environmental assessment of urbanisation activities on alluvial rivers. The present study reveals that urban centres act as sources of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd and cause metallic sediment pollution in rivers of the Ganga Plain.     

Zeitschrift für Pflanzenernährung und Bodenkunde: Schwermetallgehalt von Wurzel und Sproßorganen der Rebe (Vitis vinifera L.) nach Düngung mit Müll-Klärschlammkompost

Heavy metal content of roots and shoots of vines (Vitis vinifera L.) after fertilization with garbage-sewage-sludge-compost The enrichment of Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Co, Ni and Cr from garbage-sewage-sludge-compost in vineyard soils, vines and must was studied in field-and pot-experiments. The following results were obtained: 1. In a field experiment, in which garbage-sewage-sludge-compost was applied, a marked soil enrichment of Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd and Cr was found. It was most evident at the 0–20 cm depth but also obvious at the 40–60 cm depth thus indicating downward migration. The soil was not enriched with Co and Ni. The heavy metal content of leaves, berries and must of riesling vines did not increase on the plots treated with garbage-sewage-sludge-compost. 2. In a pot trial, using an acid and an alkaline soil each mixed with garbage-sewage-sludge-compost, it was observed that only the uptake of Zn and Cu increased into the leaves, tendrils and wood of the riesling cuttings. In relation to the content of the substrate, the heavy metals were detected in the roots percentually in the following order: Cu, Cd > Zn > > Pb, Co, Ni, Cr The root contents were mostly substantially higher than those of the shoot. The migration from root to shoot decreased in the following percentual order: Zn > Cu > Cd, Pb 3. The heavy metal content decreased considerably from the roots to the upper plant organs. This was reflected in low concentrations of heavy metals in the vine must.     

Effects of Changed Soil Conditions on the Mobility of Trace Metals in Moderately Contaminated Urban Soils

Changes in the soil chemical environment can be expected to increase the leaching of trace metals bound in soils. In this study the mobility of trace metals was monitored in a column experiment for two contaminated urban soils. Four different treatments were used (i.e. rain, acid rain, salt and bark). Leachates were analysed for pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and for seven trace metals (cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn)). The salt treatment produced the lowest pH values (between 5 and 6) in the effluent whereas the DOC concentration was largest in the bark treatment (40–140 mg L^?1) and smallest in the salt and acid treatments (7–40 mg L^?1). Cadmium, Ni and Zn were mainly mobilised in the salt treatment, whereas the bark treatments produced the highest concentrations of Cu and Pb. The concentrations of Cu, Cr, and Hg were strongly correlated with DOC (r ²?=?0.90, 0.91 and 0.96, respectively). A multi-surface geochemical model (SHM-DLM) produced values for metal dissolution that were usually of the correct magnitude. For Pb, however, the model was not successful indicating that the retention of this metal was stronger than assumed in the model. For all metals, the SHM-DLM model predicted that soil organic matter was the most important sorbent, although for Pb and Cr(III) ferrihydrite was also important and accounted for between 15 and 50% of the binding. The results confirm the central role of DOC for the mobilization of Cu, Cr, Hg and Pb in contaminated soils.     

Competitivity,selectivity, and heavy metals-induced alkaline cation displacement in soils

Abstract

The simultaneous incorporation of heavy metals into the soil is still a matter of great concern. Interaction (competitive sorption) between these metals and the soil solid phase may result in a deterioration of soil quality which relies basically on amounts of alkaline cations saturating soils sorptive complex. Results of this study indicate that Pb, Cu, C d, and Zn have induced solution pH decreases which were more intensive at highest metal loading rates. Partition parameters (Kd)-based sequences showed that Pb and Cu were more competitive than Cd and Zn and the overall selectivity sequence followed: Pb > Cu > Cd > Zn. Metal loadings and their competitive sorption have led to a strengthened displacement of alkaline cations (i.e. Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, Na⁺), especially of Ca²⁺ as a factor “stabilizing” soil sorptive complex. Such metals impact jointly with soils acidification are of great environmental concern since tremendous amounts of alkaline cations (especially Ca²⁺) may be potentially leached out, irrespective of the degree of soil contamination, as evidenced in the current study. High and positive ΔG values implied that the studied soils were characterized by generally low concentrations of exchangeable potassium which required high energy to get displaced (desorbed). Further studies on heavy metal uncontaminated or contaminated areas should be undertaken to provide with data which should be used for predictions on changes related to soil buffering capacity as impacted by heavy metal inputs.     

Accumulation of,and interactions between,calcium and heavy metals in wood and bark of Picea abies

Spreading of wood ashes from the pulp and paper industry will change the content and proportions of calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), and zinc (Zn) in forest soils and thus also in the forest trees. The accumulation and distributions of, and interaction between, Ca and heavy metals in wood and bark of two‐year‐old Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) were investigated in this study. The treatment was carried out for 3 months in nutrient solutions, and there was a low or a high addition of Ca, Cd, Cu or Zn. The metal accumulation in, and distribution between, the bark, the wood formed during the treatment period (new wood), and the wood formed before the treatment period (old wood) was analyzed with AAS. The contents of the metals in the stems (i.e., bark, new wood, old wood) increased with elevated addition of the metal in question, also at the low addition of Ca, Cu, and Zn. Interactions between Ca and the heavy metals were found. Elevated Ca additions decreased the Cd content of the bark and the Zn content of the old wood, and tended to decrease the Cu content of the bark and the Cd content of the old wood. The Ca content decreased in both, wood and bark after Cu addition and the high Cd addition. Thus, even small changes in metal availability and proportions in forest soil, such as after spreading of wood ashes in the forest, will be reflected in the content of the metals in the wood and bark of forest trees.     

Cadmium,Lead, Copper,Zinc, and Nickel in Lettuce and Dry Beans as Related to Mehlich-3 Extraction in Three Brazilian Latossols

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were grown in three Brazilian Red-Yellow Latossols (Oxisols) in greenhouse conditions with cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and nickel (Ni) applied to soils in treatments arranged as a randomized complete block design. Plant metals were analyzed in lettuce shoots and dry beans roots, stems, leaves, and seeds. After plant growth, soil samples from the pots were extracted with Mehlich-3 (M-3) for metal availability evaluation. The release of Ni in the M-3 extraction was dependent on the soil exchangeable aluminum (Al^{3 +}). Mehlich-3 was efficient for determination of availability of Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Ni for dry beans and availability of Cd and Ni for lettuce. The dry bean leaves Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Ni were highly correlated with their recovering from soils with M-3. The same was observed for Cd and Ni in lettuce shoots and the M-3 recovered metals from soils.     

Modelling trace metal extractability and solubility in French forest soils by using soil properties

Soil/solution partitioning of trace metals (TM: Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Sb, Pb and Zn) has been investigated in six French forest sites that have been subjected to TM atmospheric inputs. Soil profiles have been sampled and analysed for major soil properties, and CaCl₂‐extractable and total metal content. Metal concentrations (expressed on a molar basis) in soil (total), in CaCl₂ extracts and soil solution collected monthly from fresh soil by centrifugation, were in the order: Cr > Zn > Ni > Cu > Pb > Co > Sb > Cd , Zn > Cu > Pb = Ni > Co > Cd > Cr and Zn > Ni > Cu > Pb > Co > Cr > Cd > Sb , respectively. Metal extractability and solubility were predicted by using soil properties. Soil pH was the most significant property in predicting metal partitioning, but TM behaviour differed between acid and non‐acid soils. TM extractability was predicted significantly by soil pH for pH < 6, and by soil pH and Fe content for all soil conditions. Total metal concentration in soil solution was predicted well by soil pH and organic carbon content for Cd, Co, Cr, Ni and Zn, by Fe content for Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Sb and total soil metal content for Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Sb, with a better prediction for acidic conditions (pH < 6). At more alkaline pH conditions, solute concentrations of Cu, Cr, Sb and Pb were larger than predicted by the pH relationship, as a consequence of association with Fe colloids and complexing with dissolved organic carbon. Metal speciation in soil solutions determined by WHAM‐VI indicated that free metal ion (FMI) concentration was significantly related to soil pH for all pH conditions. The FMI concentrations of Cu and Zn were well predicted by pH alone, Pb by pH and Fe content and Cd, Co and Ni by soil pH and organic carbon content. Differences between soluble total metal and FMI concentrations were particularly large for pH < 6. This should be taken into account for risk and critical load assessment in the case of terrestrial ecosystems.     

Removal of Heavy Metals from Soil Components and Soils by Natural Chelating Agents. Part II. Soil Extraction by Sugar Acids

Aqueous solutions of the natural chelatingagents D-gluconic acid and D-glucaric acid (D[+]-saccharic acid) were tested for their ability to remove heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu,Ni, Pb, Zn) from a soil polluted by long-term application of sewage sludge. Batch equilibrium experiments were performed undervariation of fundamental process parameters, i.e. pH value, sugaracid concentration, batch solution volume, solid:liquid ratioand number of treatment cycles.The extractability of heavy metals was low under near-neutral andslightly basic pH conditions. It increased drastically between pH12.0 and 13.0. Pb and Cu were preferentially extracted metals.Compared with the extraction efficiency of pH adequate puresodium hydroxide solutions, the sugar acids enhanced thesolubilisation of Pb and Cr especially. The metal depletion fromsoil was the highest when applying 20 or 50 g L^-1 solutionsof the chelating agents. Under strongly basic conditions solid:liquid ratios of 1:10 or 1:20 were proofed to be advantageous.Except Ni, multi-step extraction improved the metal removalstrongly. This effect was the greatest for Cr extraction. Underoptimised conditions the following metal extraction degrees wereachieved with strongly alkaline D-gluconic acid solutions: Ni 43%%, Cr 60%%, Cd 63%%,Zn 70%%, Pb 80%%, and Cu 84%%.     

Heavy‐Metal Contamination of Soil and Vegetables in Wastewater‐Irrigated Agricultural Soil in a Suburban Area of Hanoi,Vietnam

The To Lich and Kim Nguu Rivers, laden with untreated waste from industrial sources, serve as sources of water for irrigating vegetable farms. The purposes of this study were to identify the impact of wastewater irrigation on the level of heavy metals in the soils and vegetables and to predict their potential mobility and bioavailability. Soil samples were collected from different distances from the canal. The average concentrations of the heavy metals in the soil were in the order zinc (Zn; 204 mg kg^?1) > copper (Cu; 196 mg kg^?1) > chromium (Cr; 175 mg kg^?1) > lead (Pb; 131 mg kg^?1) > nickel (Ni; 60 mg kg^?1) > cadmium (Cd; 4 mg kg^?1). The concentrations of all heavy metals in the study site were much greater than the background level in that area and exceeded the permissible levels of the Vietnamese standards for Cd, Cu, and Pb. The concentrations of Zn, Ni, and Pb in the surface soil decreased with distance from the canal. The results of selective sequential extraction indicated that dominant fractions were oxide, organic, and residual for Ni, Pb, and Zn; organic and oxide for Cr; oxide for Cd; and organic for Cu. Leaching tests for water and acid indicated that the ratio of leached metal concentration to total metal concentration in the soil decreased in the order of Cd > Ni > Cr > Pb > Cu > Zn and in the order of Cd > Ni > Cr > Zn > Cu > Pb for the ethylenediaminetetraaceitc acid (EDTA) treatment. The EDTA treatment gave greater leachability than other treatments for most metal types. By leaching with water and acid, all heavy metals were fully released from the exchangeable fraction, and some heavy metals were fully released from carbonate and oxide fractions. The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the vegetables exceeded the Vietnamese standards. The transfer coefficients for the metals were in the order of Zn > Ni > Cu > Cd = Cr > Pb.     

Comparative effectiveness of selected adsorbant materials as potential amendments for the remediation of lead-, copper- and zinc-contaminated soil

Bonemeal, coir, compost, green waste compost, peat and wood bark all potentially could be used as amendments to remediate heavy metal contamination in soils. Their ability to sorb Pb, Cu and Zn was evaluated in the laboratory, using metal solutions ranging from 0 to 5 mmol/L as contaminants. The effects on sorption of metal concentration, background salt concentration and metal competition were evaluated. Single metal sorption by the six amendments was significantly different at metal concentrations of 1.5–5 mmol/L, with green waste compost, coir, compost and wood bark having the highest capacities to adsorb Pb, Cu and Zn. Langmuir sorption maxima were approximately 87 mg Pb/g (coir and green waste compost), 30 mg Cu/g (compost and green waste compost) and 13 mg Zn/g (compost and green waste compost) (equivalent to approx. 0.5 mmol/g of Pb and Cu, and 0.2 mmol/g Zn), all in a background solution of 0.001 M Ca(NO₃)₂. A higher background salt concentration and a combination of all three metals led to significant reduction in the amounts of Pb, Cu and Zn sorbed by all the amendments tested. Competing heavy metal cations in solution decreased Pb sorption to about 50–60% of that from a solution containing Pb alone; Cu sorption was reduced to about 30–40%; the effect of competition on Zn sorption was variable. Overall, in both single metal and competitive sorption, the order of strength of binding was Pb>Cu>>Zn.     

Heavy metal levels in apple orchards after the application of two composts

Abstract

Two composts were tested in eleven different Malus domestica orchards: one was a sewage sludge and bark compost with a low heavy metal content, the other was a municipal solid waste compost with a higher concentration of metals. For six years the zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr) content were monitored in the soil, both in ‘total’ and EDTA extractable form, and in leaves and fruits. The resulting data demonstrate clearly that the sewage sludge and bark compost did not cause any significant increase of heavy metal levels in soil and plants; this compost can thus be used to fertilize the soil with no danger either to the environment or to crops. In contrast, the municipal solid waste compost led to a notable accumulation of all the metals examined in the soil and, above all in the case of Pb and Cd, also in the vegetation and the fruits.     

Sorption of lead,copper, zinc,and cadmium by soils: effect of nitriloacetic acid on metal retention

Abstract

Laboratory experiments were carried out to evaluate lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) sorption‐desorption by three soils of contrasting characteristics. Talamanca (silt loam, montmorillonite, Calcic Haploxeralfs), Mazowe (clay, kaolinite, Rhodic Kandiustalf), and Realejos (sandy silt loam, allophane, Typic Hapludands). A second objective was to study the effect of nitriloacetic acid (NTA) on the sorption process. The Talamanca soil, which had a native pH of 6.4 and presented the highest effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC), sorbed more of each of the metal tested than did the other two soils. When the other two soils were compared metal sorption was also related to pH and ECEC. The very low sorption capacity showed by Realejos may be attributed to the low net surface negative charge density of this soil, arising from its allophanic nature. A common feature of the three soils was the relative strong sorption of both Pb and Cu relative to Cd and Zn with Pb showing the highest sorption levels. The selectivity sequences of metals retention were Pb>Cu>Zn>Cd for Talamanca soil, Pb>Cu>Zn≈Cd for Mazowe, and Pb>Cu>Cd>Zn for Realejos. Metal desorption values were low. The order of metal desorption (Cd≈Zn>Cu>Pb) was the same for the three soils studied. Quantitative differences observed in the extractability of the sorbed metals between the soils (Realejos>Mazowe>Talamanca) indicated that soil properties which enhanced metal sorption contributed at the same time to slow down the backward reaction. The addition of NTA to the soil suspension significantly depressed metal sorption by the three soils investigated. Compared with the free ligand system Pb, Cu, Zn, and Cd sorption in the presence of NTA decreased roughly 50%.     

酸雨地区蔬菜对重金属的吸收及重金属健康风险基准的估算

通过盆栽实验,以小白菜(上海青)、大白菜和萝卜为指示作物,研究了酸雨作用下Cu,Zn,Pb,Cd,Cr和Ni复合污染物在土壤-作物系统中的吸收与富集情况。结果表明,酸雨-重金属复合污染处理使Cu,Pb,Cr和Ni在蔬菜中积累量明显高于对照处理;Zn和Cd一般只有在复合污染处理中外源Zn或Cd含量较高时才明显高于对照处理。与对照相比,酸雨-重金属复合污染处理使Pb和Ni的富集系数增大,Cu的富集系数多数情况下增大,Cd的富集系数多数情况下减小,Zn和Cr富集系数的变化在不同蔬菜之间存在较明显的差异;重金属在不同蔬菜中的富集系数一般表现为萝卜>上海青>大白菜,蔬菜中不同重金属富集系数一般表现为Zn>Cd>Ni>Cu>Pb>Cr。酸雨-重金属复合污染条件下蔬菜中重金属积累量与其在土壤中总量之间的相关性均达到显著或极显著水平。以大宗蔬菜上海青、大白菜和萝卜为指示作物对酸雨地区蔬菜地中重金属的健康风险基准进行了估算,这对开展酸雨地区土壤重金属环境容量评价、重金属污染修复目标及地方性土壤环境质量标准的制订提供了参考依据。     

Leaching Behavior of Heavy Metals In Biosolids Amended Sandy Soils

Use of biosolids in agriculture to improve crop production and soil quality have created concerns due to content of heavy metals that may affect surface or ground water quality. A column leaching study was conducted to evaluate the leaching potential of copper (Cu), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), cdmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), and nickel (Ni) from two typical agricultural sandy soils in South Florida (Spodosol and Alfisol) with increasing application of pelletized biosolids (called PB) at the rates of 0, 1.25, 5.0, 10.0 g kg^?1, respectively together with chemical fertilizer (CF). Elevated PB rate resulted in reduced leaching loss of Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Co, Ni from Spodosol, but resulted in increased loss of Pb, Zn, Cd, and Co from Alfisol. Significant reduction in Cu loss occurred in both soils, which can be attributed to the strong binding of Cu with organic matter from the applied PB. Percentage of Cd loss as of total Cd was 13% – 41%, the highest in all the heavy metals, whereas loss of Pb as of total Pb was less than 6.6%, though the concentrations of Pb, Cd, Co, and Ni in leachate were mostly above the limits of U.S. EPA drinking water standards or the national secondary drinking water standards. These results indicate that soil properties, PB application rates, and chemical behavior of elements jointly influence the leachate total loads of heavy metals in sandy soils applied with biosolids. Application of CF together with BP at a rate higher than 10.0 g kg^?1 for sandy soils may pose potential threats to water quality due to enhanced leachate loads of Cr and Ni in Spodosol and Pb, Zn, Cd, Co and Ni in Alfisol.     

Influence of prolonged use of sewage effluent in irrigation on heavy metal accumulation in soils and plants

Total content of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni and Co in soils irrigated with sewage effluent increased with increasing years of using sewage effluent in irrigation. Iron and Co applied to the soil from sewage effluent were immobilized mainly in unavailable form; Pb, Cd, and Ni in moderately available form; and Mn, Zn, and Cu in highly available form. The concentrations of Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu in tops of alfalfa and leaves of corn grown on these soils increased substantially with increased levels of available metal content of the soil, while those of other metals were little affected. As for orange, continuous increase in leaves metal content with time was found for Fe, Mn, Zn, Co and Cd. The concentrations of Cd, Co, Ni and Pb in corn grains and orange fruits were several times higher than normal, and this reduces their suitability for human consumption.     

Plant uptake of metals,transfer factors and prediction model for two contaminated regions of Kosovo

The bioavailability and plant uptake of heavy metals (HM), as well as finding the most reliable methods for the prediction of availability, continues to be one of the most crucial problems in agricultural and environmental studies. In agricultural soils from two regions in Kosovo, known for its metal pollution, we collected 60 soil and plant samples (wheat, corn, potatoes, and grass). Heavy metals were extracted from soil with aqua regia (pseudototal concentration), NH₄OAc‐EDTA (potential bioavailable), and NH₄NO₃ (mobile fraction), plant samples were digested with HNO₃/H₂O₂ (microwave assisted extraction). The pseudo total content of Cd, Pb, and Zn showed high value in Mitrovice (mean: Cd–2.92, Pb–570.15, and Zn–522.86 mg kg^?1), whereas in Drenas region Ni and Cr showed high value with a mean 258.54 and 203.22 mg kg^?1. Also, the potential bioavailability and mobile form of these metals were increased in Mitrovice (mean: Cd–1.59, Pb–217.05, Zn–522.86 mg kg^?1, respectively Cd–0.17, Pb–0.64, and Zn–15.45 mg kg^?1), compared to Drenas. Cd and Pb were elevated in potato tubers (mean Cd–0.48 and Pb–0.85 mg kg^?1). The TF was higher for micronutrients (Zn and Cu) than for non‐essential metals (Cd and Pb). Multiple regression analysis showed a good model for prediction of Cd, Pb and Zn content in plant with significance 99.9%, whereas this model was not significant for Cu, Cr, and Ni. Soil pH played a significant role in the content of Cd and Zn in wheat and potato plants. Clay content also showed significance in Cd concentration in wheat and potato plants, while carbon content was significant for Cd in grass plants, as well as for Zn in wheat and grass plants.     

Trace element distribution within the tree phytomass and forest floor of a tolerant hardwood stand,Algoma, Ontario

An examination of tree phytomass and trace metal concentrations (w/w) and pools in the tree stratum and forest floor of a sugar maple-yellow birch forest was carried out at Turkey Lakes Watershed, Algoma District, Ontario. Estimated aboveground tree phytomass (167, 500 kg ha^?1) was dominated by stemwood, branches > 2 cm, and stem bark. Highest trace metal concentrations were found in foliage (Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni) and stem bark (Cd, Pb, Zn). Concentrations of essential trace metals found in all sugar maple components followed the expected sequence of Mn>Fe>Zn>Cu. Lead and Ni concentations were always higher than those of Cd. Concentrations of essential elements in foliage and other components were comparable to those reported in the literature for other localities in North America. There was no indication that availability of essential trace elements (e.g., Cu) to vegetation had been increased as a result of increased atmospheric deposition. Lead, Ni and Cd levels in vegetation and forest floor were lower than those reported for similar forested areas of the northeastern United States.