Mercury in soils of the agro-industrial zone of Zima city (Irkutsk oblast)

Data on mercury concentrations in soils of the agro-industrial zone of Zima city in Irkutsk oblast are discussed. It is shown that mercury concentrations in the plow horizon of studied soils exceed background values. The distribution pattern of mercury in soils of the investigated area is characterized. The revealed mercury anomalies are allocated to the industrial zone of the Sayanskkhimprom plant. The combined analysis of data on mercury concentrations in the plow and subplow horizons and on the chemical composition of snow indicates that mercury enters the soil mainly with atmospheric precipitation and is present there in the adsorbed form. The correlation analysis indicates that the local thermal power station plays a significant role as the source of mercury emission to the atmosphere. Close relationships between mercury concentrations and concentrations of mobile forms of elements attest to the presence of mobile organomineral mercury compounds in the studied soils.     

Chemical speciation and bioavailability of Cd,Cu, Pb and Zn in Western Balkan soils

Abstract

Three thermal power plants in Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia of the Western Balkan region were expected to be metal polluting sources, and this study was performed to investigate the bioavailability and chemical speciation of trace metals in soils and soil water extracts, respectively. Surface (0–15 cm) soil samples along with maize and grass samples were collected at a gradient from the pollution source. The chemical speciation of metals was conducted using the Windereme Humic Aqueous Model (WHAM)/Model VI for water, whereas the Diffusion Gradient in Thin Films (DGT) technique was used to estimate plant availability. The chemical speciation indicated that more than 99% of all four metals in soil water extracts were complexed to fulvic acid. This is connected to relatively high soil pH (> 6.5) and high contents of soil organic matter in these soils. The accumulation of trace metals by DGT was not correlated to plant uptake. This is connected to the very low partitioning of free ions in solution, but also to the low variation in metal solubility and metal concentration in plant tissue between sites. In spite of active thermal power plants located in the areas, hardly any differences in concentration of soil metals between sites were seen and the partition of metals in soil waters was insignificant. The latter indicates that these soils have a large metal-retaining capacity. The only significant soil chemical variable affecting the variation in metal solubility was the soil pH. In a time with large infrastructure and industrial expansion in these areas, this investigation indicates the importance of protecting these high-quality soils from industrial use and degradation. High industrial activity has so far had insignificant effect on soil quality with respect to bioavailability of trace metals in these soils.     

Comparisons of terrestrial and aquatic bioassays for oil-contaminated soil toxicity

Background  Petroleum products are widely used in various sections of industry and they are one of the most abundant sources of environmental contamination. These products are classified by their physico-chemical properties such as boiling point, density and viscosity. Oil contamination in the environment is primarily evaluated by measuring the chemical concentrations of petroleum products in the solid or water phase. The results of chemical analyses do not correspond directly with the harmful environmental effects of petroleum products on the soil flora and fauna, because the interactions between oil compounds and the production of their methabolites in soil are not measured in chemical assessments. These kinds of effects of complex chemical mixtures in soil can be estimated by bioassays. Therefore, ecotoxicological tests are important for estimating soil quality in the risk assessment of oil-contaminated soil sites. Objectives  The objective of this study was to examine the oil-contaminated soil site of a closed petrol station with both chemical and ecotoxicological methods. The goals of this study were to compare the sensitivity of the terrestrial and aquatic bioassays and to compare the toxicity responses of aquatic bioassays determined from three different extraction procedures. In addition, our aim was to characterise a cost-effective battery of bioassays that could be applied to a comparison of oil-contaminated soils. It was in our interest to investigate oil-contaminated soil with oil concentrations of 2500–12000 mg/kg and to find out the possible differences between terrestrial and aquatic toxicity tests. Methods  Six soil samples from a closed petrol station were examined for toxicity with terrestrial and aquatic tests. Terrestrial tests includedEnchytraeus albidus survival and reproduction assays and seed germination assays using wheat, cress, lettuce, and red clover seeds and growth inhibition assays of onions. The toxicities of the water-extractable fractions of the soil samples obtained from three different extractions were tested with aquatic bioassays based on plants (onion and duckweed growth inhibition tests), microbes (luminescent bacteria test), and enzyme inhibition (reverse electron transport test, RET). Chemical analyses of the solid samples were carried out simultaneously. Results. Oil concentrations ranged from 2500 to 12000 mg/kg, BTEX varied from 300 to 2800 mg/kg, and fuel additives: MTBE and TAME from 0.0 1 to 260 mg/kg. Only the sample contain-ing 12000 mg/kg oil had a significant toxic impact on all test organisms. Soil samples with oil concentrations 2500–6200 mg/ kg had no or only slight adverse effects on the test organisms with one exception, theE. albidus reproduction test. TheE. albidus survival and reproduction tests were the most sensitive bioassays of the terrestrial tests, and the luminescent bacteria test of the aquatic tests.     

Functioning of cyanobacteria in soil ecosystems

The data of long-term studies pertinent to functioning of cyanobacteria and their effects on soil fertility during periods of soil “blossoming” over more than 50% of the soil surface are presented. Parameters of and participants in this process and its features typical for the temperate zone are discussed. Using modern methods of investigations (field ¹⁵N₂ and ¹³CO₂ chambers, spectral-isotope and gas chromatographic analyses), cyanobacteria were revealed to produce 725 kg/ha. They are characterized by intense photosynthesis inherent to mosses and lichens. The conditions of cyanobacteria functioning in plowed soils are discussed. Their contribution to the nitrogen pool of soils reaches 30 kg/ha. Based on the model experiments, a concept of transforming the organic matter of cyanobacteria in soil and its movement along trophic chains of the biological cycle has been developed.     

森林火灾对土壤热导率影响的实验和模型研究

An understanding of soil thermal conductivity after a wildfire or controlled burn is important to land management and post-fire recovery efforts. Although soil thermal conductivity has been well studied for non-fire heated soils, comprehensive data that evaluate the long-term effect of extreme heating from a fire on the soil thermal conductivity are limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term impact of fire on the effective thermal conductivity of soils by directly comparing fire-heated and no-fire control soils through a series of laboratory studies. The thermal conductivity was measured for ten soil samples from two sites within the Manitou Experimental Forest, Colorado, USA, for a range of water contents from saturation to the residual degree of saturation. The thermal conductivity measured was compared with independent estimates made using three empirical models from literature, including the Campbell et al.(1994), Cté and Konrad(2005), and Massman et al.(2008) models. Results demonstrate that for the test soils studied, the thermal conductivity of the fire-heated soils was slightly lower than that of the control soils for all observed water contents.Modeling results show that the Campbell et al.(1994) model gave the best agreement over the full range of water contents when proper fitting parameters were employed. Further studies are needed to evaluate the significance of including the influence of fire burn on the thermal properties of soils in modeling studies.     

干湿交替条件下土壤磷释放及其与土壤性质的关系

通过四川瀑布沟水电站消落区典型土壤磷释放室内模拟试验,研究淹水及干湿交替条件下消落区土壤性质变化情况以及土壤性质与磷释放之间的关系,以期为预防水库水体富营养化,水库消落区合理利用与科学制定管理对策提供参考。结果表明：淹水能够提高土壤活性氧化铁（Feox）含量,淹水风干后土壤Feox含量降低至淹水前的水平;淹水后Feox变化幅度为：旱地〉水田〉果园,紫色土〉冲积土。土壤磷吸持饱和度（DPS）与无定形铁铝氧化物Alox密切相关;土壤最大吸磷量（Qm）淹水时最高增加至2 758.01 mg/kg,土壤淹水后Qm、土壤最大缓冲容量（MBC）、土壤吸磷指数（PSI）值升高;淹水能够明显提高土壤的磷素缓冲容量、土壤的最大缓冲能力和吸附能力、土壤磷的保持率,其原因也是与淹水后土壤无定形铁铝氧化物含量大幅度增加有关;通过主成分分析,土壤磷释放能力主要与土壤磷水平和土壤吸磷能力有关,且主要指标包括土壤有机质含量（OM）、土壤有效磷含量（Olsen-P）、土壤磷保持率（f）、土壤最大吸磷量（Qm）、土壤活性氧化铁（Feox）、土壤活性氧化铝（Alox）等,说明四川省瀑布沟水电站消落区土壤存在较大的磷释放风险。     

Soil carbon content drives the biogeographical distribution of fungal communities in the black soil zone of northeast China

Black soils (Mollisols) are one of the most important soil resources for maintaining food security in China, and they are mainly distributed in northeast China. A previous comprehensive study revealed the biogeographical distribution patterns of bacterial communities in the black soil zone. In this study, we used the same soil samples and analyzed the 454 pyrosequencing data for the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region to examine the fungal communities in these black soils. A total of 220,812 fungal ITS sequences were obtained from 26 soil samples that were collected across the black soil zone. These sequences were classified into at least 5 phyla, 20 classes, greater than 70 orders and over 350 genera, suggesting a high fungal diversity across the black soils. The diversity of fungal communities and distribution of several abundant fungal taxa were significantly related to the soil carbon content. Non-metric multidimensional scaling and canonical correspondence analysis plots indicated that the fungal community composition was most strongly affected by the soil carbon content followed by soil pH. This finding differs from the bacterial community results, which indicated that soil pH was the most important edaphic factor in determining the bacterial community composition of these black soils. A variance partitioning analysis indicated that the geographic distance contributed 20% of the fungal community variation and soil environmental factors that were characterized explained approximately 35%. A pairwise analysis revealed that the diversity of the fungal community was relatively higher at lower latitudes, which is similar to the findings for the bacterial communities in the same region and suggests that a latitudinal gradient of microbial community diversity might occur in the black soil zone. By incorporating our previous findings on the bacterial communities, we can conclude that contemporary factors of soil characteristics are more important than historical factor of geographic distance in shaping the microbial community in the black soil zone of northeast China.     

Biological, chemical and thermal indices of soil organic matter stability in four grassland soils

The various ecosystem functions of soil organic matter (SOM) depend on both its quantity and stability. Numerous fractionation techniques have been developed to characterize SOM stability, and thermal analysis techniques have shown promising results to describe the complete continuum of SOM in whole soil samples. However, the potential link between SOM thermal stability and biological or chemical stability has not yet been adequately explored. The objective of this study was to compare conventional chemical and biological methods used to characterize SOM stability with results obtained by thermal analysis techniques. Surface soil samples were collected from four North American grassland sites along a continental mean annual temperature gradient, each with a native and cultivated land use. Soil organic C concentrations ranged from 6.8 to 33 g C kg⁻¹ soil. Soils were incubated for 588 days at 35 °C, and C mineralization rates were determined periodically throughout the incubation by measuring CO₂ concentration using an infrared gas analyzer (IRGA) to calculate biological indices of SOM stability. Hot-water extractable organic C (HWEOC) contents were determined before and after incubation as chemical indices. Finally, samples from before and after incubation were analyzed by simultaneous thermal analysis (i.e., thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)) to determine thermal indices of SOM stability. Long-term incubation resulted in the mineralization of up to 33% of initial soil C. The number of days required to respire 5% of initial soil organic carbon (SOC), ranged from 27 to 115 days, and is proposed as a standardized biological index of SOM stability. The number of days was greater for cultivated soils compared to soils under native vegetation, and generally decreased with increasing site mean annual temperature. HWEOC (as % of initial SOC) did not show consistent responses to land use, but was significantly lower after long-term incubation. Energy density (J mg⁻¹ OM) was greater for soils under native vegetation compared to cultivated soils, and long-term incubation also decreased energy density. The temperatures at which half of the mass loss or energy release occurred typically showed larger responses to land use change than to incubation. Strong correlations demonstrated a link between the thermal and biogeochemical stability of SOM, but the interpretation of the thermal behavior of SOM in bulk soil samples remains equivocal because of the role the mineral component and organo-mineral interactions.     

Evaluating soluble toxicants in contaminated soils

Complex mixtures of water soluble materials from contaminated soils can move into groundwater and surface water by leaching, percolation, and runoff. We evaluated the potential toxicity of leachable materials from seven soils. Five soil samples were obtained at designated toxic or hazardous waste sites, and two additional soils samples were obtained from a coal storage area and from an agricultural field. Acidified tap water (pH 4.5) was used to extract toxic materials from elution columns filled with soil samples. Extracts were used as complex mixtures to conduct acute toxicity tests using Daphnia and chronic effects tests using aquatic microcosms. Three classes of effects were observed. Three soil leachates showed acute and chronic toxicity at less than 3% leachate. Two of these soils were contaminated by materials used in wood preserving, and the third soil was contaminated with heavy metals and acid. Two soils showed moderate acute toxicity but no chronic toxicity in microcosm tests. One of these soils was contaminated with low levels of chromium while the other soil was from a coal storage area. The remaining two soil samples showed no toxicity in either acute or chronic toxicity tests. One of these soils was from a reference agricultural field while the other soil was contaminated with solvents. The failure to detect toxicity in the solvent contaminated sample was attributed to the hydrophobicity of the toxicity materials. Results of these toxic screenings are in the same range as leachate toxicities estimated using other methods, although other methods use extraction materials that may interfere with some biological tests. Toxicological evaluations of materials from suspected contaminated soil are recommended for prioritizing clean up efforts at waste sites and for determining if toxic materials and contaminated soils have been effectively removed.     

Toxicity of phenmedipham and carbendazim to Enchytraeus crypticus and Eisenia andrei (Oligochaeta) in Mediterranean soils

Purpose

The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the toxicity of two reference chemicals, Carbendazim and Phenmedipham, for the compostworm Eisenia andrei (effects of Carbendazim) and the potworm Enchytraeus crypticus (effects of Phenmedipham) in 12 Mediterranean soils with contrasting soil properties. The observed toxicity was also compared to that obtained for OECD standard soil, used as a control.

Materials and methods

The soils were selected to be representative for the Mediterranean region and to cover a broad range of soil properties. The evaluated endpoints were avoidance behavior and reproduction. Soils were also assembled in two groups according to their pedological properties.

Results and discussion

Toxicity benchmarks (AC50s) obtained for E. andrei avoidance behavior in carbendazim-contaminated soils were generally higher for sandy soils with low pH. The toxic effects on the reproduction of the compostworms were similar in the six tested soils, indicating a low influence of soil properties. The avoidance response of E. crypticus towards Phenmedipham was generally highly variable in all tested soils. Even though, a higher toxicity was observed for more acidic soils. The EC50s for reproduction of the latter species varied by a factor of 9 and Phenmedipham toxicity also tended to be increasing in soils with lower pH, except for the soils with extreme organic matter content (0.6 and 5.8%).

Conclusions

A soil effect on chemical toxicity was clearly confirmed, highlighting the influence that test soils can have in site-specific ecological risk assessment. Despite some relationships between soil properties and toxicity were outlined, a clear and statistically significant prediction of chemical toxicity could not be established. The range of soil properties was probably narrow to give clearer and more consistent insights on their influence. For the four groups of tests, the toxicity observed for OECD soil was either similar, lower, or generally higher if compared with Mediterranean soils. Moreover, it did represent neither the organic matter content found in Mediterranean soils nor their textural classes.     

地表覆盖对土壤热参数变化的影响

覆盖条件下土壤热性质的研究对于包气带水热运移及覆盖技术的应用均有重要意义。使用11针热脉冲探头对沙黄土不同深度(6 mm、18 mm、30 mm)的土壤热扩散率、热容量和热导率三个热参数进行测定,并进行地表覆盖(石子覆盖、秸秆覆盖)处理,旨在探究覆盖条件下表层土壤热性质动态变化过程及土壤热参数与水分的内在联系。结果表明:(1)相对于裸土,石子和秸秆覆盖条件下土壤热参数增大,且覆盖对于靠近表层土壤热参数的影响更加明显;(2)随降雨的发生,土壤热参数均增大,在两次降雨期间,土壤热参数逐渐减小,覆盖与裸土热参数差异逐渐增大;(3)三个热参数随降雨的发生,其动态变化过程表现不同,热容量对降雨的响应最为敏感,热导率次之,热扩散率开始减小的时间较热导率和热容量滞后,三个深度滞后时间均在48 h以上,而且覆盖以后热扩散开始减小的时间较裸土推迟(48 h以上)。土壤容重不变的情况下,在频繁干湿交替的过程中土壤水分为土壤热参数变化的最主要影响因素。覆盖条件下土壤热参数与土壤含水量关系研究表明:石子和秸秆覆盖条件下土壤热参数与土壤含水量的变化关系与裸土条件下一致,热导率与含水量呈幂函数增加的趋势,热容量随含水量线性增加,热扩散率随含水量增加先增后减,本研究所用沙黄土热扩散率峰值对应的含水量在0.20 cm3cm-3左右。由以上结果可以发现覆盖对近表层土壤热参数的动态变化有显著的影响,覆盖的保水效应直接影响土壤热参数的变化。     

Bioavailability and toxicity of copper in soils: Integrating chemical approaches with responses of microbial biosensors

Copper (Cu) is a trace element essential for the healthy functioning of soil biological systems. However, at elevated concentrations Cu can be a potential toxicant. Consequently, an understanding of Cu availability and toxicity to soil biota is essential for effective ecological assessment of metal impacts in soil. The present study measured the response of a constitutive and Cu specific luminescence marked Pseudomonas fluorescens to Cu analytically determined in five soils.Conditioned Cu amended and historically contaminated soils were used. The free ion, soil pore water and solid-phase Cu were defined analytically by standard techniques frequently used to assess environmental availability of metals in soils, i.e. exchange resin, single and sequential metal extractions. The response of the constitutively expressed biosensor (i.e. a decrease in bioluminescence in the presence of Cu) assessed directly the toxicity of soil pore water Cu. The expression of bioluminescence by the bioreporter (i.e. an induction of bioluminescence by the presence of Cu) enabled quantification of Cu bioavailability in soil pore waters. Analytically determined Cu²⁺ concentrations strongly linked Cu toxicity to the biosensor responses and thus supported the conventional view of free metal ion toxicity in soil solutions. However, in two soils, other forms of Cu than free ion caused a response of the bioreporter, hence were bioavailable. Relationships between biological responses and analytically defined solid-phase Cu fractions identified pools of labile, potentially bioavailable Cu. As no single chemical method could be used to quantify bioavailable fraction of solid-phase Cu in all soils, the bioreporter provided analytical techniques with inherent biological relevance.This study demonstrates that Cu in soils with aged amendments of inorganic salts is more chemically available than in soils treated with sludge containing Cu. These differences are due to the concentration and form of Cu in the aqueous phase and the corresponding extractability of Cu in the soil solid phase. Bioreporter and biosensor validate the performance of rigorous analytical soil chemistry approaches. Their value in soil pollution should be considered a complementary technique rather than an alternative as their performance in complex environmental matrixes is yet to be validated.     

Modeling tillage effects on soil physical properties

Tillage refers to the manipulation of soil by an implement powered by humans, animals or machines. Tillage operation generally create two zones: (1) a zone where soil has been fractured and then turned over leading to rough surface conditions; and (2) a zone where soil has been compacted by the weight of the machinery. Thus, modeling tillage effects on soil physical properties involves two separate approaches depending upon the zone under consideration.

Modeling tillage systems offers an opportunity to: (1) synthesize the extensive experimental data in the literature; (2) develop tools for site specific management recommendations; and (3) identify areas of research where additional information is needed. Modeling tillage systems involves modeling the soil physical, chemical and biological properties and processes and then linking them with crop growth models to simulate crop yields or environmental impacts. This paper reviews models for predicting tillage effects on state soil physical properties. Specifically, we reviewed models which predict bulk density, surface microrelief, aerodynamic roughness length, water retention characteristics, hydraulic conductivity function, thermal conductivity, volumetric heat capacity and gas diffusion coefficient. Since most of the existing models for predicting soil physical properties are developed for untilled soils, the paper outlines procedures to adapt these models to fractured and compacted zones in tilled soils. The paper also identifies specific assumptions that need both laboratory and field testing.     

Exothermic and endothermic soils of Iceland

This paper is based on the results of the study of soils and soil-forming rocks on five key sites in Iceland, including the coastal plain (the Hvammur key site), piedmont plain (the Hveragerði key site), the Holocene lava plateau (the Reykjanes key site), and the zone of modern hydrothermal activity in the north of the rift zone of Iceland (the Theistareykir and Námafjall key sites). The studied soils are subdivided by us into the groups of exothermic and endothermic soils. Exothermic soils are the soils that develop from the congealed volcanic deposits. These soils are specified by the homogeneous dark gray color and sandy texture. Their mineral components are weakly transformed. Exothermic soils developed under good drainage conditions have the low content of organic matter (about 1.5% C_org). The soil reaction is neutral within the entire profile. Under impeded drainage conditions, the organic carbon content in the exothermic soils reaches its maximum of about 7%, and the soil reaction varies from acid to neutral values. Endothermic soils are the soils that are subjected at present or were subjected in the past to the high-temperature hydrothermal metamorphism. They have mottled color patterns with sharp color contrast in the soil profile; their texture is loamy or clayey. These soils are rich in secondary minerals with a predominance of smectite; kaolinite, pyrite, anatase, gypsum, and other secondary minerals can also be found in them. The properties of endothermic soils are largely controlled by the provincial features of the hydrothermal activity, including the chemical composition of hydrothermal water, the soil temperature, the duration of hydrothermal activity, etc.     

河北沧州接地网土壤腐蚀性因素研究

接地网土壤防腐研究对保证电网安全运行具有重要意义。以沧州21个变电站接地网土壤为研究对象,通过现场及实验室测试土壤腐蚀性因素指标,运用主成分分析方法进行了统计分析。主成分分析研究结果表明,沧州接地网土壤中关键腐蚀性因素为氯化物、全盐含量和电阻率。根据土壤中的盐分与氯离子含量指标,接地网土壤主要分为滨海中度-重度盐化土壤、轻盐化潮土和潮土三种类型。以关键腐蚀性因素和土壤类型为评价指标,沧州地区接地网土壤腐蚀性划分为强腐蚀性、较强腐蚀性和中等腐蚀三个等级。近海的港城等4个变电站处于强腐蚀性土壤中,李刘堡等9个变电站土壤的腐蚀性较强,韩村等8个变电站的土壤属于中等腐蚀。     

Comparison of Fenton's Reagent and Ozone Oxidation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Aged Contaminated Soils (7 pp)

Background, Aim and Scope   Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are formed as a result of incomplete combustion and are among the most frequently occurring contaminants in soils and sediments. PAHs are of great environmental concern due to their ubiquitous nature and toxicological properties. Consequently, extensive research has been conducted into the development of methods to remediate soils contaminated with PAHs. Fenton's reagent or ozone is the most commonly studied chemical oxidation methods. However, the majority of remediation studies use soils that have been artificially contaminated with either one or a limited number of PAH compounds in the laboratory. Hence, it is essential to extend such studies to soils contaminated with multiple PAHs under field conditions. Objectives   The objective of this study is to investigate the capacity of Fenton's reagent and ozone to degrade PAHs in soils. The soils have been collected from a number of different industrial sites and, therefore, will have been exposed to different PAH compounds in varying concentrations over a range of time periods. The capacity of Fenton's reagent and ozone to degrade PAHs in industrially contaminated soils is compared to results obtained in studies using soils artificially contaminated with PAHs in the laboratory. Materials and Methods: Nine soil samples, contaminated with PAHs, were collected from five different industrial sites in Sweden. For the Fenton's reagent procedure, the pH of the soil slurry samples was adjusted to pH 3 and they were kept at a constant temperature of 70oC whilst H2O2 was added. For the ozone procedure, soil samples were mixed with 50% water and 50% ethanol and kept at a constant temperature of 45 oC. Ozone was then continually introduced to each soil sample over a period of four hours. Following the Fenton's reagent and ozone oxidation procedures, the samples were filtered to isolate the solid phase, which was then extracted using pressurized liquid extraction (PLE). The sample extracts were cleaned up using open columns and then analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results: The relative abundance of the detected PAHs varied between soils, associated with different industries. For example, low molecular weight (LMW) PAHs were more abundant in soil samples collected from wood impregnation sites and high overall PAH degradation efficiencies were observed in soils originating from these sites. In the contaminated soils studied, PAHs were more effectively degraded using Fenton's reagent (PAH degradation efficiency of 40-86%) as opposed to ozone (PAH degradation efficiency of 10-70%). LMW PAHs were more efficiently degraded, using ozone as the oxidizing agent, whereas the use of Fenton's reagent resulted in a more even degradation pattern for PAHs with two through six fused aromatic rings. Discussion: The degradation efficiency for both methods was largely dependent on the initial PAH concentration in the soil sample, with higher degradation observed in highly polluted soils. LMW PAHs are more susceptible to degradation than high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs. As a result of this the relative abundance of large (often carcinogenic) PAHs increased after chemical oxidation treatment, particularly after ozone treatment. Repeated Fenton's reagent treatment did not result in any further degradation of soil PAHs, indicating that residual soil PAHs are strongly sorbed. The effectiveness of the two oxidation treatment approaches differed between industrial sites, thus highlighting the importance of further research into the influence of soil properties on the sorption capacity of PAHs. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the degree to which chemical oxidation techniques can degrade soil bound PAHs chemical degradation is highly dependent on both the concentration of PAHs in the soils and the compounds present, i.e. the various PAH profiles. Therefore, similarities in the PAH degradation efficiencies in the nine soil samples studied were observed with the two chemical oxidation methods used. However, the degradation performance of Fenton's reagent and ozone differed between the two methods. Overall, Fenton's reagent achieved the highest total PAH degradation due to stronger oxidation conditions. LMW PAHs showed higher susceptibility to oxidation, whereas high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs appear to be strongly sorbed to the soils and therefore less chemically available for oxidation. This study highlights the importance of including soils collected from a range of contaminated sites in remediation studies. Such soil samples will contain PAH contaminants of varying concentrations, chemical and physical properties, and have been aged under field conditions. In addition to the chemical and physical properties of the soils, these factors will all influence the chemical availability of PAHs to oxidation. Recommendations and Perspectives: We recommend including aged contaminated soils in chemical degradation studies. In future chemical remediation work, we intend to investigate the potential influence of the chemical and physical properties of PAHs and soil parameters potential influence on the chemical oxidation efficiency in aged contaminated soils. Due to the vast number of contaminated sites there is a great need of efficient remediation methods throughout the world. This study shows the difficulties which may be experienced when applying remediation methods to a variation of contaminated sites.     

Applying a GLM-based approach to model the influence of soil properties on the toxicity of phenmedipham to Folsomia candida

Purpose

Soil properties are the main explanation to the different toxicities obtained in different soils due to their influence on chemical bioavailability and the test species performance itself. However, most prediction studies are centred on a few soil properties influencing bioavailability, while their direct effects on test species performance are usually neglected. In our study, we develop prediction models for the toxicity values obtained in a set of soils taking into account both the chemical concentration and their soil properties.

Materials and methods

The effects on the avoidance behaviour and on reproduction of the herbicide phenmedipham to the collembolan Folsomia candida is assessed in 12 natural soils and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) artificial soil. The toxicity outcomes in different soils are compared and explanatory models are constructed by generalised linear models (GLMs) using phenmedipham concentrations and soil properties.

Results and discussion

At identical phenmedipham concentrations, the effects on reproduction and the avoidance response observed in OECD soil were similar to those observed in natural soils, while effects on survival were clearly lower in this soil. The organic matter and silt content explained differences in the avoidance behaviour in different soils; for reproduction, there was a more complex pattern involving several soil properties.

Conclusions

Our results highlight the need for approaches taking into account all the soil properties as a whole, as a necessary step to improve the prediction of the toxicity of particular chemicals to any particular soil.     

A comparison of three earthworm bioassay procedures for the assessment of environmental samples containing hazardous wastes

Summary Three different laboratory earthworm protocols for assessing the potential toxicity of environmental samples were evaluated using Eisenia fetida. The 48-h Contact Test (CT) is a short test and may indicate the presence of water-soluble chemicals. The 14-day Soil Test (ST) is best suited to assess chemical impacts of either known or unknown chemicals in soils. The Giant Axon Conduction Velocity protocol (GACVT) used with either the CT or the ST can detect sublethal neurotoxic effects in shorter periods of time and at lower chemical concentrations than mortality tests. The use of these tests is suggested as an estimate of potential toxicity of environmental soil samples.     

The use of a microbial contact toxicity test for evaluating cadmium bioavailability in soil

Background, Aims and Scope

Bioavailability of toxic compounds in soil can be defined as the fraction able to come into contact with biota and to cause toxic effects. The contact toxicity tests may detect the total toxic response of all bioavailable contaminants present in a sample. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the use of microbial contact toxicity tests for cadmium bioavailability assessment and to evaluate the relationship between sorption, soil characteristics and cadmium bioavailability.

Methods

A test soil bacterium,Bacillus cereus, was put in direct contact with the solid sample. Four unpolluted soils were selected to provide solid samples with a variety of physicochemical characteristics. The toxicity and sorption behaviour of cadmium spiked to the soil samples were determined.

Results, Discussion and Conclusions

A significant correlation between contact toxicity test results and partitioning of cadmium in the soil samples (r²= 0.79, p <0.05; n = 26) was found. The results confirm that the bioavailability of cadmium in soil depends on its sorption behaviour. Cadmium sorbed to the cation exchange sites associated with fulvic acids is non-bioavailable in the toxicity test employed in this study. It is concluded that the microbial contact toxicity test is a suitable tool for detecting cadmium bioavailablity in the soils used in this study.

Outlook

The application of microbial contact toxicity tests for bioavailability assessment can be very useful for the risk identification and remediation of soil-associated contaminants.     

New alternative method of benzo[a]pyrene extractionfrom soils and its approbation in soil under technogenic pressure

Purpose

The optimization of benzo[a]pyrene extraction conditions by subcritical water extraction method from soils is the purpose of the research. The optimal conditions for benzo[a]pyrene recovery are 30-min extraction by water in a special steel cartridge at 250 °C and 100 atm.

Materials and methods

Studies were conducted on the soils of monitoring plots subjected to Novocherkassk Power Station emissions. Monitoring plots were established at different distances from the Novocherkassk Power Station (NPS; 1.0–20.0 km).

Results and discussion

It was shown that the use of water in subcritical state as a solvent for benzo[a]pyrene extraction from soil allows to avoid large volumes of organic solvents and to decrease the time of sample preparation. It is shown that the maximum benzo[a]pyrene maintenance was observed in soils of the monitoring plots located most close (to 5 km) to a pollution source in the area of the prevailing direction of a wind rose. Dynamics of pollutant accumulation in soils depend on number of Novocherkassk state district power station emissions.

Conclusions

The method of benzo[a]pyrene subcritical water extraction from soil was developed and approbated during long-term monitoring researches of technogenic polluted territories. The optimum conditions for benzo[a]pyrene extraction from soil have been determined: the soil is treating by subcritical water at 250 °C and 100 atm of pressure for 30 min. Trends in the accumulation of benzo[a]pyrene in soil zones of the thermal power plant influence have been researched over a 5-year period of monitoring observations by subcritical water extraction method. Benzo[a]pyrene accumulation in soils depends on the technogenic emissions to the atmosphere from Novocherkassk power station and on the soil physical and chemical properties.