Chemical Detection of Heavy Metals Applied at High Rates to Soil

Abstract

The detection of eight micropollutants was studied in a field trial. Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn soluble salts were applied at rates of 30, 90, and 270 kg ha^?1. The total element content was measured using HNO₃+H₂O₂, and the exchangeable/soluble content was measured with NH₄‐acetate+EDTA extraction. After 1 year, nearly all of the applied Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, and As could still be detected in the plow layer in an exchangeable form, but the Cr and Hg were not detectable. Two years later, approximately two‐thirds of the added Cd and only about one‐third of the applied Cu, Pb, Zn, and As were found in exchangeable forms, whereas Cr and Hg were only marginally detected. With time, fixation of these elements in less exchangeable forms occurred. Cadmium remained exchangeable for a longer time than the other elements and could be measured by both analytical methods.     

Dyke-protected floodplains: A possible chemical time bomb?

For more than a century contaminated sediment has been deposited on the Rhine floodplains. Freshly deposited sediment samples from the regularly flooded dyke-protected floodplain were obtained in 1958, 1970, 1972, 1981 and 1988. Heavy metals and arsenic as well as chemically persistent organic micropollutants [polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and DDT derivatives] were determined in the air-dried samples stored in a specimen bank. Pollutant levels showed a tendency to decrease; for PCBs and HCB the highest levels were present in the 1970s. Concentrations exceed natural background levels and in some instances are well above alarm levels established for the Netherlands. Although a decrease has been seen in the average annual input of pollutants onto the floodplain, accumulation in the upper layer of the floodplain sediments continues. as a consequence of the general chemical characteristics of the sediment (high organic matter, calcium carbonate and clay contents) the pollutants remain tightly bound to the sediment particles. as the pollutant levels are high, changes which reduce the organic matter and calcium carbonate contents May, cause severe environmental problems: enhanced bioavailability and leaching of pollutants May, result from the increased solubilization of pollutants.     

几种草本植物对面源微污染重金属的净化能力

为研究草本植物对城市面源污染重金属的去除能力,选择北方地区常见的3种草本植物紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa)、早熟禾(Poapretensis)、黑麦草(Lolium perenne),通过水培实验考察了3种草本植物对微污染重金属Cu、Cd、Pb的净化能力。研究结果表明,3种草本植物对微污染重金属Cu、Cd、Pb均有一定的净化效果。其中对Cu、Pb的去除率随污染物浓度的升高而升高,对Cd的去除率随Cd浓度的升高而下降。3种草本植物在不同生长期对面源微污染重金属污染物Cu、Cd、Pb的净化效果表现出不同特点:黑麦草在生长期去除率最高,分别为56.85%、63.72%、55.03%;紫花苜蓿幼苗期去除率最高,分别为41.98%、45.37%、68.41%;早熟禾生长期去除率最高,分别为51.25%、33.83%、26.55%。综合分析,3种草本植物可以作为滨岸缓冲带的备选植物。