Growth and composition of corn,alfalfa, and orchardgrass grown on soils contaminated with airborne dust containing Ca and Mg

Abstract

A greenhouse experiment was conducted with soils allegedly contaminated with airbourne dust containing Mg and Ca oxides and carbonates to study the growth and composition of corn, orchardgrass, and alfalfa plants. Soils were obtained from sites varying in distance from the alleged source of airbourne dust.

Soil pH values ranged from 6.2 to 8.7. Plant yields decreased only when the soil pH increased above 7.7. There was no apparent relationship between the observed yield decrease and the N, P, K, and B concentrations in the plants. Although the Mn and Zn concentrations generally decreased with increasing soil pH, the decrease was not great enough to account for the yield depressions. The obviously minor symptoms occurring on the plants growing on the most affected soils could not be associated with a deficiency or excess of any other element.

The Ca/Mg ratio in the alfalfa plants decreased as soil pH increased over the range from 6.2 to 8.7. However, the Ca/Mg ratios in the corn and orchardgrass plants decreased only when the soil pH values increased above 7.7. The apparent imbalance of Ca and Mg in the tissues may account for the yield depressions.     

重金属污染土壤的螯合剂诱导植物修复研究进展

植物修复作为一种生态友好型原位绿色修复技术成为重金属污染土壤修复研究的热点。然而,目前最具有推广价值的超积累植物因生物量低、生长缓慢、对重金属的积累具有专一性等缺点,大大限制了植物修复技术在重金属污染尤其是复合重金属污染土壤治理方面的推广应用。利用生长速度快、生物量大的普通植物借助其它技术辅助的联合植物修复便成了有效可行的替代途径和研究焦点。近年来,金属螯合剂诱导的化学-植物联合修复技术备受关注。本文综述了螯合剂诱导植物修复技术的研究进展、修复机理和目前存在的问题,并对该项技术的未来研究方向给予了展望。     

有机酸对污染土壤中镉释放的影响

There is limited information on the release behavior of heavy metals from natural soils by organic acids. Thus, cadmium release, due to two organic acids (tartrate and citrate) that are common in the rhizosphere, from soils polluted by metal smelters or tailings and soils artificially contaminated by adding Cd were analyzed. The presence of tartrate or citrate at a low concentration (≤ 6 mmol L^-1 for tartrate and ≤ 0.5 mmol L^-1 for citrate) inhibited Cd release, whereas the presence of organic acids in high concentrations (≥ 2 mmol L^-1 for citrate and ≥ 15 mmol L^-1 for tartrate) apparently promoted Cd release. Under the same conditions, the Cd release in naturally polluted soils was less than that of artificially contaminated soils. Additionally, as the initial pH rose from 2 to 8 in the presence of citrate, a sequential valley and then peak appeared in the Cd release curve, while in the presence of tartrate the Cd release steadily decreased. In addition, Cd release was clearly enhanced as the electrolyte concentration of KNO₃ or KCl increased in the presence of 2 mmol L^-1 tartrate. Moreover, a higher desorption of Cd was shown with the KCl electrolyte compared to KNO₃ for the same concentration levels. This implied that the bioavailability of heavy metals could be promoted with the addition of suitable types and concentrations of organic acids as well as reasonable field conditions.     

Assessing significant harm to terrestrial ecosystems from contaminated land

Abstract. Terrestrial ecosystem risk assessment remains in its infancy by comparison with the aquatic discipline, yet it is advancing quickly in response to increasing concerns surrounding soil quality and the sustainable use of soil. Several international frameworks have been developed during the last decade to aid decision-makers as the need for scientifically derived tools for determining ecological risk from land contamination has been recognized. From the regulatory viewpoint, the priority is establishing what to protect in order to prevent ecological harm. This is a complex issue requiring clear objectives in a risk assessment context. The most important factor in assessing ecological harm is whether or not ecosystem function is altered as a result of land contamination and, if it is, judging the significance. A consensus is developing that ecological risk assessment should aim to protect populations rather than individuals. This paper critically reviews recent developments in risk assessment for terrestrial ecosystems and land contamination in the UK, with emphasis on deriving a measure of ecological harm to assess ecosystem function. We seek to further justify the use of earthworms as a favoured indicator species for protecting ecological function. Guidance on how to measure harm in relation to ecological function is, however, still lacking.     

评价城市土壤磷素淋溶风险的化学指标

Soils from urban and suburban areas are normally enriched with phosphorus (P). Sixteen urban soils with a wide range of total P concentrations under typical urban land uses were sampled and analyzed for extractable P concentrations using water, sodium bicarbonate and citric acid. Meanwhile the soils were artificially leached in columns and P concentrations in the leachates were determined. With linear regression a two-stage linear relationship was found to exis tbetween concentrations of P in the leachates and soil P contents obtained by various chemical measurements, i.e., there was a “change-point” denoting the critical threshold value for extractable P between the regression lines, above which concentrations of P in leachates increased substantially. These threshold “change-point” values were 1.5 mg kg^-1 for water-soluble P and CaCl2-P, 25 mg kg^-1 for Olsen-P, and 250-350 mg kg^-1 for citric acid-P with the sharpest change and the best predictor [τ2 (upper) = 0.928, τ2 (lower) = 0.807] appearing for Olsen-P. These “change-points” were considered important criteria in assessing the risk of P leaching from urban soils and could be used as standards to delineate and target hazardous areas in urban and suburban areas.     

Phosphorus‐enriched soils of urban and suburban Nanjing and their effect on groundwater phosphorus

Neither the phosphorus (P)‐rich soils in urban areas nor their environmental implications have been adequately studied. This study investigated soils of typical urban function zones in Nanjing/China, like park, residential areas, school yards, campus as well as suburb vegetable land and garbage filling sites, and meantime ground water in situ. Typical soils were also experimentally leached for P leaching evaluation. All studied soils were enriched with P with enrichment ratios varying from 2 to 10 for total P and 5 to 22 for NaHCO₃‐extractable P, as compared with the original parent soils. The C : P ratios also indicated strong enrichment of P in urban soils. In urban areas the maximum P layer appeared as buried under different depth while in suburban soils as epipedon. The various morphology of P distribution suggested different soil formation patterns, which were related to the land use history. Groundwater P was significantly correlated with the maximum extractable P content of P in soil profiles and even better with the weighted average P content of the whole profile or P content of the soil layer at or close to groundwater table. Dissolved P in experimental leachate was comparable with that of groundwater but higher than environmentally acceptable level. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between solution P and different extractable P forms of the studied soils. Simple P tests can provide an evaluation of the potential risk of urban soils in discharging P to water system.     

Assessing cadmium availability of contaminated saline-sodic soils as influenced by biochar using the adsorption isotherm models

ABSTRACT

In arid/semi-arid regions, soil salinization, sodification and contamination by heavy metals (HMs) are the main constrains to plant growth, crop production and human health. Biochar can affect soil behaviors, e.g. adsorption of HMs that is one of the most effective techniques for reducing their bioavailability. Effect of three levels (0%, 2% and 4% wt) of sugarcane bagasse-derived biochar and two cadmium (Cd) levels (0 and 50 mg Cd kg^?1 soil as Cd(NO₃)₂) on Cd adsorption of saline, sodic, saline-sodic and normal soils were evaluated through studying adsorption isotherms. Six isotherm models were fitted to the data and the best model were chosen. The maximum Cd adsorption (694 mg kg^?1) obtained in sodic soils without biochar treatment. Cadmium removal decreased when dosage of the applied biochar increased. The minimum Cd removal obtained as 17%, 21%, and 23% in control, 2% and 4% biochar-treated saline soils, respectively. Biochar increased Cd adsorption in salt-affected soils. Increasing pH in soil solution after biochar addition resulted in an increase in net negative surface charge and the affinity of soil particles for Cd adsorption. Consequently, 2% biochar could ameliorate Cd contamination. However, Cd adsorption decreased when dosage of the applied biochar increased from 2% to 4%.     

Generic and site-specific criteria in assessment of human health risk from contaminated soil

Abstract. Previous industrial and waste disposal activities and natural processes have led to elevated concentrations of harmful substances in soil. Risk-based land management requires the risk posed by such substances to be managed. Generic assessment criteria offer a simple and efficient but often over-cautious approach to human health risk assessment. Site-specific assessment criteria reduce over-conservatism but require extra time and effort to determine. Generic assessment criteria should represent contaminant concentrations below which there is no unacceptable risk to human health. Consistent definitions, application and interpretation are essential prerequisites for fostering and maintaining stakeholder confidence in risk-based land management.     

工业废弃地多金属污染土壤组合淋洗修复技术研究

采用批量淋洗实验方法,对比了采用人工螯合剂乙二胺四乙酸二钠盐(EDTA-Na2)和天然有机酸草酸(oxalic acid,OX)对工业废弃地污染土壤中重金属的去除效果,并采用不同浓度草酸和EDTA组合的两步淋洗法研究多金属污染土壤的最佳淋洗方式。结果表明,EDTA淋洗剂对土壤中Zn、Pb、Cu、Ni去除效果较好,而对Cr去除效果较差,实验条件下,EDTA对金属的去除率并未随着浓度增加而增加;相反,草酸对Cr去除效果较好,且去除率随着淋洗剂浓度的增加而增加,而对Zn、Cu、Ni的去除效果随着淋洗剂浓度增加而降低,对Pb的去除率非常低;采用先以0.20 mol L-1草酸提取2 h,再以0.01 mol L-1EDTA提取2 h的两步淋洗法可以达到对多金属同时去除,且对Zn、Cu、Cr、Ni的去除率明显高于单用草酸和EDTA,总去除率分别为Zn 75.21%、Pb 21.30%、Cu 59.81%、Cr 60.72%和Ni 62.10%,更为有意义的是两步淋洗法对非残渣态金属去除效果分别高达Zn 91.93%、Pb 57.75%、Cu 75.33%、Cr 73.94%、Ni 77.99%。利用不同化学淋洗剂对金属去除能力的差异进行组合的多步淋洗法是一种较为高效的去除工业废弃地污染土壤中重金属的化学淋洗修复方法。     

印度热带森林干旱扰动土壤的微生物碳, 氮, 磷的研究

Variations in microbial biomass C (MB-C),N (MB-N) and P (MB-P) along a gradient of different dominant vegeta- tion covers (natural forest,mixed deciduous forest,disturbed savanna and grassland ecosystems) in dry tropical soils of Vindhyan Plateau,India were studied from January 2005 to December 2005.The water holding capacity,organic C,total N,total P and soil moisture content were comparatively higher in forest soils than in the savanna and grassland sites.Across different study sites the mean annual MB-C,MB-N and MB-P at 0-15 cm soil depth varied from 312.05 ± 4.22 to 653.40 ± 3.17,32.16 ± 6.25 to 75.66 ± 7.21 and 18.94 ± 2.94 to 30.83 ± 23.08 μg g ?1 dry soil,respectively.At all the investigated sites,the maximum MB-C,MB-N and MB-P occurred during the dry period (summer season) and the minimum in wet period (rainy season).In the present study,soil MB-C,MB-N and MB-P were higher at the forest sites compared to savanna and grassland sites.The differences in MB-C,MB-N and MB-P were significant (P 0.001) among sites and seasons.The MB-C (P 0.0001),MB-N (P 0.001) and MB-P (P 0.0001) were positively correlated with organic C,while the relationship between soil moisture and MB-C,MB-N and MB-P (P 0.001,P 0.01 and P 0.0001,respectively) was negative.The decreasing order of MB-C,MB-N and MB-P along study ecosystems was natural forest mixed deciduous forest savanna grassland.The results suggested that deforestation and land use practices (conversion of forest into savanna and grassland) caused the alterations in soil properties,which as a consequence,led to reduction in soil nutrients and MB-C,MB-N and MB-P in the soil of disturbed sites (grassland and savanna) compared to undisturbed forest ecosystems.     

Regulation of Contaminated Soils in Spain - A New Legal Instrument (4 pp)

Background, Aims and Scope   This paper presents the new Spanish regulation on contaminated soils and its scientific basis. The regulation offers a regulatory framework for establishing industrial activities which may result in soil contamination, and presents the methodology for setting the generic reference levels of organic pollutants.Legal Framework   The Spanish regulation on contaminated soils is derived from the waste legislation and covers 101 industrial activities, as well as facilities handling significant amounts of hazardous chemicals (over 10,000 kg per year) or fuel (300,000 l fuel per year or storing 50,000 l fuel at any time). The regulatory framework includes initial declarations and a tiered system for selecting those soils requiring a proper site-specific risk assessment.Scientific Basis   The regulation is risk based, and covers human and environmental risks. The human health risk assessment focuses on chemical analysis; the selection of relevant exposure routes is associated to the soil uses. The environmental risk assessment includes chemical analysis and direct toxicity testing, and covers three main ecological receptors: Soil organisms, associated aquatic systems and terrestrial vertebrates. Low-risk threshold concentrations are established as generic reference levels; if exceeded, a site-specific risk assessment is required. The detection of a very high level of acute toxicity of soil or leachates led to the declaration of the soil as contaminated due to the capacity for contaminating the adjacent areas.Conclusion   Overall, the Spanish regulation offers a balance for combining regulatory needs, proper scientific basis and practicability. The use of European risk assessment protocols and the European legal framework would facilitate the pan-European extrapolation of this approach. The inclusion of direct toxicity testing as a legal method for classifying a soil as contaminated is considered a key element.     

Effectiveness of three rapid digestion methods to estimate total lead in orchard soils

Abstract

High concentrations of lead in contaminated soils comprise a potential public health hazard. Limits between safe and dangerous levels are often based on total soil lead content. Current chemical procedures to determine total lead are unsuitable for routine soil analysis because they are time‐consuming and require highly trained personnel. This paper describes the effectiveness of three rapid extraction procedures to estimate total lead in a large number of lead arsenate‐contaminated orchard soils. Dissolution of soil lead in Kjeldahl flasks using a nitric acid‐perchloric acid mixture was virtually complete (98%) when compared to values for total lead measured by treatment with a mixture of HF, HNO₃ and KClO₄. Shaking of 5‐g samples in 50 ml of lN HCl or lN HNO₃ for 1½ hours extracted 95 and 93 percent of the total lead, respectively. Regression equations were derived to allow estimation of total lead from values obtained in the HNO₃‐HClO₄, HCl, or HNO₃ extracts. The HNO₃‐HClO₄ digestion procedure is preferred with atomic absorption spectrophotometry, while HCl extraction is suitable for routine soil analysis with inductively coupled argon plasma spectrophotometers or similar instrumentation.

Grinding of the soils to promote sample uniformity appeared unnecessary, at least in the silt loam soils tested.     

Estimation of nitrogen and phosphorus losses to surface water and groundwater through the implementation of the SWAT model for Norwegian soils

Scope and Background

It is acknowledged that diffuse sources cause the most important nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) losses to the river system and substantially enrich the groundwater in nitrates. These losses arise primary from agricultural activities mainly fertilizer applications, and they are determined by soil attributes. In cold climates, winter conditions and freezing of soils may influence the infiltration capacity of the soil and thereby can have a serious effect on the partitioning of excess precipitation and subsequently on the soil and nutrient transportation. The purpose of this article is to investigate the behaviour of six widespread and different textured soil types, on nutrient (N, P) losses under cold climate conditions. The investigation was conducted in the Norwegian Vansjø-Hobølv catchment through the application of a physical model named Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), taking into consideration the additional aspect of freezing soils during winter, which distinguishes Scandinavian from other European soils.

Methods

SWAT is a physical river basin model that was developed for the U.S.D.A. Agricultural Research Service, by the Blackland Research Center in Texas. In the current modeling approach the catchment was divided into 43 Hydrologic Response Units (HRUs) which consist of different combinations of the existed landcover and soil types. Nitrogen and phosphorus losses arising from these HRUs were estimated for the period 1990–2001 through the simultaneous simulation of water and sediment processes that are closely linked to the nutrient processes. The model took into account soil temperature in order to quantify water and nutrient transport to deeper layers, considering negligible downward movement when the soil temperature was under 0°C. It also simulated the aboveground development of the snowpack and the snowmelt processes on a daily basis. The six different soil types were distinguished in two groups according to their similarity in texture and other physical properties, one group of fine-textured soils and a group of coarse soils. The results were evaluated for different crop cultivations (barley, oats and wheat) of the aforementioned soils. Finally, the model was calibrated and validated by comparing predicted results with measured data.

Results and Discussion

Fine-textured soils caused significant runoff, sediment, total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) yields to the river system while coarser soils were characterized by high water drainage and nitrates leaching. The first soil group caused a mean of 517 mm of runoff in annual basis, 200 mm higher than this arising from coarse soils. Moreover, 3 tonnes of sediments per hectare, 24.6 kgN/ha and 0.54 kgP/ha were lost annually to surface water from fine soils while the average respective losses originating from coarse soils were only 1.3 tn of sediments/ha, 13.6kgN/ha and 0.17kgP/ha. The sensitivity ranking of the soil types to TN and TP losses was silty-clay-loam>silty-loam>clay>loamy>sandy-loam>sandy. An average of 277 mm of water was percolated annually under the bottom of the soil profile in coarse soils causing the additional leaching of 5.6 kgN-NO₃/ha whereas the losses originating from fine-textured soils were 153 mm and 2.5 kg/ha respectively. According to their sensitivity in nitrates leaching, the six soil types were ranked in the following order: sandy>loamy>sandy-loam>silty-loam>silty-clay-loam>clay.

Conclusions and Perspectives

The results showed that even though under cold climate conditions, with monthly periods of average air-temperatures below zero, the overall amounts of annual TN and TP losses to surface waters as well as nitrates leaching to groundwater were considerable. This demonstrates that the cold climate conditions did not affect the long-term behavior of the six widespread Norwegian soils, which on an annual basis responded similarly to the respective European soils. According to the model’s estimations, infiltration with N and P transport still occur in wintertime, and comparing to other studies that reported similar results, different possible explanations were considered. The results demonstrate the need of considering the soil differentiation in Scandinavian countries similarly to the rest of Europe in order to apply mitigation measures against nitrogen and phosphorus losses to surface and groundwater.

     

Phytoremediation of selenium‐contaminated soils: the efficiency of different cropping systems

Field experiments were conducted at two locations in the seleniferous region of northwestern India from 2001 to 2006 to evaluate the efficiency of four cropping systems in removing Se from contaminated soil containing 2843–4345 μg Se per kg in the surface layer (0–15 cm). Rapeseed (Brassica napus) followed by arhar (Cajanus cajan), sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) or cotton (Gossypium arboretum) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) followed by rice (Oryza sativa) were the four cropping systems. The total biomass generated by Brassica‐based systems ranged from 16 to 21 t/ha when harvested at maturity. Corresponding values for a wheat–rice sequence were 22–26 t/ha. Among the different crops at both the experimental sites, the highest Se content was recorded in leaves (157–209 mg/kg), grains (64–201 mg/kg) and stems (42–93 mg/kg) of Brassica and the lowest in the shoots (10–27 mg/kg), grains (5–13 mg/kg) and straw (13–20 mg/kg) of the rice crop. Except for S and P, concentrations of other nutrients (Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe) were not significantly affected by variations in the Se content of plants. Significant correlation coefficients were observed between Se and S (r = 0.838, P ≤ 0.001), Se and P (r = 0.817, P ≤ 0.001) at the peak flowering stage (n = 16), and r = 0.743, P ≤ 0.001 and r = 0.498, P ≤ 0.05, respectively, at the maturity stage (n = 16). Total Se removal through harvested biomass of rapeseed‐based cropping sequences varied from 716 to 1374 g/ha/yr at peak flowering and 736–949 g/ha/yr at the maturity stage. Corresponding values for a wheat–rice system were 435–492 and 370–517 g/ha/yr, respectively. The amount of Se recycled through leaf senescence ranged from 255 to 500 g/ha/yr for Brassica‐based cropping systems. In the wheat–rice system, Se addition through irrigation varied from 170 to 243 g/ha/yr and was three to four times more than that added in Brassica‐based systems. On completion of the phytoremediation experiments at site I, Se removal through harvested biomass at maturity was 1.7–5.1% of total Se in the soil down to a depth of 120 cm and 4.8–13.2% at site II. Analysis showed that Se losses under different crop rotations were 18.5–24.5% at site I and 21–33% at site II of total soil Se. Thus, at both sites 16–20% of total Se lost from the soil was unexplained. Results show that Brassica‐based cropping systems lead to significant reductions in Se capital of contaminated soil over 2–3 years. Although a long‐term commitment is required, adoption of Brassica‐based systems as a regular agricultural practice must lead to sustainable management of seleniferous soils.     

紫色土发育成的水稻土微团粒结构中有机－无机复合体的性质

This paper deals with characteristics of organo-mineral complexing of microaggregates in the paddy soils developed from purple soils in Sichuan, China. Results show that the contents of organic matter in microaggregates are in the order of 1-0.25 mm > smaller than 0.05 mm > 0.05-0.25 mm. But the organic matter in 1-0.01 mm microaggregates accounts for 68.1%-78.7% of that in soil. The organic matter in < 0.05 mm microaggregates is complexed humus on the whole, of which the degree of organo-mineral complexing varies between 96.1% and 99.5%, which is higher than that of the soil or > 0.05 mm microaggregates. The contents of loosely combined humus and the ratios of loosely and tightly combined humus markedly decline with the size of microaggregates. Flesh soil humus formed from semi-decomposed organic material or organic manure added is combined first with < 0.001 mm clay, and then aggregated with other organic and mineral particles to form larger microaggregates, in which the aging of humus happens at the same time; whereas organic matter of the light fraction is mainly involved in the formation of > 0.05 mm microaggregates.     

南京栖霞重金属污染区植物富集重金属效应及其根际微生物特性分析

以南京栖霞重金属污染区5种植物及其根际土壤为研究对象,对植物富集重金属特征以及重金属含量与根际土壤细菌数量、土壤酶活性等的相关性进行了调查分析。结果发现,植物根际重金属污染物以Zn和Cd为主;重金属污染地区的植物有较强的吸收重金属能力,龙葵和茼草具备了超积累植物的基本特征;植物根际细菌和Pb抗性细菌的数量达到了107CFU g-1土;根际土壤酶活性未受到重金属的毒害或受到的毒害很小;植物体中重金属含量与土壤重金属含量及其存在状态、土壤酶、土壤重金属抗性细菌有显著的正相关性。根际土壤细菌尤其是具有重金属抗性的活性细菌可能会促进土壤重金属的活化,由此促进植物体对重金属的吸收和转运。     

Properties,degradation risks and rehabilitation possibilities of heavy soils in Bulgaria

The objective of this study was to determine soil properties, limiting site deficiencies for agricultural production and degradation risks of some major soil groups of Bulgaria. Vertisols, Planosols, Chernozems and Luvisols were characterised based on soil analyses. Temporal waterlogging in combination with water erosion, soil compaction and chemical degradation limit the fertility of Vertisols and Planosols. Chernozems and Luvisols are partly compacted. To ensure soil productivity for coining generations and to protect soil and water resources, the evident soil degradation must be halted. Long‐term field studies of soil rehabilitation variants were conducted. Soil parameters and crop yield were the main indicators used to estimate soil quality. Pipe drainage in combination with subsoiling and the application of gypsum and limestone, respectively, are effective measures for site rehabilitation of degraded Vertisols and Planosols. Degraded Luvisols and Chernozems characterised by distinct and persistent subsoil compaction can be regenerated by subsoil loosening and following site‐adapted soil management practices.     

Extraction of potassium from some kaolinitic soils of the tropics

Abstract

Three methods for soil potassium extraction (M NH₄OAc pH 7, 0.01 M AgTU and 30 % hot H₂SO₄) were compared for a variety of kaolinitic soils of the tropics. The AgTU‐extractable K was much higher than the M NH₄OAc‐extractable K when vermiculite clay was present in the soil. The correlation between both was given by an R value of 0.937. The amounts of K extracted by 0.01 M AgTU and by hot H₂SO₄ were approximately the same. The R value for these two methods was 0.843.

It is suggested that the AgTU extractant could be used for determination of plant‐available K in soil and for testing for the presence or absence of vermiculite clay in soils.     

评估土壤微量元素生物有效性测定方法

Trace element-contaminated soils (TECSs) are one of the consequences of the past industrial development worldwide.Excessive exposure to trace elements (TEs) represents a permanent threat to ecosystems and humans worldwide owing to the capacity of metal(loid)s to cross the cell membranes of living organisms and of human epithelia,and their interference with cell metabolism.Quantification of TE bioavailability in soils is complicated due to the polyphasic and reactive nature of soil constituents.To unravel critical factors controlling soil TE bioavailability and to quantify the ecological toxicity of TECSs,TEs are pivotal for evaluating excessive exposure or deficiencies and controlling the ecological risks.While current knowledge on TE bioavailability and related cumulative consequences is growing,the lack of an integrated use of this concept still hinders its utilization for a more holistic view of ecosystem vulnerability and risks for human health.Bioavailability is not generally included in models for decision making in the appraisal of TECS remediation options.In this review we describe the methods for determining the TE bioavailability and technological developments,gaps in current knowledge,and research needed to better understand how TE bioavailability can be controlled by sustainable TECS management altering key chemical properties,which would allow policy decisions for environmental protection and risk management.