Increasing pH releases colloidal lead in a highly contaminated forest soil

Colloids can play an important role in the leaching of lead (Pb) in soils, and liming to increase pH may produce conditions conducive to colloid release. We studied the effect of pH and the role of counterion valency on the mobilization of Pb in two topsoil horizons of a former shooting range. In batch experiments, the release of both dissolved and colloidal Pb was studied at a pH range between 3 and 7. The pH was adjusted with solutions of nitric acid (pH 3) and KOH and Ca(OH)₂ (pH 4–7) and the chemical composition, size and charge of the mobilized colloids were determined. In the presence of the monovalent K⁺‐ion concentrations of colloidal and dissolved Pb increased markedly with increasing pH. Colloids were stabilized not only by electrostatic but also by steric repulsion. Organic colloids seem to dominate at low pH of the KOH‐treatment; at pH > 4 mineral particles were also dispersed. Even though the presence of the Ca²⁺ ion reduced the concentrations of colloidal Pb more than did the K⁺ ion, our results of the Ca(OH)₂ treatment show that the relevance of both colloidal and dissolved Pb increases at a pH of about 5.8. Risk assessment on limed sites should therefore take into account both dissolved and colloidal Pb in judging the likelihood of Pb leaching.