Chemical availability of arsenic and antimony in industrial soils

Abstract

Total concentrations and extractable fractionations of As and Sb were determined in soil samples from former mining sites in Scotland and Italy. Pseudo-total levels of As and Sb in the sample were between 50-17,428 mg/kg and 10-1,187 mg/kg (Scotland), and 16-691 mg/kg and 1.63-11.44 mg/kg (Italy). Between 0.001-0.63% and <0.001−8.82% of the total soil As and Sb, were extractable using, a single extraction bioavailability estimate. Data from an As-specific extraction procedure revealed that up to 60% of As was associated to amorphous Fe-Al oxyhydroxide phase in all soils. A non-specificsequential extraction test also showed As to be strongly associated with Fe (and Al) oxyhydroxides at both locations. In the case of Sb, in addition to the crystalline Feoxide bound Sb the Al-silicate phase also appeared to be significant. At both sites Sb appears to be chemically more accessible than As with consistent availability despite the varied origin and host soil properties.

Arsenic and Antimony Content in Soil and Plants from Baia Mare Area, Romania

“…No correlation has been obtained for the As and Sb content in the soil and respectively in the plants with the pH of the soil. (Hammel et al, 2000) Max 500 0.09-2.2 Poland (metallurgical site) (Gal et al, 2006) 3.13-9.16 Spain (mining site) (Casado et al, 2007) 42-4530 0.02-2.77 60-230 0.002-4.25 Scotland (mining site) (Gal et al, 2006) 17.4-50 1.19-10 Italy (mining site) (Gal et al, 2006) 16-691 1.63-11.44 Bulgaria (reference soil) (Kabata-Pendias and Pendias, 2001) 1.25-2.32 England (reference soil) (Kabata-Pendias and Pendias, 2001) 0.29-1.3 Norway (reference soil) (Kabata-Pendias and Pendias, 2001) 0.17-2.2 China (metallurgical site) (He, 2007) 100.6-5045 Australia (mining site) (Sultan, 2007) 7.44-395.8 New Jersey (chemical pesticides with As) (Cheng et al, 2007) 3.8-387 New Jersey (reference soil) (Cheng et al, 2007) 1.6-4.6 Canada (reference soil) (Kabata-Pendias and Pendias, 2001) 0.05-2.0 Brasilia (in park) (Figueiredo et al, 2007) 11.5-21.5 1.4-2.5 Mexico (mining site) (Rosas et al, 1999) Max 30 The results show the existence of a correlation between the As and Sb contents in the soil and respectively in the plants, taking us to the presumption that these elements follow a common cycle between the polluting source, soil and plant. It is generally accepted that in the process of the absorption of metals from the soil by plants the dominant factor is the metal content from the soil, but in the same time it can be affected by other factors as well including the pH of the soil (Jung and Thorntorn, 1996).…”

Antimony Accumulation in Wheat Seedlings Grown in Soil and Water

“…This might be expected because in water Sb was present in soluble form, while solubility of Sb in soil can vary because of various soil-metal interactions such as sorption, precipitation, and complexation (Oorts et al 2008). Soil surface sites are often negatively or positively charged (Evans 1989), thus attracting charged ions and metal-organic complexes, and therefore part of Sb can remain on the surface of the soil particles (Flynn et al 2003;Gál, Hursthouse, and Cuthbert 2005). As a consequence, mobility and bioavailability of Sb may be reduced.…”

Assessment to the potential mobility and toxicity of metals and metalloids in soils contaminated by old Sb–Au and As–Au mines (NW Portugal)

“…3). In soils close to old mining activities from different countries, arsenic shows to be strongly retained by the Fe-oxide fraction (Gál et al 2006). However, Sb is associated with more site-specific phases namely, Fe-oxide and sulphide phases, in more available fraction and silicate fraction, depends on the closing date of mining activity (Müller et al 2007).…”

“…3). The period since the last deposition of waste dump and closing mining activity is important to determine the weathering degree of primary minerals of mineralization and consequently the adsorption/desorption for other secondary products (Gál et al 2006). In the areas studied the weathered degree is high and consequently metals and metalloids are retained in secondary products.…”